At A Glance
- Field
- Detail
- Region
- Champagne
- Subregion
- Montagne de Reims, Marne
- Village
- Chamery
- Main grapes
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier
- Range
- Brut, Brut Sélection and Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
- Defining feature
- Family viticulture across six generations
The Producer
Champagne Henri Maillart & Fils is a family house in Chamery, in the Montagne de Reims area of Marne. Benjamin Maillart directs the estate today. The family farms approximately six hectares and produces around 40,000 bottles annually.
The vineyards include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, while the farming preserves biodiversity and limits chemical use. The house combines its own vineyard work with Champagne production across a compact range of cuvées.
Place
Chamery places the house in the Montagne de Reims, where its vineyards are evenly divided among Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. The three grapes shape the range, from a Brut using all three to Chardonnay led and pure Chardonnay bottles.
Soil And Site
The vineyard work uses precise pruning, natural grass cover and reduced treatments. Natural grass cover keeps living vegetation between the vines, while reduced chemical use supports the biodiversity of the holdings. The house describes this as sustainable and responsible viticulture.
Story
Henri Maillart's great-grandfather founded the artisanal house. Six generations of family viticulture and Champagne production followed, with Benjamin Maillart now representing the sixth generation of winegrowers and directing the estate. The present house still joins vineyard farming and Champagne production in Chamery.
Vineyards And Cellar
The vineyard routine includes precise pruning, natural grass cover and limited treatments. These are practical farming choices that keep the soil covered and reduce chemical inputs while preserving biodiversity.
In the cellar, the work moves through careful pressing, fermentation, precise blending and ageing. Pressing prepares the must for fermentation, blending brings the component wines together, and ageing gives the cuvées time to develop texture and flavour.
Wines
Henri Maillart Brut is the broadest cuvée, combining 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Meunier. Brut Sélection narrows the blend to 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. Blanc de Blancs is made exclusively from Chardonnay.
The Blanc de Blancs receives ten years of cellar ageing and no added dosage liqueur. It is presented as Extra Brut with 0 g/l dosage. The range therefore moves from a three grape Brut through a Chardonnay led cuvée to a pure Chardonnay wine with extended cellar ageing and zero dosage.
In The Glass
Henri Maillart Brut is creamy and fresh, with mature apple, citrus, apricot, pastry, spice and herbal notes. Its reserve wine and bottle ageing give the wine a rounded texture alongside its freshness.
Brut Sélection is dry, fresh and acidic, with mineral, orange peel, almond, honey, bread and cream aromas. Blue plum and citrus continue on the palate, where a fine creamy mousse carries the wine to a long citrus finish.
Blanc de Blancs brings warm yellow apple, nougat, butter fried brioche, pine nut and citrus compote. The extended cellar ageing gives the Chardonnay a developed aromatic profile.
A Bottle To Understand It
Henri Maillart Brut Sélection is the first bottle to open. It sits between the three grape Brut and the pure Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs, using Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in a dry Brut cuvée with several years of cellar ageing.
The wine carries a 7 g/l dosage and keeps the range's move toward Chardonnay visible without leaving Pinot Noir behind. Its middle position makes the progression of the house's bottles easy to follow.
Anecdote
After Benjamin Maillart's father's death in 2002, Benjamin and his mother decided to continue operating the family business. The business was the Champagne house in Chamery, where Champagne Henri Maillart & Fils is based. Benjamin Maillart directs the family estate today. The episode begins with a death, moves through a joint decision by mother and son, and ends with Benjamin leading the house in Chamery.
Final Word
Benjamin Maillart leads a family Champagne house in Chamery whose vineyards support a three grape Brut, a Chardonnay led Brut Sélection and a pure Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs.
Sources
- champagne-henri-maillart-et-fils.fr/notre-maison
- champagne-henri-maillart-et-fils.fr/oenotourisme-et-experiences
- bestchampagne.se/producenter/champagne-henri-maillart-et-fils
- champagne-henri-maillart-et-fils.fr/nos-champagnes
- www.barriqueimport.se/champagne-henri-maillart
- www.vinmonopolet.no/Land/Frankrike/Champagne/Henri-Maillart-Premier-Cru-Brut/p/20385901
- www.munskankarna.se/sv/vinlocus/bestallningssortimentet-januari-2023/henri-maillart-brut-selection-nv
- champagneguiden.wine/2021/12/15/henri-maillart-fils-cuvee-brut-selection