Frerejean Frères

History of Champagne Frerejean Frères

The history of Champagne Frerejean Frères is rooted in the heritage of the prestigious Taittinger family, from which brothers Guillaume, Richard and Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger descend. The turning point came in 2005, the year that saw the sale of the Taittinger house to an American pension fund: the three brothers, driven by a passion for champagne and nurtured by a family champagne culture, decided to create their own artisanal house, originally conceived for their close circle.

The decisive encounter took place the same year in London, during a tasting, with Didier Pierson, a fifth-generation winemaker based in Avize, already known for his exacting standards and talent. Drawn by the idea of a collaborative venture, Didier Pierson made four hectares of vines in Avize available and signed a first vintage cuvée 2006, produced in only 5,000 bottles. The success was immediate. The name of the house pays tribute to an ancestor of the family, a cannon maker for the Napoleonic armies, which explains the emblematic logo of crossed cannons.

Terroirs and Vines of Champagne Frerejean Frères

The vineyard of Champagne Frerejean Frères is located at the heart of the Côte des Blancs, some ten kilometres south of Épernay, on the gentle slopes that have earned the Champenois Chardonnay its worldwide renown. The plots, covering a total area of approximately 10 hectares, are planted exclusively in villages classified Premier Cru and Grand Cru: Avize, Cramant, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Grauves, as well as Ambonnay and Bouzy for the Pinot Noirs.

The deep chalky soils, inherited from ancient seabeds rich in fossils, combined with a climate of dual oceanic and continental influence (with an average temperature of 11 °C), give the Chardonnay a sculpted minerality and a characteristic aromatic tension. Certain old vines, planted as early as 1926, yield grapes of exceptional concentration. Vineyard management is resolutely respectful: a reasoned approach, minimal use of pesticides, preservation of biodiversity and entirely manual harvesting with rigorous berry selection.

Vinifications of Champagne Frerejean Frères

In the cellar, Didier Pierson applies a plot-by-plot winemaking approach, treating each cru separately to preserve the identity of each terroir. Alcoholic fermentations take place primarily in stainless steel tanks, in order to preserve the freshness of the fruit and aromatic precision, although certain base wines benefit from fermentation in oak barrels to add complexity and depth. Reserve wines, kept in a dedicated library, guarantee the expression of a consistent and recognisable house style.

The Frerejean Frères signature rests on one essential factor: time. All wines age for a minimum of 5 years on lees, and certain prestige cuvées may mature for up to 12 years before disgorgement. Dosages are deliberately low, most often Extra-Brut (less than 6 g/l), allowing the purity of the chalky terroir and the finesse of the Chardonnay to express themselves fully. Certain exceptional cuvées are also sealed with a crown cap, a return to the ancestral traditions of the Fine Wine of Champagne, for an even more authentic ageing.

The Cuvées of Champagne Frerejean Frères

The Grande Réserve cuvée is the house's accessible and elegant signature. Crafted from the purest juices (heart of the cuvée), a blend of several vintages complemented by reserve wines, it benefits from 3 to 4 years of ageing in the cellar. Delicate, supple, marked by beautiful floral aromas, it ideally accompanies fine charcuterie, terrines and small sharing dishes.

The Brut Premier Cru cuvée is the emblem of the house, the purest expression of the Premier Cru terroir of the Côte des Blancs. A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Premier Cru classified vines, it benefits from a long ageing of 5 to 7 years on lees and an Extra-Brut dosage. A complex, balanced Champagne, both aromatic and fresh, the perfect companion to haute gastronomie.

The Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru cuvée is crafted exclusively from Chardonnay sourced from the finest Premier Cru plots of the Côte des Blancs. Long ageing on lees, low dosage: this blanc de blancs offers a crystalline expression of the king grape variety, with a taut, saline palate marked by citrus fruits, white flowers and chalk.

The Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru cuvée comes from the three mythical villages of Avize, Cramant and Oger, all classified Grand Cru. Sealed with a crown cap according to tradition and aged at length, it combines richness and minerality in a striking balance. A full, vinous palate, marked by white fruits, toasted bread and the chalky backbone of the Côte des Blancs.

The Rosé Premier Cru cuvée blends Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from the finest Premier Cru sites, complemented by a touch of red wine from Pinot Noir for colour. Long ageing on lees, moderate dosage: a gastronomic rosé that is at once fruity, elegant and deep, marked by red berries, rose and a characteristic chalky finish.

The VV26 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru cuvée is one of the house's emblematic prestige cuvées, crafted from very old vines planted in 1926. Sealed with a crown cap and aged 8 years on lees, it delivers silky, rounded textures marked by roasted almond, vanilla cream and subtle spices, sublimated by a delicate mousse. 

The Cuvée des Hussards is the house's vintage prestige cuvée, a tribute to the Napoleonic cavalry said to have been the first to sabre champagne. Crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from old vines of over 40 years in Premier and Grand Cru, it displays remarkable power and expression. Limited to 20,000 bottles for the 2012 vintage, it develops a nose of yellow fruits, white flowers and summer fruits, followed by a silky, generous palate with brilliant minerality.