Champagne Ulysse Collin, Les Roises, Blanc de Blanc, Ulysse Collin, Brut (Base 2016)

Champagne Ulysse Collin

Champagne Ulysse Collin is a relatively small producer known for its dedication to traditional and artisanal winemaking methods, resulting in high-quality and expressive Champagnes.

Olivier Collin founded the estate, often referred to as Ulysse Collin. Olivier Collin took over his family’s vineyards and began producing Champagne under the Ulysse Collin label in 2004. With a deep commitment to crafting terroir-driven champagnes, the winery focuses on organic and biodynamic practices in the vineyard, aiming to express the unique characteristics of their vineyard sites in their wines.

The vineyards are located in the Côte des Blancs subregion of Champagne, which is renowned for its Chardonnay grape production. The yield is quite limited compared to larger houses, allowing for meticulous attention to detail and a focus on quality over quantity.

Ulysse Collin is known for its “lieu-dit” (single-vineyard) champagnes, which highlight the specific characteristics of individual vineyard plots. The wines often have a unique identity and showcase the diversity of the Côte des Blancs terroir.

Some of the well-known cuvées produced by Ulysse Collin include “Les Maillons,” “Les Enfers,” “Les Pierrières,” and “Les Roises,” among others.

Blanc de Blancs

In Champagne, the term Blanc de Blancs designates Champagnes made only from Chardonnay grapes. The vineyards located between Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger in Cote de Blancs yield the best examples of the style.

A classic Blanc de Blancs is restrained and elegant when young, yet with ageing it develops a mouth-coating brioche richness that overlays an intense expression of fruitiness. Blanc de Blancs are endowed with longer ageing potential than a typical Blanc de Noirs.

Recommended Producers: Salon, Billecart Salmon, Jacques Selosse, Dom Ruinart, Krug, Le Mesnil Grand Cru, Guy Larmandier

Champagne blend

Which grapes are included in the blend, and their proportion, is one of the key factors determining the style of most Champagnes. Three grapes are used - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.

26% of vineyards in Champagne are planted with Chardonnay and it performs best on the Côtes des Blancs and on the chalk slopes south of Epernay. It is relatively simple to grow, although it buds early and thus is susceptible to spring frosts. It produces lighter, fresher wines than those from Burgundy and gives finesse, fruit and elegance to the final blend. It is the sole grape in Blancs de Blancs, which are some of the richest long-lived Champagnes produced.

Pinot Noir accounts for nearly 40% of the plantings in Champagne and lies at the heart of most blends - it gives Champagne its body, structure, strength and grip. It is planted across Champagne and particularly so in the southern Aube district.

The final component is Pinot Meunier and this constitutes nearly 35% of the plantings. Its durability and resistance to spring frosts make the Marne Valley, a notorious frost pocket, its natural home. It ripens well in poor years and produces a soft, fruity style of wine that is ideal for blending with the more assertive flavours of Pinot Noir. Producers allege that Pinot Meunier lacks ageing potential, but this does not deter Krug from including around 15% of it in their final blends.