Visiting Maison Frerejean Frères in Avize means stepping into a universe where family history, artisanal precision, and the terroir of the Côte des Blancs merge into an authentic story.
Founded in 2005 by brothers Guillaume, Richard, and Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, the Maison preserves a dual heritage: on the one hand the winemaking tradition, and on the other the legacy of the Frerejean maîtres de forges, active since the 18th century.
Alongside this heritage, Frerejean Frères keeps alive its bond with the Napoleonic cavalry, to whom the family once supplied cannons. From that tradition comes the art of sabrage, born as a military practice and over time transformed into a convivial ritual associated with Champagne. It is precisely this universe that inspires the Cuvée des Hussards, a tribute to strength, discipline, and celebration, still echoing that history.
The motto “Le Temps Révélé” sums up an approach translated into precise choices: extended ageing on the lees, the careful use of reserve wines to enrich complexity, and, for certain cuvées, ageing in Burgundian barrels to add subtle nuances to the structure.
Our experience in Avize began with a glass of Grande Réserve, the ideal prelude to a journey that led us into the cellar: a suspended space where bottles rest for years in a dense, vital silence. It is here that one understands how patience is not mere waiting, but an integral part of creation itself.
It is no coincidence that the Maison’s new visual identity draws inspiration from this dialogue between time and roots: midnight blue evokes the cycle of the seasons and the silence of the cellars, lunar phases mark the length of ageing, crossed cannons recall the family’s Napoleonic legacy, and the Avize seal reaffirms its roots in the Côte des Blancs. A synthesis of symbols that prepares both the eye – and the palate – for the tasting of the cuvées.
Grande Réserve – Brut
Blend: 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier (the only cuvée of the Maison to include Meunier).
Base: 2021 with 20–30% reserve wines from 2020/2019.
Vinification: enamelled steel, full malolactic fermentation.
Ageing: 4 years on the lees.
Dosage: 6 g/L.
Disgorgement: May 2025.
Tasting notes: A fresh and harmonious Champagne: delicate floral aromas and a powdery nuance, bright citrus notes, and a consensual touch that makes it immediate and approachable. On the palate it enters with fullness, then lightens and expands gracefully, bringing a pure, linear freshness.
Extra Brut Premier Cru
Blend: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir.
Crus: Cramant, Chouilly, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.
Base: 2019.
Vinification: stainless steel and enamelled steel.
Ageing: 5 years on the lees.
Dosage: 3.5 g/L (selected blind).
Disgorgement: 17/02/2025.
Tasting notes: Mineral impressions at first, joined by a powdery touch and sweet hints of candy and banana. On the palate, explosive acidity progressively harmonises, with notes of candied lemon and a saline, citrusy finish of great complexity and gastronomic appeal.
Rosé Premier Cru
Blend: 60% Chardonnay (stainless steel), 40% Pinot Noir (stainless steel), including 12% Coteaux Champenois rouge (228 L barrique, second passage).
Crus: Cramant, Chouilly, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.
Base: 2018.
Ageing: 7 years on the lees.
Dosage: 5 g/L.
Disgorgement: 2025.
Tasting notes: Brilliant orange hue. Aromas of powdery notes with smoky and mineral accents. On the palate it is juicy, fresh, and vibrant, with ripe citrus tones of orange and pink grapefruit, supported by a subtle bitterness that adds balance and elegance. Excellent drinkability, fine and essential.
Cuvée des Hussards – Blanc de Blancs Vieilles Vignes 2013
Tasting notes: A light and pure Champagne, still settling after its recent disgorgement. Saline sensations and incisive clarity dominate the aromas, with sharp citrus notes reminiscent of citron. On the palate, an elegant and persistent finish underscores its essential finesse.
VV26
Type: Prestige cuvée (single parcels).
Vinification: 6 months in barrel.
Base: 2014 with 20–30% reserve wines.
Ageing: 10 years on the lees.
Dosage: 7.5 g/L.
Disgorgement: 2025.
Production: 4,000 bottles/year.
Produced in limited quantities from a single parcel, this cuvée stands out for its elevated complexity and finesse, shaped by long lees ageing, destined to reveal its full depth over time. We will discover it...
🔗 Learn more about Frerejean Frères and its “Le Temps Révélé” cuvées at: 🌐 www.frerejeanfreres.com
