Champagne Bérêche & Fils – Rive Gauche Millésime 2019

Champagne Bérêche & Fils – Rive Gauche Millésime 2019.

A poised and characterful Meunier-driven Champagne that distils the essence of the Vallée de la Marne’s left bank with striking precision. Rive Gauche has long been one of the Bérêche & Fils’s most expressive terroir wines, and in 2019 it delivers depth, savoury nuance, and a chiselled structure that speaks clearly of its steep clay-limestone origins. This is Champagne with personality: vibrant, textural, and grounded in its sense of place.

About the Winery

Bérêche & Fils is widely regarded as one of Champagne’s benchmarks for grower-driven precision and authenticity. Under the leadership of brothers Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche, the domaine has become synonymous with meticulous viticulture and a thoughtful, artisanal approach in the cellar. Their philosophy centres on low-intervention winemaking, respect for biodiversity, and a deep commitment to expressing individual lieux-dits through detail and transparency.

Fermentation typically occurs in oak barrels to encourage texture and aromatic complexity, followed by extended lees ageing and traditional secondary fermentation under cork—a practice that imparts subtle oxidative breadth and enhanced finesse. The resulting wines are known for their structure, purity of fruit, and an unmistakable sense of tension.

From Mareuil-le-Port to Ormes and beyond, the family’s holdings showcase a mosaic of soils and exposures, but the Rive Gauche cuvée—entirely Meunier from a steep, south-facing slope—stands as one of their most distinctive and expressive bottlings.

About the Vineyard

Rive Gauche originates from just 0.45 hectares of old-vine Meunier in Mareuil-le-Port, planted roughly 45 years ago on the parcels Maisoncelle and Côteaux Châtaigner. The site rises to about 200 metres with a 35% incline, a dramatic slope that ensures excellent drainage and optimal sun exposure.

The soils are a complex mix of deep clay, limestone, and sand—ideal for Meunier, which thrives in richer, moisture-retentive soils but gains energy and definition from the limestone’s mineral lift. Farming here emphasizes balance and vitality, allowing the fruit to capture both the generosity of the valley and the precision afforded by the slope.

These factors combine to produce a distinct expression of Meunier: structured, aromatic, and capable of graceful ageing.

About the Wine

The 2019 vintage provided excellent ripeness with clarity of acidity, and this Rive Gauche is a compelling reflection of that balance.

Dégorgé in November 2022 and finished as Extra Brut (2 g/L), it opens with refined tension and a beautifully integrated aromatic profile. The nose is savoury and layered, showing ripe orchard fruit, crushed pear, red apple skin, and hints of Mirabelle, supported by dried herbs, hazelnut, and a delicate whisper of spice from its slow barrel fermentation. Subtler notes of chalk dust, floral hints, and crushed stone emerge with air.

The palate is driven by energy and texture: brisk acidity, a fine and persistent mousse, and an interplay between fruit purity and saline minerality. Meunier’s natural breadth is present, yet it is elegantly restrained by the wine’s taut structure and the influence of its steep, limestone-inflected slope. A gentle oxidative nuance from ageing under cork lends further dimension without compromising freshness.

The finish is long, linear, and quietly powerful, leaving impressions of citrus zest, biscuit, and minerality. This is a wine that rewards attention and will continue to evolve over the coming years.

Conclusion

Champagne Bérêche & Fils’ Rive Gauche Millésime 2019 is a thoughtful and terroir-faithful expression of old-vine Meunier—precise, textural, and resonant. It captures the estate’s dedication to craftsmanship and the unique voice of Mareuil-le-Port’s left bank slopes.

We award this wine a 92-point DWA score—a vibrant, structured Meunier Champagne with admirable finesse and personality.

This review is written by our own Niels Aarts.

Taste Date: November 2025

Price:          ~ €90

Website:    Champagne Bérêche & Fils