June Edition | Focus on Oak

Our first producer is Yves Ruffin. This is a House that went against the trends of the time, when winegrowers didn't take environmental factors into consideration. Since 1971 Yves Ruffin has organically farmed their three hectares between Avenay Val d’Or and Tauxières, a massive pioneering effort! Getting back to our theme, the House's reserve wines are stored in large, oval shaped oak casks from Alsace. Unusually, they also have an old foudre made out of acacia wood, which is used to ferment the base wine for their Extra Brut. This particular wood tends to be less aggressive than traditional oak, giving more subtle notes.

Next up we have Alfred Gratien. For over 150 years, Alfred Gratien champagnes have remained a family affair made possible by the expertise and technical skills of their namesake founder. Century-old expertise, quality supplies and ‘sous-bois’ oak vinification all contribute to transforming the wines into a prestigious Champagne brand. The hundred year old cellar is the absolute heart of Alfred Gratien, telling the story and heritage of the House. Inside you will find almost one thousand, aged 228-litre oak barrels purchased from Chablis. The wood honours the House’s roots, that their champagne has been vinified in oak since its beginnings. They are one of the last remaining House's to be doing this exclusively. Alfred Gratien champagne has been out of the country for many years now, so I am very excited to be reintroducing you to him this month.

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