Collard-Picard, Cuvee Prestige Extra Brut NV

This is predominantly grand cru Chardonnay with an equal blend of premier cru Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and is a blend of four vintages. It is matured in 700-litre foudres for 15 months and aged for a further three years in bottle before disgorgement.

This is the story of two families from Champagne, one owner on the Cote des Blancs, the other in the valley of the Marne. The story of a happy wedding, the one of Caroline Picard and Olivier Collard. Heirs of four generations of winegrowers, they took off in 2006 and invested above the village of Villers sous Chatillon, the village where Olivier grew up. Their facilities are ambitious, with the perfect balance between tradition and modernity. Their press machine separates the heart of cuvees, the tanks are temperature-controlled, the pigeages are slow and maceration is cold. Here, there is no malolactic fermentation, but long aging in oak barrels up to 2 years. The corks are put at bottling and the dispensing liquor is issued from the grape juice. This strict discipline is also found in the vineyard, with a work respectful of the environment and the terroir. A philosophy that Olivier has inherited from his grandfather, Rene, a pioneer in the area. Their wines, definitely 'haute couture', sublimate the palate by their refinement and precision.