The Emperor Edition

Almost 10 years ago, a group of pioneering champagne growers got together to create a group by the name of ‘Artisans du Champagne’. The purpose is to not only showcase their wines, but convey their beliefs and philosophies. On the 18th March 2018, Kyla Kirkpatrick will be showcasing 7 of the 17 producers that make up the entire group at the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. This provides us with a great opportunity to talk a bit more in depth about what makes these individuals so talented and their wines fascinating.

We are thrilled when new champagnes land on our shelves and this month we are excited to bring these fantastic producers to you. First up we have brothers Francois and Pierre Huré, from Huré Frères and their wine Invitation, sourced from multiple villages that are Ludes and Villedommange in the Montagne de Reims; Serzy and Prin and Vavray Le Grand in Vitriat. This combination of vineyards provides plenty of red fruit flavours and a juicy, approachable brut style at an affordable price point. The Huré brothers are part of the Artisans of Champagne that are a group of growers who have joined forces...

It can be overwhelming when it comes to choosing champagne, so we decided that it is our duty as ambassadors of champagne to make sure you have a staple of well-priced champagnes that offer great value. The question is ‘what is considered good value champagne’? Essentially a value champagne should be well-made, be made from a foundation of quality fruit and list for a price that doesn’t break the bank.

On the northern of the Montagne de Reims in Ludes, Francois Huré and his brother, Pierre, run their family estate of Huré Frères, cultivating about 26 acres (10 hectares) of vines. Most of the vineyard work is organic and parcels are vinified separately to preserve their characters. Huré's champagnes combine rich texture with racy acidity, as demonstrated by the nonvintage Invitation, made mostly of pinot noir and meunier. Peter Liem - Champagne Image: Pierre and Francois Huré courtesy of Michaël Boudot What would be your dream job if you didn’t work in Champagne? I would be a geologist Describe one...