“Precision requires human intervention at every stage. Between the earth and the vine, the soil preparation, the choice of varieties as well as their training according to the terroir. All those details, once gathered, make up my sense of balance.” — Yann Alexandre

Yann Alexandre is the eighth generation of his family to grow vines in the Petite Montagne de Reims, the third to make Champagne there.

Roche Mère begins as the same cuvée as Alexandre's classic Brut Noir. The added benefit of this cuvée is an additional year en tirage and completely zero added dosage. The blend is composed of the same 50% pinot meunier, 35% chardonnay and 15% pinot noir collected from 20 different organically farmed plots spread across the communes of Courmas, Bouilly, Merfy, Chenay and Saint-Lumier-en-Champagne.

The wine is fermented and aged in stainless steel for 6-8 months before it is blended with 30% reserve wine and aged en tirage for 5-6 years. At the time of disgorgement, instead of a traditional liquor dosage, the bottles are topped with a small amount of dry chardonnay fermented in oak barrels.

Superb stuff, guided by a purposeful and very, very talented artisan winemaker. A truly outstanding champagne!