Maison Thomas Cheurlin is proud to present its new premium brand, Peter Morrell get to taste some of these exciting new wines

“My aim is to create champagnes that reflect my image and my philosophy, with a simple motto: to make authentic champagnes that are close to my nature and our terroirs. That’s why I wanted to create a brand where I could do this while keeping the family traditions, and that’s what Champagne Vaucelle is all about.” comments vineyard owner Thomas Cheurlin 

This new range is accessible to everyone and will be available in wine shops and on restaurant tables.

The origin of the brand name

• Vaucelle means ‘small parcel’ or ‘valley’ in Old Champagne, and some cuvées will also be parcel-based.
• Vau/Celle contains the word ‘Celles’, in reference to Celles-sur-Ource, the family’s home village.
• It is also the name of a Cistercian abbey, daughter of the Abbey of Clairvaux and sister of the Abbey of Mores at Celles-sur-Ource, with links to the history of the Champagne vineyards and the Côte des Bar.

Champagne Vaucelle is made up of six champagnes, suitable for all types of palate and times of consumption, both classic champagnes and cuvées each with its own personality (ageing in oak casks, rare grape variety, longer ageing on the racks, vintage, etc).

The name ‘Vaucelle’ has been specially designed to represent the heritage of the Cheurlin family, the personality of Thomas Cheurlin and his philosophy. “The grapes only come from their own vineyards and plots of land, and they are harvesters and producers.”

Peter Morrell, Editor, comments “I have tasted two of the six champagnes in the range and both were excellent. The first was the Champagne Vaucelle Les Vallons (The Valleys), as the grapes are grown in three river valleys, the Ourse, Seine, and Arce. This is a blend featuring 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay.

“The wine pours a light straw colour and there is a rapidly moving stream of bubbles from the bottom of the glass. The 36 months of aging is evident from the first sniff of the bouquet, the aromas are enticing, and with Chardonney in the mix there are citrus, fruit and flower aromas. On the palate there are hints of nuts and brioche together with a flinty character from the Pinot Noir. This combination of fruit and minerality make this champagne very fresh. The finish is fruity and persistent. Drink this as an aperitif or with light summer salads.

“The second was the Champagne Vaucelle Terre Natale, this classic single varietal Blanc de Noirs is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. Again, this wine has been aged for 36 months, with a portion of that time matured in oak barrels, this adds a lot to its overall drinking pleasure.

The wine pours a yellow hue, and the small bubbles create a pleasing mousse on the surface. The bouquet has a range of crisp fruit aromas including apple and white peach and some yeasty tones. The first sip bears evidence of the oak aging with the very smooth mouthfeel and it has a good body, the flavours indicating on the nose remain and are joined by more complex spice and concentrated notes of fruit. The finish has a lingering lushness. Drink this as a characterful aperitif or pair it with more robust food like charcuterie.”

Currently Cheurlin Dangin, another champagne from Maison Thomas Cheurlin is available in the UK from Hay Hampers, Great Bowden Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7DE

A Champagne House handed down from father to son for 10 generations:

The champagnes are made in the most faithful tradition of Maison Maison Thomas Cheurlin. Their elegance, fine bubbles and meticulous winemaking are unquestionably recognised. The main idea is always to produce authentic champagnes, highlighting the richness of the Côte des Bar terroir. With production on a human scale, we aim to maintain a balance between tradition and innovation, enhancing the family heritage while meeting the modern demands of champagne lovers. Each bottle embodies almost 350 years of history, passion and excellence.

A family Champagne house with deep roots in the region’s winegrowing history, Maison Thomas Maison Thomas Cheurlin is renowned for its refined cuvées and its commitment to preserving an exceptional winegrowing heritage, combining ancestral know-how with modernity. It represents several centuries of tradition and know-how handed down from generation to generation: the Maison Thomas Cheurlin family settled in Celles-sur-Ource, a village in the Côte des Bar region, at the end of the 7th century and devoted themselves to growing vines. At that time, winegrowers worked mainly for larger houses or to supply still wine. The Maison Thomas Cheurlin family naturally moved into champagne production after the Second World War, with the advent of the méthode champenoise.

Today, the company remains an independent, family-run business, managed by the descendants of the family line, including Thomas Maison Thomas Cheurlin. It stands out for its commitment to environmentally friendly practices, favouring sustainable viticulture.

Vaucelle champagnes are mainly made from the traditional Champagne grape varieties: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but also a proportion of Blanc Vrai (Pinot Blanc), one of the rare varieties. They benefit from an exceptional terroir, where the Jurassic Kimmeridgian soil and continental climate favour optimal ripening of the grapes, giving the champagnes incomparable complexity and finesse.