Champagne Christophe Baron

Christophe Baron may have made his name in the “Stones” of Washington State’s Walla Walla, but he grew up in Champagne, where his family have been vignerons for generations. As ever, he had very decided views on how he wanted to make his own Champagne, which he describes as “Champagne de Terroir.” He commissioned soil-scientists Claude and Lydia Bourguignon to study four vineyards on the hillsides of Charly-sur-Marne, Crouttes-sur-Marne and Porteron, in the Marne Valley. They reported massive variation in soil composition between the different vineyards, just the sort of palette of soils he wanted for his approach of terroir-driven Champagnes. With a philosophy of “single vineyard, single vintage, single grape and no dosage,” he determined to make four unique and distinctive Champagnes, one from each of these vineyards.
 Pinot Meunier is the traditional variety of the Marne Valley, and, he considers, the most adapted to highlight its richly diverse terroir, so that is the only variety he grows. The vineyards are located in the western region of the Marne Valley: three hectares surrounding the villages of Charly-sur-Marne, Crouttes-sur-Marne and the hamlet of Porteron, and its vineyard holdings are made up of only very old parcels of low-yielding Pinot Meunier vines. Every practice of Champagne Christophe Baron is based on his deep respect for the region’s history, roots and terroir, and especially for his ancestors who worked the land since the 17th century. 
Each parcel is vinified individually, and wine-making is as naturally non-interventionist as possible. Both the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations are with indigenous yeast, in a mix of demi-muids and barrels. The wines are neither fined or filtered, are disgorged with no dosage and are bottled only in magnums.
 These are wines of great depth, complexity and intense minerality, with a remarkable combination of power, structure and transparency, and a creamy finish adding further complexity. No dosage is added, to allow the terroir to shine through. As a result, the four Champagnes he produces are intensely soil-expressive and strikingly original in personality, with vibrant balance and intensity.

“If the debut release is any indication, Champagne Christophe Baron has a very bright future.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous