From the atlas
Champagne Michel Mailliard
A Vertus Champagne house focused on predominantly Chardonnay vineyards, first press juice and long lees ageing in Mont Vergon wines.
At A Glance
| Region | Champagne, Côte des Blancs |
| Village | Vertus |
| Main grape | Mostly Chardonnay |
| Signature wine | Mont Vergon 2007 |
| Defining feature | First press juice and blocked malolactic fermentation |
The Producer
At Michel Mailliard, grape quality and vineyard stewardship come first. The house farms sustainably, produces approximately 3,000 nine litre cases annually, and works with vineyards planted predominantly to Chardonnay. The production remains small enough for the grape and the cellar choices to define the range clearly.
The house's approach begins in the vineyard. High quality grapes are treated as the basis for great wine, while sustainable farming keeps vineyard care at the centre of production.
Place
Vertus sits in Champagne's Côte des Blancs, a region closely associated with Chardonnay. The village is the home of Michel Mailliard, whose vineyards are predominantly planted to the same grape.
The Côte des Blancs is also marked by chalk outcrops that appear differently from those in other Champagne zones. That exposed chalk gives the region a distinct physical character before the grapes reach the press.
Soil And Site
Chalk is a porous limestone that can drain excess water while holding moisture for the vines. In sparkling wine, chalk soils are commonly associated with a mineral impression and firm acidity. The chalk outcrops around the Côte des Blancs are one of the clearest physical features of the landscape.
Story
Alexia Mailliard makes two clear base wine decisions. She uses only first press juice, the earliest portion released from the press, for the base wines. She also blocks malolactic fermentation, the conversion that changes sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid.
These choices preserve minerality and purity in the base wines. The cellar direction comes through Alexia's work, with the grape and the chalk setting kept visible through the first stage of production.
Vineyards And Cellar
Sustainable farming is part of the house's vineyard work. In the cellar, Michel Mailliard operates from a custom crush facility, while the winemaking equipment is used only for Michel Mailliard production.
A custom crush facility provides the production setting; dedicated equipment keeps the pressing and cellar tools assigned to this house. The arrangement gives the wines their own equipment within that facility.
Wines
Mont Vergon 2007 and 2008 are the named vintage wines in the range. The 2007 is a Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay, while Mont Vergon 2008 is another vintage bottle from the same named cuvée.
Cuvée Gregory 1er Cru Brut is the nonvintage cuvée, made from 95% Chardonnay and 5% Pinot Noir. It ages for 5 years on lees before disgorgement. Lees ageing keeps the wine on its spent yeast cells after the second fermentation, adding texture and savoury depth.
Mont Vergon 2007 aged for a minimum of 12 years on lees before release. The range therefore places long aged vintage Chardonnay beside a nonvintage cuvée with Pinot Noir in support.
In The Glass
Mont Vergon 2007 opens with white flowers, fresh fruit and subtle minerality. The palate is fresh, lively, powerful and ripe, with white fruit and lemon aromas returning through the mouth. The finish is sophisticated and lingering.
Mont Vergon 2008 brings citrus, lemon and pear on the nose. Its fruit profile suits fish and seafood, where the wine's sparkling acidity works alongside delicate flavours rather than overpowering them.
A Bottle To Understand It
Choose Mont Vergon 2008. It is a 100% Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay vintage wine with a dosage of 5.6 g/l and residual sugar of 5.45 g/l. Dosage is the small addition made after disgorgement, and these figures place the wine in a dry Brut style.
The bottle brings vintage Chardonnay, the Mont Vergon name and a measured sweetness level together. It accompanies fish and seafood beautifully.
Anecdote
In 1894, Michel Mailliard was founded in Vertus, in the Côte des Blancs. The Mailliard family has been in Vertus since that year. Today, fourth generation siblings Gregory and Alexia Mailliard manage the house. The current vineyards are predominantly planted to Chardonnay, and the house produces approximately 3,000 nine litre cases annually. Mont Vergon vintage Brut and Cuvée Gregory 1er Cru Brut are among the named wines made under their management.
Final Word
Michel Mailliard works in Vertus with predominantly Chardonnay vineyards and sustainable farming. Alexia Mailliard uses first press juice and blocks malolactic fermentation, while Mont Vergon carries the house's vintage Blanc de Blancs wines.
Sources
1. https://www.thesortingtable.com/grower/michel-mailliard/ 2. https://profilewinegroup.com/pages/champagne-michel-mailliard 3. https://www.thesortingtable.com/wines/michel-mailliard/mont-vergon-1er-cru-vintage-brut-2007/ 4. https://www.thesortingtable.com/wines/michel-mailliard/mont-vergon-1er-cru-vintage-brut-2008/ 5. https://www.thesortingtable.com/wines/michel-mailliard/nv-cuvee-gregory-brut/