Les 5 du Vin sparkle in Champagne with Les Artisans du Champagne (more photos)

Le boulot terminé!

Some more photos from Les 5 du Vin's short stay in Champagne (3rd and 4th November) where we were guests of Alfred Gratien and Les Artisans du Champagne. These photos come from the first of two tastings we had with Les Artisans, who are now a group of 14 producers. The first tasting was on the afternoon of Thursday 3rd and featured seven of the artisans hosted at Champagne Doyard. The next day it was the turn of the remaining seven. Overall I was impressed by both the quality and the diversity of the Champagnes we were shown. At the beginning of December there will be a week devoted to Champagne on Les 5's blog. My contribution will be on Les Artisans.     

Pascal Gerbais: Champagne Pierre Gerbais 

Yannick Doyard: Champagne Doyard

 Serving the group

 Christophe Constant: Champagne JL Vergnon

Gilles Lancelot: Champagne Lancelot

Doyard glasses 

Part of the Doyard chai incorporating an old building

 Nicolas Jaeger: Alfred Gratien

 Jean-Paul Hébrart: Champagne Marc Hébrart

 Some previous posts on Les 5 en Champagne here and here.

Les 5 du Vin sparkle in Champagne (more photos): Alfred Gratien

An old Alfred Gratien sign in their cellars

Some further photos from the visit (2nd-4th November) to the Champagne region by Les 5 du Vin as guests of Alfred Gratien and Les Artisans du Champagne. 

Nicolas Jaeger: chef de caves@Alfred Gratien 

Nicolas Jaeger, the third generation of Jaeger's to have been the chef de caves at Alfred Gratien. His grandfather started at Gratien in 1928. Nicolas started with the company in 1990 under his father Jean-Pierre. Nicolas took over as chef in 2007 when his father retired. 

Nicolas Jaeger

   

At Alfred Gratien vintage Champagne is still closed with a cork while sur latte 

 A number in the cellars

 Alfred Gratien, who founded the company and Gratien et Meyer in Saumur in 1864

It is rumoured that Joël Deniau (Crémant de Loire) has been chosen to star in a new film based on the life of Alfred Gratien 

Marc Vanhellemont: the master blender@work

 Marc starting to liszt?

A brutal but effective way to stem the stream of jokes from Hervé Lalau!

Les 5 du Vin sparkle in Champagne

 Les Artisans du Champagne@Champagne Doyard

Les 5 du Vin are on a two day visit to Champagne guests of Alfred Gratien Champagne and Les Artisans du Champagne. Some photos from the first day. More to follow.

 Hervé Lalau

Marc Vanhellemont considering a Champagne Alfred Gratien 

Michel Smith 

 Herve Lalau pays due homage to Michel Smith