Champagne Dehours & Fils

Champagne house in Mareuil-le-Port, Vallée de la Marne.

Village: Mareuil-le-Port
Region: Vallée de la Marne
Type of house: RM · Récoltant Manipulant
Cuvées in the guide: 11

Champagne‌ Dehours & Fils is a fourth-generation family business based in Cerseuil (Mareuil-le-Port), on the southern bank of the Marne valley, 15 km from Épernay. The estate, founded in 1930 by Ludovic Dehours and run since 1996 by Jérôme Dehours, is known for its characterful champagnes, largely based on the Meunier grape.

History and Ownership

The Dehours family has been active in Cerseuil for four generations. Jérôme Dehours took over the business after a legal battle to recover the estate from financiers after the death of his father. Under his leadership the house has diversified, with a focus on emphasising the specific terroirs and on the use of the Réserve Perpétuelle (solera system) started in 1998.

Vineyards and Grapes

The estate has 16.1 hectares of vineyard, divided over 42 plots in Mareuil-le-Port, Troissy and Oeuilly. The soil consists mainly of argilo-calcaire and sablo-calcaire on the left bank of the Marne.

Cépages: 60% Pinot Meunier, 20% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay.
Style: The Meunier grape, which flowers late and is frost-resistant, dominates and gives the champagnes flesh, energy and a soft, delicate bubble.
Harvest: Hand harvest of vines with an average age of 35 years.

Approach

Dehours practises agriculture raisonnée (balanced farming) with a drastic reduction of chemical agents and mechanical soil work. Vinification is plot-by-plot, which allows precise blends. Many cuvées undergo full malolactic fermentation and are aged in bottles, with some cuvées also raised in barrels. The use of the Réserve Perpétuelle provides complexity and consistency without completely losing vintage identity.

Champagnes and Cuvées

The range varies from accessible blends to exclusive cuvées from specific vineyards.

Grande Réserve: The basic cuvée, fruity and dominated by Meunier, with a lot of wine from the Réserve Perpétuelle.
Les Vignes de la Vallée: A mineral, supple cuvée with extended ageing on the yeast.
Terre de Meunier: An Extra Brut that emphasises the pure expression of Meunier from two specific plots (Patis de Cerseuil and Les Vignes dans le Bois), aged in barrels.
Œil de Perdrix: A pale rosé in traditional style, dominated by Meunier.
Lieu-dits: Exclusive cuvées such as Les Genevraux, La Croix Joly, La Côte, Maisoncelle and Brisefer, each with a unique terroir expression.
Côteaux Champenois: Still wines such as Les Rieux.
Millésime: Annual vintage wine (the first was 2013) to capture the specific characteristics of the harvest year.

Cuvées by Dehours & Fils

Dehours & Fils Extra Brut Terre de Meunier

Extra Brut

Dehours Grande Réserve

Blend · Extra Brut · Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Fruity multi-parcel blend with 30 to 50% reserve wines from a perpetual reserve begun in 1998.

Dehours La Côte Réserve Perpétuelle

Dehours Le Millésime 2018

Blend · Brut · 2018 · 74% Meunier, 26% Pinot Noir

Vintage aged 76 months on lees, from the Le Patis and Les Grèves parcels.

Dehours Les Vignes de La Vallée

Blend · Extra Brut · Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Blend aged 42 to 54 months on lees, with tertiary aromas.

Dehours Lieu-dit Brisefer Réserve Perpétuelle

Dehours Lieu-dit La Croix Joly Réserve Perpétuelle

Dehours Lieu-dit Maisoncelle Réserve Perpétuelle

Dehours Terre de Meunier Les Côtes

Blanc de Noirs · Brut Nature · 100% Meunier

Pure Meunier from two Cerseuil parcels, vinified in tank.

Dehours Œil de Perdrix

Rosé · Brut Nature · Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Very pale rosé made by blending white and red wine.

Terre de Meunier

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