RIVE GAUCHE/RIVE DROITE

Marc Hébrart started making his own Champagne in 1962, and the domaine is now run by Jean-Paul, who took over in 1997. Jean-Paul tries to add to the family holdings every year, believing that even at current prices it's still a good long-term bet. He's currently running 16 hectares, 8 ha of Pinot in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Chardonnay in Oiry, Avize, Chouilly and Cramant, and more Pinot in Louvois and Aÿ - as well as the Clos le Léon in Dizy: in total 80 parcels in 11 villages.

The vineyards are farmed sustainably, with as little input as possible. Vinification is by parcel to give the widest possible palette when it comes to blending, and or course allowing for single-vineyard releases like the Clos Léon, a rare walled Clos in the village of Dizy. Most of the Champagnes are made in stainless steel, but since 2004 there has been a barrel-fermented cuvée which blends some of his Chardonnays on the Côte de Blancs with some of his best Pinot Noirs to the north of the Marne - 'Rive Droite-Rive Gauche'.