Frerejean Frères is a young Champagne house in Avize on the Côte des Blancs, founded by three brothers in 2005. The house style is dry and precise, with grapes from premier and grand cru villages and long ageing on the lees.
Frerejean Frères: three brothers and a new house in Avize
Champagne Frerejean Frères was founded in 2005 by the brothers Guillaume, Richard and Rodolphe Frerejean. Their mother is from the Taittinger family, and the brothers have always seen Champagne as home.
The house is in Avize, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, where Chardonnay gives some of the region's most elegant and mineral wines. Most of the fruit comes from Avize and the surrounding villages, and the house works only with grapes from premier and grand cru vineyards, some from very old vines. Avize is itself one of the Côte des Blancs grand cru villages, known for Chardonnay with taut acidity and a chalky minerality that makes Champagne built to last.
Long lees ageing and low dosage
What sets Frerejean Frères apart from many houses is time. The non-vintage wines spend at least five years on the lees and the vintage wines eight years or more. That long ageing brings depth, fine bubbles and notes of brioche and nuts, while the low dosage keeps the wines dry and fresh.
The Brut Premier Cru is roughly half Chardonnay and half Pinot Noir and is the classic way into the house. The Extra Brut has even less dosage, and the Rosé Premier Cru shows the house style with red fruit. The Grande Réserve completes the range.
Cuvée des Hussards and VV26
The Cuvée des Hussards is the house's vintage Champagne. It is around 85 percent Chardonnay from Cramant, Avize, Grauves and Chouilly and 15 percent Pinot Noir from Vertus, aged for more than eight years on the lees. The 2012 vintage is available here.
VV26 is the prestige cuvée: pure Chardonnay from the grand cru villages of Cramant, Avize and Oger. The name refers to the old vines, the oldest planted in 1926. The base wine spends seven months in oak, and the Champagne is rich, deep and complex, with notes of nuts and spice. Instead of the usual wire muselet, the cork is held by an old-style metal clamp.
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Frerejean Frères questions and answers
Is Frerejean Frères connected to Taittinger?
Through family, yes. The brothers' mother is from the Taittinger family. Frerejean Frères is nonetheless an independent house with its own wines and style.
Where is Frerejean Frères?
In Avize on the Côte des Blancs, south of Épernay. The grapes come from premier and grand cru villages such as Avize, Cramant, Oger and Grauves.
How long are the Champagnes aged?
At least five years on the lees for the non-vintage wines and eight years or more for the vintages, before disgorgement. They are ready to drink on release, but the Cuvée des Hussards and VV26 will happily keep for several more years.
What food goes with Frerejean Frères?
The Brut and Extra Brut suit oysters, shellfish and sushi. The Cuvée des Hussards and VV26 can take fish in butter sauce, poultry and aged Comté.