Champagne Benoît Tassin
Champagne house in Celles-sur-Ource, Côte des Bar.
- Village
- Celles-sur-Ource
- Region
- Côte des Bar
- Type of house
- RM · Récoltant Manipulant
- Founded
- 1980
- Cuvées in the guide
- 3
Champagne Benoît Tassin is an independent wine house in Celles-sur-Ource (Côte des Bar, Aube), founded in 1980 by Benoît Tassin, but based on a family tradition of eight generations of winegrowers (vingers). The estate has 4.5 hectares of vineyards and produces high-quality champagne by applying traditional, artisanal methods.
History
The Tassin family only began producing champagne in 1930 after the crisis of 1929, when local winegrowers decided to ferment their own grapes because they were not being paid for their harvest. Benoît Tassin has continued the business since 1980, with a focus on preserving the original craftsmanship and the specific characteristics of the Côte des Bar.
Vineyards and Terroir
The vineyards lie on the hills of Celles-sur-Ource, an area known for its Kimmeridgian limestone, fossil remains that indicate the richness of the soil. The terroir was influenced by the historic Comtes de Champagne and even inspired the painter Renoir. The grape varieties used are Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc (a rare, local variety) and Chardonnay.
Approach
Benoît Tassin uses a traditional vinification method:
- Selection: The choice of monocépage, blend or rosé is already determined during the pruning of the vines.
- Vinification: The wine is made with a classic press and remuage on pupitres (manual turning of the bottles), which is characteristic of the Côte des Bar.
- Rosé: The rosé is made by cuvaison (maceration of the skins), with the development of flavour closely monitored by the whole family; the maceration time is short (4-12 hours) to preserve the fine aromas.
- Museum: The estate has a museum of old champagne bottles, showing the evolution of the champagne bottle from the 18th century to the present, including rare 200-year-old glasses.
Champagnes
The offering includes several cuvées that reflect the diversity of the terroir:
- Blanc de Blancs: Made from Pinot Blanc (and/or Chardonnay), known for its finesse.
- Blanc de Noirs: Made from Pinot Noir.
- Rosé: Obtained by maceration, with a delicate taste.
- Brut Tradition: A blend of black and white grapes.
- Millésime: Vintage champagne from exceptional years.
Visitors can visit the estate for tours of the cellars and the museum, followed by a tasting. The address is 6 Rue de l'Eglise, 10110 Celles-sur-Ource, France.
Cuvées by Benoît Tassin
All producers in the interactive guide · All Champagne houses