Carré Frères

Carré Frères feels wonderfully old-school in the way only small Champagne growers really can. Family-run, rooted in the vineyards and focused on proper traditional winemaking rather than giant luxury branding exercises, this is Champagne that still feels connected to farming and place rather than celebrity sponsorship deals.

Based in the Côte des Bar area of southern Champagne, the house works primarily with Pinot Noir, the grape that absolutely thrives in this slightly warmer, more Burgundian part of the region. The wines tend to carry lovely ripe fruit, soft texture and a richer style than some of the sharper, more austere Champagnes further north.

What’s especially appealing about growers like Carré Frères is the sense of personality that comes through in the wines. Smaller Champagne houses often produce bottles with far more individual character because they’re working directly with their own vineyards rather than blending massive volumes from across the region. You taste more vintage variation, more local identity and more of the grower’s own style.

The wines themselves lean elegant and approachable, balancing crisp citrus and orchard fruit with gentle brioche richness from ageing on lees. Proper celebratory Champagne, but without feeling flashy or overdesigned. The sort of bottle that works equally well at weddings, long lunches or random Tuesday evenings that accidentally escalated.

There’s also something very satisfying about supporting smaller Champagne producers in general. Behind every bottle is usually a family spending most of the year driving tractors through cold vineyards rather than attending fashion week.

One of our favourites!