Champagne Paul Goerg
Beyond its mastery of Chardonnay, the uniqueness of Maison Paul Goerg lies in its status as one of the few grower-owned Champagne Houses. The descendants of the eight founding families remain at the helm of the company, ensuring the preservation of a family expertise passed down through generations. The grapes come almost exclusively from the House’s own vineyards, guaranteeing remarkable traceability and consistent quality. Furthermore, the plot-by-plot approach and attention to old vines make it possible to craft cuvées with varied aromatic profiles, while maintaining the common signature of great elegance. Thanks to an aging period far exceeding the appellation standards and a philosophy of low dosage, Paul Goerg Champagnes express all the finesse, complexity, and freshness that define the Côte des Blancs.
History
Maison Paul Goerg traces its roots to Vertus, at the heart of the renowned Côte des Blancs. Founded in 1950 by the union of eight winegrowing families – the Collard, Faucheret, Férat, Rogué, Grégoire, Doquet, Gallois, and Pougeoise families – it has carried on a shared passion for Champagne for over half a century. These families, still actively involved in the House’s operations, own a vineyard that now spans 120 hectares, the majority of which is planted with Chardonnay. This grape variety represents the DNA of Paul Goerg, lending its elegance and finesse to all of the House’s cuvées.
The Vineyard
The vineyard of Maison Paul Goerg is located on the chalky soils typical of the Côte des Blancs, a terroir renowned for the quality of its Chardonnays. Selected plots, particularly those over 35 years old, receive special attention during harvest: the picking date is determined following meticulous berry tastings, to ensure each plot is harvested at perfect ripeness. This plot-by-plot approach reveals the aromatic diversity of the vineyard’s various areas, even when only a few dozen meters separate two parcels. Each plot is then vinified separately in small tanks to preserve the typicity of each terroir and provide maximum precision in the final blend.
Winemaking and Aging
To preserve the purest expression of the terroir, Maison Paul Goerg employs a low dosage, at 8 g/l for each of its cuvées. The Blanc de Blancs Brut 1er Cru, made from 100% Chardonnay, combines 60% wine from the 2013 harvest with 40% reserve wines. It ages in the cellar for 48 months, resulting in great finesse and beautiful complexity. The Brut Tradition 1er Cru, a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, undergoes the same 48-month cellar aging, combining 65% wine from the 2014 harvest with 35% reserve wines. Finally, the Rosé, composed predominantly of Chardonnay (90%) with 10% Pinot Noir, is primarily from the 2016 harvest and benefits from 12 months in the cellar, preserving its freshness and delicate red fruit aromas.
Wines Character
The Blanc de Blancs charms with its purity and refinement, hallmarks of Chardonnay grown in the chalky soils of Vertus. Its floral notes, combined with a subtle minerality, lend it a distinguished elegance, while 48 months of aging bring out more complex touches of dried fruit and brioche. The Brut Tradition, thanks to the contribution of Pinot Noir, offers a broader and fruitier profile, without ever losing the freshness and finesse of Chardonnay. Its nose often features aromas of white-fleshed fruits and light red berries, supported by a balanced and rounded palate. The Rosé, dominated by Chardonnay and completed by 10% Pinot Noir, presents a delicate salmon hue; its nose suggests strawberry, raspberry, and floral nuances. On the palate, it stands out with a pleasant liveliness, supported by fine bubbles and a consistently restrained dosage that allows the freshness of the main grape variety to shine through.
