Nicolas Maillart

Chamery, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France The family Maillart can trace its vine-growing heritage to 1753, when their ancestors worked vines in the village of Chamery. They suspect the tradition goes back even further, referring to a “measure of vines” in 1533 that was mapped out by Pierre Maillart, a sworn surveyor working in Chamery for Saint Nicaise abbey. Now, the ninth generation of this venerable family has taken the reins. Young Nicolas took over, after completing his studies in engineering and oenology. He has almost three hundred years of tradition to back him up and maintains the family philosophy of bringing out the full potential of the Champagne terroirs in his wines. The family’s vineyards are solely based on the Montagne de Reims. On this distinctive and rounded hill, Maillart maintains only premier and grand cru vineyards. The family’s ancestors selected the best terroir for each vine very long ago, and this has not changed at all. The bulk of these vines are situated mid-slope, the ideal location for cultivating ripe grapes in this cool climate. Loyal to the region’s traditions, the vineyard boasts a high proportion of Pinot Noir: 75%, with the remaining 25% planted to Chardonnay. In all the vineyards, respect for balance is the guiding principle. From pruning through to the harvest, they carry out as many jobs as possible by hand. They use only organic fertilizers and work the soil by tilling, enabling the winegrower to improve each vine’s natural environment and maintain its equilibrium. Such methods also provide the best guarantee of a sustainable style of environmentally sound viticulture. In the winery, Maillart pays particular attention to the first hours of fermentation. Wines are regularly tasted to monitor their progress and make adjustments accordingly. Vinification and maturing are carried out either in vats or in the barrel, depending on the vineyard source. The reserve wines are also partly matured in barrels to increase their complexity. Blending is the art of Champagne, and with this wide variety of reserve wines to choose from, Maillart is consistently able to make Champagnes of a consistent quality while also being able to set aside those that are highly original and particularly expressive. The bottles are rested for at least a year, then disgorged just before release.