Marc Hébrart Selection Premier Cru Brut

Tatler Champagne Guide 2024-2025

Grape Makeup:

70% Pinot Noir; 30% Chardonnay

Sweetness Level:

Brut

Ageing on Lees:

30 months

Price:

$$

Cellar:

Up to five years

Category:

Culinary

What

A much-admired grower estate in the Grande Vallée and the most famous in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, known for the mineral savouriness of their old vine plots.

Where

Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne, called the “Superpremier Cru” by Champagne expert Peter Liem; 15ha, 70% Pinot noir, 30% Chardonnay, mostly in the Grande Vallée with some plots in Côte des Blancs Grands Crus like Chouilly, Oiry and Avize and Grand Cru Aÿ.

Why

This flagship NV is a calling card for the estate, showing off the glory of its Mareuil Pinot, fermented and matured exclusively in stainless steel to give the fruit centre stage. The Pinot used to be blended with Côte des Blanc Chardonnay but is now accompanied by top Marne Valley Chardonnay from chalky Mareuil and Bisseuil sites, making it a pure Grande Vallée expression.

What Else

Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, though only a Premier Cru, is home to the Clos des Goisses and Clos Saint-Hilaire, two of the most famous single vineyards in Champagne.

Tasting Notes

This is soft and rounded from the start, with a ripe, even baked pear gentleness, raw butter pastry and fresh cream on the nose. This sense of softness and generosity continues on the palate, where there is an oiliness to the texture and a warmth, richness and depth to the flavours, which persist for a long time on the palate. The pear note remains potent, wrapped in layers of pastry, brown butter and beeswax. Yummy, with no hard edges.

Try It With

Rich and fatty dishes such as suckling pig that need an equally generous flavour profile to match

When To Drink

Main course

Perfect For

Your friend who bakes

Tatler Tip

So soft and gentle, probably one for a cooler day

TL/DR

Soft, rounded and gentle

Supplier

Golden Gate