Marc Hebrart Champagne Brut Selection Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru NV

70% Mareuil-Sur-Ay Vieilles Vignes und 30% Chardonnay (Oiry-Chouilly) davon 25% Reserve Weine; ca. 50 Jahre alte Reben; die Grundweine durchlaufen die Malolaktik; Ausbau in Edelstahl; Lagerung auf der Hefe in der Flasche für zumindest 48 Monate; Dosage ca. 6 g/l

- Christian Göldenboog & Oliver Rüther im wunderbaren Buch „Die Champagner Macher“: „Bei Hebrarts Champagner kommt stets Freude auf, so als hätte die Horn-Section von Earth, Wind & Fire gerade zum Blasen angesetzt, beim Blanc de Blancs ebenso wie beim Brut Selection, bei dem zwei Drittel blaue Tauben für den Biss sorgen."

- 94 Punkte TYSON STELZER Champagne Guide 2020: "30% chardonnay from Oiry and Chouilly, 70% pinot noir from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ vines of 45–55 years of age;fermented in stainless steel tanks; full malolactic fermentation; aged 4–4.5 years on lees; 7–7.5g/L dosage; cork.
A magnificent entry cuvée that articulates the inimitable talent of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ to magnificently juxtapose the elegance and the presence of pinot noir. For its age, pinot noir predominance and generous reserves, it upholds impressive freshness of Mareuil old-vine lift in precocious red cherry and red berry fruits and waves of anise and fruit mince spice. It concludes with an enticing and seamless fanfare of vibrant morello cherry acidity and wellharmonised dosage. It’s at once succulent and juicy and at the same time lively and fresh, with the pronounced salty chalk minerality of Mareuil tapped as only old vines can do. All hail the great 2013/2012 duo!"

- 92+ Punkte Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Yohan Castaing (10/2024): „A blend of 70% Pinot Noir from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and 30% Chardonnay from the communes of Bisseuil and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the NV Brut Premier Cru Sélection offers up aromas of pear, white peach, spring flowers and lemon oil mingled with delicate notes of pastry. Medium to full-bodied, with good depth at the core, it's round and vinous, with a delicate, fresh mid-palate that leads to a long, crystalline and pure finish.2024-2034.
Jean-Claude Hébrart leads the house founded by his father, who bottled his first Champagnes in 1962 with just three barrels of production. Now, Jean-Claude manages 17 hectares of vineyards spread across 80 parcels in 11 different villages, with the majority of the vineyards located in Aÿ. He sources grapes for 25% of the production. Hébrart practices precise viticulture, using the Chablis pruning method (which he believes benefits the Chardonnay), working the soils and tillage between rows throughout the estate, and avoiding sowing. His Champagnes showcase vinous, incisive and saline textures, focusing on bright, crystalline characters.“

- 92 Punkte JEB DUNNUCK, Audrey Frick (12/2024): “Bright silver/straw-colored and coming from 50-year-old vines, the NV Champagne 1er Cru Selection Brut is made from 70% Pinot Noir and the rest Chardonnay, with 60% from the 2020 vintage and reserve wine from 2019 and 2018. The nose takes on more salinity but remains fresh, with notes of delicate flint, wet stones, honeydew melon, and raspberries. Medium-bodied, juicy, and inviting, with lovely purity and freshness through the palate, it has a pillowy mousse, a lovely, rounded texture, and some very pleasing pastry notes. It is quite appealing now and should continue to offer a wide window of enjoyment over the coming 8-10 years. 6 grams per liter dosage. 2024-2035“

- 92 Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, William Kelley (08/2019): „The latest rendition of Hébrart's NV Brut Premier Cru Sélection, disgorged earlier this year, is derived largely from Mareuil-sur-Ay, supplemented by some 13% from Chouilly. Offering up aromas of citrus oil, white flowers and fresh pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, with good concentration and structure in a charming format, concluding with an elegantly chalky finish.
The softly spoken and unassuming Marc Hébrart purchased his first vines at the age of 17 and took over the reins at his father's small Mareuil-sur-Aÿ domaine in 1998. Members of the Special Club since 1985, the Hébrart family have long been serious growers, but Marc has taken the estate to new heights. He works the soils and employs synthetic products only at flowering to protect the crop. "I need to have a good crop so I have enough grapes to make choices in the cellar," he explains. He uses only organic fertilizers and debuds to limit yields. And he's trying to build up his stocks so he can offer older vintages for sale, thinking that their reserves constitute one of the important advantages of the grandes marques. The Hébrart style is supremely - even deceptively - charming, emphasizing pretty fruit tones and structured around succulent acids. Yet the wines reward contemplation, too, and age very well indeed. All the releases here come warmly recommended. 2020-2030.“

- 91 Punkte VINOUS, Antonio Galloni (11/2023): „Aromatic and vibrant, the Brut Selection impresses with its balance and sensuality. Lemon confit, white flowers, apricot, mint, chamomile and plum meld together in an understated , classy champagne ready to go now. I LOVED IT. Dosage is 6 g/l.
This set of current releases from Hébrart is superb. The entry-level bottlings ARE DELICIOUS AND VERY GOOD VALUES, while the higher-end Champagnes are incredibly distinctive. Most of the wines are done in tank, except the flagship Rive Gauche-Rive Droite and the Clos Le Léon. In this tasting, the most complete wine is the 2016 Blanc de Noirs Noces de Craie,100% Pinot Noir from five parcels in Aÿ.“

-  91 Punkte JEB DUNNUCK, Audrey Frick (7/2022): „The NV Champagne Selection Brut is 65% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 70% is coming from the 2018 vintage, 25% from 2016, and the rest from 2015. The aromas are more rounded and have a bit more orchard fruit and berries, with ripe peach, raspberry, and almond flour. The palate is characteristically fresh and fruity with red cherry, a fair bit of density, salinity, and a broader approach. Drink over the next 15 years.“ 2022-2037

- Fiona Beckett, THE GUARDIAN (12/2023): "Grower champagne – champagne that’s made by a single producer rather than sourced from dozens of growers – is bang on trend because it has a better back story and more individuality. You can support an independent too. The London wine merchant Lea & Sandeman specialises in them and this is just lovely. An elegant champagne for sipping rather than swigging.“