NV Pierre Gerbais Champs Viole
VARIETAL: Chardonnay
REGION: Champagne, FR
VITICULTURE: Organic
WINEMAKER: Pierre & Aurélien Gerbais
The lieu-dit (single parcel of vines) of Champ Viole is a historic terroir in the village of Celles-sur-Ource, selected by the monks for its location in the heart of the hillside and for its southern exposure. Here, the family’s Chardonnay vines are older than 50 years, rooted in Kimmeridgian soil composed of marl and fossil-rich limestone—a unique soil with greater resemblance of that in Chablis and Sancerre than the chalk soils of the northern Champagne region.
8th generation grower, 4th generation winemaker Aurélien looks after the Gerbais domaine today. The family converted to organics in the nineties after seeing the effects chemicals had on their grandmother. They also hold the oldest pinot blanc vines in the region, one of the rarer grapes allowed in the Champagne AOC.