Roses de Jeanne - Cédric Bouchard

History of Champagne Roses de Jeanne - Cédric Bouchard

The adventure of Champagne Roses de Jeanne began in 2000, when Cédric Bouchard, son of a Champenois winegrower, decided to forge his own path after an enriching experience as a sommelier and wine merchant in Paris. Trained in Beaune, the cradle of Burgundian single-vineyard viticulture, he returned to his home village of Celles-sur-Ource with a clear ambition: to produce champagnes that reflect the soul of their terroir. At the outset, his father lent him a one-hectare plot, Les Ursules, planted with pinot noir. This initial attempt quickly turned into a masterstroke, laying the foundations for a meteoric reputation.

Named best winemaker in Champagne in 2008 by Gault Millau, Cédric Bouchard embodies the Champenois renaissance. In tribute to his grandmother Jeanne (or Janika according to some sources), he named his estate "Les Roses de Jeanne", a name that resonates like an ode to family tradition revisited with modernity. Initially limited to 1.09 hectares, making it the smallest estate in Champagne at the time, the vineyard gradually expanded to reach nearly 3 hectares today, incorporating his father's plots after purchasing them. Since 2014, all production has been unified under the Les Roses de Jeanne label, abandoning the Inflorescence range that previously used his father's grapes. With an approach inspired by Burgundy — one grape variety, one terroir, one vintage — Cédric Bouchard has restored the reputation of the Côte des Bar, a region often overshadowed by the Montagne de Reims or the Côte des Blancs.

Terroirs and Vines of Champagne Roses de Jeanne - Cédric Bouchard

Located in the south of Champagne, in Celles-sur-Ource, Champagne Roses de Jeanne benefits from a unique terroir in the Côte des Bar, just 20 km from Burgundy. The clay-limestone soils, often of the Kimmeridgian type, similar to those of Chablis, give the wines a distinctive minerality and rare complexity. This microclimate, warmer than that of the northern terroirs, is particularly favorable to pinot noir, the region's king grape variety, but also to chardonnay and the extremely rare pinot blanc, which Cédric Bouchard elevates with remarkable talent.

The estate today spans nearly 3 hectares, divided into exceptional micro-plots. Among them, Les Ursules (0.97 ha), planted in 1974, is the estate's historic birthplace. Other prestigious lieu-dits such as Côte de Val Vilaine (1.42 ha), Côte de Béchalin (0.73 ha), La Bolorée (0.217 ha), and Le Creux d'Enfer (0.07 ha) illustrate this obsessional single-vineyard approach. Cultivated biodynamically (although without official certification), the vines are tended with extreme care: plowing, severe bud removal, green harvesting, and yields limited to 20–30 hl/ha, among the lowest in Champagne. This density, sometimes up to 8,000 vines per hectare, and this rigor guarantee exceptional concentration in every grape, revealing the quintessence of each terroir.

Winemaking at Domaine Les Roses de Jeanne - Cédric Bouchard

Winemaking at Cédric Bouchard's is an art of precision and purity. True to his motto "one plot, one grape variety, one vintage", he rejects traditional blending to allow each terroir to express itself fully. Harvested by hand and foot-trodden, the grapes undergo rigorous sorting: only the juice from the first pressing, the most noble, is kept, with the rest being sold to négociants. Fermentation is carried out exclusively with indigenous yeasts, without chaptalization, to preserve the authenticity of the fruit.

Unlike many Champenois producers, Cédric Bouchard bans oak aging, which he considers too intrusive. His wines are vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks, a choice that preserves the freshness and natural minerality of the grapes. Malolactic fermentation is systematically carried out, adding roundness and breadth, while the wines are neither filtered, nor fined, nor dosed. For the second fermentation, he opts for a reduced pressure (4 bars instead of the usual 6), creating fine and discreet bubbles that enhance the vinosity of his champagnes. This style, which he himself describes as "white Burgundies with bubbles", captivates with its elegance and depth.

The Cuvées of Champagne Roses de Jeanne - Cédric Bouchard

Champagne Roses de Jeanne offers a range of ultra-confidential single-vineyard cuvées, each from a unique terroir and a specific grape variety. Here is a comprehensive overview of Cédric Bouchard's iconic wines:

Les Ursules: The estate's first cuvée, from a 0.97 ha plot of pinot noir planted in 1974. With a limited production of around 2,800 bottles, this Blanc de Noirs offers intense concentration, combining finesse, complexity, and mineral tension. A champagne built for aging (4–5 years minimum).

Côte de Val Vilaine: A 100% pinot noir from a 1.42 ha plot in Polisy. This generous wine reveals explosive aromas of brioche and nuts, with a full-bodied and vinous palate. Annual production: 300–500 cases.

Côte de Béchalin: From a 0.73 ha south-east facing plot, this pinot noir stands out for its freshness and notes of citrus and exotic fruits, underpinned by a vibrant acidity. Around 150 cases per year.

La Bolorée: An extremely rare 100% pinot blanc grown on 0.217 ha of Kimmeridgian soils. This confidential champagne (fewer than 1,000 bottles) captivates with its purity and chalky minerality. A gem for collectors.

Presle: A Blanc de Noirs crafted from a west-facing plot in Celles-sur-Ource, planted in 2007 with various rootstocks to maximize complexity. Fresh, elegant, and silky, it shines with its aromas of white fruits and its finesse.

Haute-Lemblée: A 100% chardonnay from a tiny 0.12 ha plot. Ultra-limited production, this Blanc de Blancs offers crystalline precision and rare intensity.

Le Creux d'Enfer Rosé: A 100% pinot noir saignée rosé, produced on 0.07 ha (just a few rows). Delicate and crystalline, with a subtle color and a production of around 500 bottles.

Each cuvée is vintage-dated, undosed, and aged for 38 months on lees in stainless steel tanks, guaranteeing a pure and authentic expression of the terroir.

Would you like to purchase a bottle of Champagne from the Francis Boulard estate? 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....

Champagne Roses de Jeanne - Cédric Bouchard is far more than a champagne house: it is a celebration of nature, terroir, and craftsmanship. Since its creation in 2000, Cédric Bouchard has established a unique style, blending vinosity, precision, and purity, that captivates connoisseurs the world over. With its micro-plots cultivated biodynamically, minimalist winemaking, and rare cuvées, this estate embodies the excellence of a modern and audacious Champagne. Whether you are looking to purchase Les Ursules, Côte de Val Vilaine, or the mythical Bolorée, these exceptional champagnes promise an unforgettable tasting experience.