The Côte des Blancs shines brightly across the world, but when travelling across it, you just have to notice one village, that remains shadowed by its neighbours: Oger. Despite being ranked Grand Cru, like le Mesnil-sur-Oger or Cramant, it has historically a tradition of winemaking cooperatives. The future seemed all planned out for Quentin Vincey (eighth generation of cooperative winemaker), when he took over the family business. But the young couple had other plans: very conscious of their heritage, (seven hectares in the villages of Oger, Chouilly and Mesnil, among which five are massal selections), they mean business and aim to bring back Oger where it belongs. Their arrival at the Estate in 2014 marks their departure from the coop, and the start of an adventure that could not happen without an organic certification (now effective). The couple looked for answers very quickly, listened to good advice, and got the right support. Biodynamic farming appeared as an ideal in winegrowing, and more essentially, an ideal in life.
At the Castle of Renneville, 10km away from the Estate, Marine and Quentin have built a real living laboratory, where animals, trees and plantations create a virtuous circle, in which they also take part. Biodynamical preparations are elaborated with local crops. The 2014 vintage marked the genesis of this journey, and the couple accordingly named their first cuvée « La Première ». It is an interpretation of Chardonnay from Oger: a blend of mid-slope, heart of the terroir and bottom of Oger parcels. Marine and Quentin also isolated one single-plot « Le Grand Jardin ». The vines (old south-east facing massal selections) are rooted in a thin layer of vegetation that covers brown clay, and deeper, some chalk gravels. Vinified half in oak barrels half in stainless steel tanks and aged 5 years on lees, the wine is impressive with straightness and concentration. We are proud to follow closely these young and talented winemakers that have already made their place at the top of winegrower’s Champagne.