Champagne Abelé 1757

Champagne house in Reims, Montagne de Reims.

Village

Reims

Region

Montagne de Reims

Founded

1757

Cuvées in the guide

7

Abelé​‌​ 1757 (also known as Henri Abelé) is one of the oldest champagne houses, based in Reims, founded in 1757 by Théodore Van der Veken. The house has been owned by the group Terroirs & Vignerons de Champagne (TEVC) since 2019, after a period of ownership by Freixenet.

History and Innovation

• Founding: The house was founded in 1757 and is now the fifth oldest surviving champagne house in Reims.
• Innovations: In 1834 Antoine de Müller (cellar master at Veuve Clicquot-Ponsardin) introduced the perforated riddling table for remuage, which revolutionised production. In 1884 Henri Abelé invented the freezing method (dégorgement à la glacé) for removing sediment.
• Historical connections: The house was a favourite of the German court and the Spanish aristocracy. Bottles of Abelé 1757 were served at the last dinner aboard the Titanic in 1912.
• Leadership: The current cellar master is Étienne Eteneau, under the direction of managing director Marie Gicquel.

Vineyards and Terroir

• Location: The vines are spread across the most prestigious vineyards in the Champagne region, including the Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims and the Coteaux des Riceys.
• Approach: The house operates as a "maison-boutique" with a deliberately limited production (around 400,000 bottles per year) to guarantee quality.
• Partnership: Abelé 1757 owns its own vineyards and works with about thirty families of historic winegrowers. The grape varieties are 60% Chardonnay, followed by Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, which contributes to the finesse and freshness of the champagnes.

Approach and Philosophy

• Philosophy: The house style is characterised by "Prendre le temps" (taking the time), with long ageing periods in chalk cellars on the Rue de Sillery in Reims.
• Production: All cuvées are made in strictly limited quantities. The cellar master places emphasis on reserve wines (20-30% in the non-vintage cuvées) and a lower dosage (around 6 g/l) to highlight the purity of the Chardonnay.
• Blending: The blending process is a craft carried out after each harvest, combining different terroirs and years for consistency and complexity.

Champagnes

The house produces a concise range of five main cuvées:

• Brut: The flagship, composed of 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier, with 25% reserve wines.
• Blanc de Blancs: 100% Chardonnay, known for its freshness and aromatic richness.
• Rosé: A blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir des Riceys, with 30% reserve wines.
• Brut Millésimé: For example the 2014 vintage, consisting of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir.
• Le Sourire de Reims: The prestige cuvée, named after the "smiling angel" of Reims Cathedral. It is composed of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir and ages for at least 10 years. The Rosé variant (100% Pinot Noir) is also a highlight of the house.

Cuvées by Abelé 1757

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