With nearly three hectares spanning the villages of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ (0.50 hA), Avenay Val d’Or (0.25 hA), and Bisseuil (1.96 hA) — most of which were planted in the 1960s — Hélène Charbaut is the fourth generation of her family to tend vines on the historic hillsides of the Grande Vallée de la Marne. With a deep connection to her land, Hélène pioneered a project to preserve and enrich her soils, as well as increase biodiversity with the help of a small herd of grazing sheep. The results were apparent and inspired interest among Hélène’s neighbors, who now share the sheep as members of a “grazing coop.” Hélène maintains a natural approach in the cellar, opting for very limited inputs during the winemaking process. She is convinced of the benefits of vinification and aging in oak barrels, giving each parcel a full nine months of barrel aging. Dosage, while generally low, is based on the individual cuvée and vintage.

Arrives in March