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CHAMPAGNE<br />
TREND<br />
tial and expressiveness from my vineyard sites whilst<br />
showing utmost respect for the environment, soil<br />
quality and the fruit with the most accurate yields<br />
possible”.<br />
A FAMILY TASTING WITH IMPORTERS IN THE VINEYARD<br />
AT CHAMPAGNE VINCENT COUCHE<br />
CHAMPAGNE PLOYEZ-JACQUEMART:<br />
IN THE HEART OF THE WINE REGION<br />
No self-respecting appellation enthusiast can<br />
miss a stop at this location. Behind the vineyards<br />
of Ployez-Jacquemart is a passion for outstanding<br />
Champagnes which are snapped up by demanding<br />
customers who appreciate the French lifestyle.<br />
Created in 1930 by Marcel Ployez and his wife<br />
Yvonne Jacquemart, this family-run company is<br />
now represented by Laurence Ployez who took<br />
over from her father Gérard. As a third-generation<br />
winegrower, she perpetuates the house’s<br />
founding values of tradition, high standards and a<br />
firm local footing. “Our Champagnes are first and<br />
foremost very pure, fine wines”, she points out.<br />
“All our blends are produced entirely from firstpress<br />
juice so that the fruit can express its finest<br />
qualities. Winemaking techniques are aimed at<br />
producing this result with regular racking and the<br />
shortest possible time spent on the lees”. All the<br />
Champagnes are matured on racks after riddling.<br />
Their flavour profile is the catalyst for deciding<br />
whether they will be marketed as zero dosage or<br />
Brut nature. Lengthy cellar maturation hones<br />
acidity and is conducive to this approach to flavour<br />
with no added sugar. “Our 2013 Blanc de Blancs<br />
Zero Dosage and our 2015 Blanc de Noirs Vintage<br />
are perfect expressions of their vineyard sites and<br />
grape varieties”, claims Ployez. “They invariably<br />
stem from unique harvests which cannot be replicated<br />
every year and therefore account for no more<br />
than 10% of our sales”.<br />
THE CELLARS AT CHAMPAGNE PLOYEZ-JACQUEMART<br />
CHAMPAGNE COLLARD-PICARD:<br />
FINESSE AND PURITY<br />
In an industry where competition is fierce,<br />
Collard-Picard manages to successfully achieve a<br />
WINTER 2023 • GILBERT & GAILLARD - THE FRENCH EXPERTS ON WINE<br />
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