At A Glance
- Item
- Detail
- Place
- Damery, Marne Valley
- Current owners
- Jean-Noël and Sébastien Haton
- Main grapes
- Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir
- Cuvées
- Brut Classic, Brut Réserve, Brut Rosé
- House approach
- Time for aromas and effervescence to mature
The Producer
Time is part of Champagne Jean-Noël Haton's cellar work. The house allows aromas time to settle and effervescence time to mature, treating patience as part of how its wines are made.
Based in Damery in the Marne Valley, the house maintains state of the art buildings with rows of new temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Stainless steel vats keep fermentation temperatures stable and can preserve fresh fruit character while the wine develops.
Place
Damery places Haton in the Marne Valley of Champagne. In sparkling wine production, time after fermentation allows bubbles to become more integrated and aromas to broaden. Haton's approach gives this stage room, allowing the effervescence to mature alongside the aromas.
Story
Jean-Noël and Sébastien Haton lead the house today. Under their direction, Haton gives aromas time to settle and effervescence time to mature, joining current family leadership to a production method built around patience.
Vineyards And Cellar
Haton has 60 hectares of vineyards, of which 45 are owned. The cellar contains numerous temperature controlled stainless steel vats. Stainless steel provides a stable fermentation environment, while extended ageing allows aromatic development and a more mature mousse.
Wines
Brut Classic, Brut Réserve, and Brut Rosé make up the documented trio. Brut Classic is made from Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Brut Réserve ages for at least 3 years, and Brut Rosé follows the same minimum ageing period. The range moves from a two grape Brut to a reserve cuvée and a rosé, with ageing period and colour changing between the bottles.
In The Glass
Brut Réserve is bright straw yellow, with fine, abundant bubbles. Its nose develops white peach, citrus, and orange blossom, followed by hazelnut and sweet spice. The palate is full and generous, echoing the fresh fruit aromas before finishing with a complex aftertaste.
Brut Rosé has a raspberry pink colour with copper glints and creamy white foam. It is very fragrant, showing fresh red fruit, currant, and strawberry before moving toward stone fruit, sloe, and orange zest. Pine resin and toast follow, while the finish is full and generous with impressive length.
A Bottle To Understand It
My starting choice is Brut Classic. It is composed of 60% Pinot Meunier and 40% Pinot Noir and ages for at least 2 years. In the glass it is golden yellow, with fine persistent foam. The nose begins with currant and stone fruit, then opens to citrus, orange zest, dried flowers, and dried fruit. The attack is fresh and supple, and the finish is pleasant and balanced.
Anecdote
Jean-Noël Haton prefers spending weekends driving a forklift truck rather than relaxing. For him, a quiet weekend means spending the entire time at the controls. The choice puts practical work at the centre of his weekends and gives his personal dedication to the business a physical form. The object is a forklift truck, the action is driving it, and the setting is the Haton business. For Jean-Noël Haton, a quiet weekend means the forklift truck, the controls, and the work of the company he helps lead.
Final Word
From Damery, Haton puts patient maturation beside modern stainless steel cellar equipment, with Brut Classic, Brut Réserve, and Brut Rosé as its documented cuvées.
Sources
1. https://www.champagne-haton.com/en/ 2. https://www.mymaninchampagne.com/jiles-blog/375-champagne-jean-noel-haton-the-best-known-champagne-that-you-ve-probably-never-heard-of 3. https://www.champagne-haton.com/en/gamme/elegance/classic/ 4. https://www.champagne-haton.com/en/gamme/elegance/reserve/ 5. https://www.champagne-haton.com/en/gamme/elegance/rose/