Although the Coessens family has owned vineyards in the village of Ville-sur-Arce for five generations, it wasn’t until 2006 that Jérôme Coessens made the decision to begin producing champagne under the Coessens brand. Prior to this, the family had cultivated grapes and sold them to prominent champagne producers, with the exception of the limited quantity his father had bottled.
Their vineyards span a total of 6.5 hectares, but Jérôme opts to utilize just one specific plot, known as Largillier, for his champagne production. This plot, covering 3.36 hectares, is exclusively planted with Pinot Noir vines, which are roughly 35 years old. Jérôme quickly recognized that this sloping south-east facing vineyard yielded grapes with distinct characteristics depending on their location. Consequently, he vinifies each of these four sub-plots separately, deciding whether to blend them or not before subjecting them to further aging, usually in stainless steel tanks.
Jérôme’s approach to viticulture is firmly rooted in environmental principles. He practices soil tillage between the vine rows to encourage deeper root growth and cultivates grass between the rows to manage vine growth.
Jérôme firmly believes that the key to crafting exceptional champagne lies in the vineyard and the vines themselves. He maintains that all the quality and unique characteristics of the terroir are evident in the grapes.
In 2008, Jérôme constructed a new cellar and pressing facility, making a substantial investment in a state-of-the-art Coquard PAI press with an 8,000kg capacity. This press enables him to offer contract pressing services to other local growers in the region.
Champagne Coessens wines are imported into Canada by Domaine Selections. Contact us today!