Vouette & Sorbée

History of Champagne Vouette & Sorbée

The story of Vouette & Sorbée is one of a return to roots, blending earthly passion with a break from conventions. It all began in 1986, when Bertrand Gautherot, then a young man from a family of mixed farmers, took over the family vines in Buxières-sur-Arce. After professional experience in Paris in the world of luxury, where he designed products for houses such as Chanel or Dior, Bertrand returned home in 1993, determined to transform his father's legacy. At the time, the estate was still delivering its grapes to a cooperative, but Bertrand was disappointed by the bland expression of the resulting cuvées. Fascinated by pedology and the living world, he dreamed of wines that "taste of the earth".

It was in 1998 that the turning point came: under Bertrand's impetus, the estate switched entirely to organic farming, then to biodynamics, obtaining Demeter certification. This pioneering choice, inspired by figures such as Anselme Selosse, Jérôme Prévost and Pierre Larmandier, made Vouette & Sorbée a trailblazer in Champagne. The soils, once chemically treated, came back to life: the vine roots plunged deep into the ground, capturing calcareous minerals for increased vitality. In 2001, encouraged by Selosse, Bertrand vinified his first cuvée, the Fidèle, from that year's difficult vintage. The first bottles were released in 2004, marking the official birth of the estate.

Since then, Hélène Gautherot, Bertrand's partner, and their daughter Héloïse have been actively involved in the venture. Héloïse even experiments with new directions, such as the coteaux champenois. The estate, named after the iconic lieu-dits of Vouette and Sorbée, has grown modestly: from selling grapes to artisanal production, it has become a model for the Aube. Recognised by experts such as Peter Liem and Richard Juhlin, who ranks it among the rare 4-star estates outside the Marne, Vouette & Sorbée challenges the festive image of champagne to make it a wine of pleasure, terroir and patience. Today, these biodynamic champagnes attract enthusiasts from around the world, from Michelin-starred restaurants to private cellars, proving that quality prevails over quantity.

Terroirs and Vines of Champagne Vouette & Sorbée

Terroir is the soul of Vouette & Sorbée, a geological jewel that distinguishes the Côte des Bar from the chalky crayères of the Marne. Located halfway between Épernay and Dijon, just to the north-east of Chablis, the estate extends over 5 hectares of steep hillsides, formed 145 to 161 million years ago during the Upper Jurassic. These soils, shaped by epeirogenic movements, uplifts and subsidences of the Earth's crust, have seen alternating seas and emergences, forging unique facies: Kimmeridgian marls rich in oyster fossils (Exogyra Virgula) for three-quarters of the plots, and hard Portlandian limestone for the remaining quarter.

The lieu-dit Vouette, just behind Bertrand's house, is a south-facing slope, transitioning from Kimmeridgian at the bottom to Portlandian at the top. Once planted with Pinot Noir, it was partially replanted with Chardonnay after 2014, to better express its Chablis-like proximity, with identical pedology, climate, fauna and flora. Sorbée, at the top of the hill, is a slightly south-west-facing plateau, pure Portlandian, with Pinot Noir vines aged between 30 and 45 years, from Burgundian selections of the 1950s. Biaunes (or Briaunes), the largest plot at 2 hectares, west-facing and cool despite the afternoon sun, blends Kimmeridgian and Portlandian; its younger vines, predominantly Pinot Noir with a touch of Chardonnay, ripen late thanks to exceptional moisture retention.

Other plots complete the puzzle: Tirmy (west-facing, Pinot Noir over 30 years old, former woodland until the 1960s), Chatel (in Ville-sur-Arce, rocky and dry, sun-exposed Pinot Noir), and Fonnet (warmer, the source of Pinot Blanc for Textures). The average age of the vines is 35 years, with a planting density that encourages vertical root growth. The proximity to Chablis, 60 km to the south-east, justifies the shift towards more Chardonnay: these clay-limestone soils, with a high internal surface area, store unique trace elements, conferring on the wines a striking salinity and minerality. As biodynamics demands, the estate integrates cows, chickens and fruit trees for maximum biodiversity, enriching the soil in calcium carbonate through slow runoff.

Vinifications of Champagne Vouette & Sorbée

Vinification at Vouette & Sorbée is a minimalist art, guided by gravity and respect for the fruit, aiming for total transparency of terroir. Everything begins with a manual harvest spread over three weeks, adapted to plot-by-plot ripeness — a rare luxury in Champagne. The bunches, carefully sorted, are pressed in a traditional vertical wooden coquard without pumping: the juices flow naturally, preserving purity and balance. Static settling in tanks, then gravity descent into 400-litre barrels (Burgundian pieces), Georgian amphorae or neutral barrels of up to 8 years old.

Alcoholic and malolactic fermentations begin spontaneously thanks to indigenous yeasts from the berry bloom, without chaptalization (except in extremely rare cases such as 2001). A touch of SO2 is added at harvest, then nothing: no filtration, fining, acidification, decolouration or cold stabilisation. Wood ageing lasts for months, favouring subtle oxygenation and fine lees for a complex texture. The second fermentation uses an organic liqueur de tirage or natural sugars (as with Sobre), with vintage yeasts. The bottles rest on laths for 18 to 24 months, then manual disgorgement à la volée, without gyropalette or freezing, followed by zero dosage for a pure Brut Nature.

This approach, drawing on advice from Italian and Croatian friends for the macerations, and a solera system for 5% of reserve wines, produces champagnes vinified like great still wines, with fine bubbles as a bonus. Patience and attentiveness guide every step: "Listening, doubt, and life as daily companions", as Fabrice Gautherot puts it. The result? Wines of rare vitality, where natural winemaking amplifies the terroir without masking it. 

The cuvées of Champagne Vouette & Sorbée

The cuvées of Vouette & Sorbée are faithful portraits of their plots, pure expressions where Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc engage in dialogue with the Jurassic soils. Confidential production, they come in Brut Nature, without a vintage but with disgorgement dates and base vintage for traceability.

Fidèle Extra Brut

The heart of the estate, this 100% Pinot Noir blanc de noirs comes from the Sorbée, Tirmy, Biaunes, Chatel and Fonnet plots (Kimmeridgian and Portlandian soils, 40-year-old vines, north-east facing at 250m). Elaborated with 5% solera, it offers intense vinous flavours: dried cherry, wild herbs, sharp calcareous sensations from a pure Kimmeridgian. Powerful and muscular, it evokes a great effervescent Burgundian Pinot, with lively acidity and a saline finish.

Blanc d'Argile Extra Brut

An ode to Chardonnay, this blanc de blancs was born in 2004 on the cool Biaunes plot (2 ha, Kimmeridgian clay-limestone KM3, 25-year-old vines, fresh west-facing exposure). Aromas of green pear, citrus and white flowers; intense, mineral and precise palate, like a great Chablis. Silky texture.

Saignée de Sorbée Extra Brut

An iconic infusion rosé since 2003, 100% Pinot Noir (pure Portlandian, 30-year-old vines). Extended carbonic maceration, early saignée for a deep colour; vinification in oak barrels with indigenous yeasts. Floral hibiscus tisane, strawberry, white pepper and complex red fruits, framing acidity and ferrous notes from the fine-layered clay soil. Powerful and fleshy, it rivals red Burgundies. Limited production (two harvesting passes, not always vintaged).

Textures Extra Brut

Experimental cuvée since 2013, 100% Pinot Blanc from Fonnet (warm Kimmeridgian). Skin maceration for 10 months in a buried Georgian amphora and barrel, with skins, seeds and pulp to amplify its native discretion. Aromas of orange peel, green pear; velvety, mineral and structured texture, integrated bubbles. Inspired by a fraternal heritage and Italian/Croatian advice, this is a unique orange champagne. Confidential production. 

Extrait Extra Brut

Extremely rare (200 bottles), Pinot Noir (with occasional touches of Chardonnay), aged for a long time on lees for a stunning complexity. Originally a family wine, available since 2005. Depth and terroir in a bottle. 

Sobre

Experimental (200 bottles), 100% Chardonnay without liqueur de tirage, secondary fermentation through natural sugars. Vibrant, textured, fresh like the still-memorable 2008. Reserved for connoisseurs.

These cuvées, all aged in wood, embody the philosophy: faithfulness to the terroir and patience.

These cuvées, born from a Chablis-like terroir in Champagne, offer a refined alternative to standardised productions, ideal for enhancing your meals or enriching your cellar. Would you like to purchase a bottle of Champagne Vouette et Sorbée? Discover our selection of wines from the estate as well as other terroir champagnes such as Egly Ouriet, Larmandier Bernier, Agrapart, Laherte, Dehours, Ruppert Leroy, Françoise Bedel, R. Pouillon, Eric Rodez, Chartogne Taillet, Selosse.... Vins & Millésimes offers you the opportunity to buy online the finest bottles and magnums of wines and grand crus. All our wines are in stock with fast delivery! Discover the cuvées of Champagne Henri Giraud available to purchase!