We recently visited our family in Troyes and on consecutive evenings we drank two excellent Champagnes from Merrey-sur-Arce with our evening meals.
Troyes and Merrey-sur-Arce are in the Aube region of France. You cannot visit Troyes to see friends or family without being offered some Champagne from the Aube region. Troyes was the ancient capital of Champagne, and the centre of the town is built in the shape of a Champagne cork.
https://www.francetoday.com/travel/rainbows_in_champagne/
https://www.larvf.com/,vin-montgueux-ile-craie-champagne-terroir-aubois,4511514.asp
Troyes itself has neighbouring vineyards on the Montgueux slopes. Montgueux produces some fine Champagne but our family seem to turn their noses up at it. They prefer the Champagnes from the Côte de Bar about 40 Kilometers further South.The soil in Montgueux is a mixture of chalk and limestone based clay. The Champagne is produced mainly from the Chardonnay grape.
Merrey-sur-Arce is located near Bar-sur-Seine in the Aube. The village is situated on the river Arce, and the river Seine flows nearby. It is a small village with just over 300 inhabitants. The soils here are Kinmmeridgian and they are limestone rather than chalk based. The terroir here is more akin to the Northern Burgundy region than to the chalk based terroir on the Montagne de Reims, much further north. Chablis and Tonnerre in Burgundy are not far away. The Champagne from the Aube tastes different to the more famous Champagne produced next to Reims and Epernay. You might think that you have never drunk Champagne from the Aube, but you almost certainly have because Champagne from the Aube is shipped much further north to be blended into the House champagnes of the famous brand names.
https://winefolly.com/review/hottest-champagne-region-cote-des-bar/
Most of the Champagne makers of Merrey-sur-Arce grow their own grapes and make their own Champagne and each has their own individual style. Merrey-sur-Arce has around 130,000 Ha of Champagne grapes planted. Over 100,00 Ha is planted with pinot noir and the rest with pinot meunier and chardonnay.
One night we drank Nicolas van Belle non-vintage Blanc de Noirs. This Champagne is made exclusively from the pinot noir grape. Nicholas van Belle is a grower-maker: his is a soft Champagne with a fruity flavour and for me it tastes stronger than Champagne made from Chardonnay. It is gorgeous. I feel that the Champagnes from the Côte de Bar are less acidic than the Champagnes from the grower-makers much further north, and for this reason they are easier on my stomach if I drink too much. It is easy for me to drink too much Champagne as it is my favourite wine.
http://bacchus-club.over-blog.fr/article-28615395.html
The next night we drank Champagne Lacroix-Triaulaire, le Biographe, non-vintage. This wine is producced from a blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay grapes. It has the taste of the region plus a style of its own. It has a fruity and savoury taste and it is elegant. The hallmark of a good wine comes from its identification with its region but with a style of its own. this too is a gorgeous wine.
https://www.xtrawine.com/en/wines/lacroix-triaulaire-champagne-brut-la-biographe/p13277
So there you have it; two classic examples of Champagne which have a taste of the region mixed with a style of their own. These Champagnes represent excellent value for money: they can be sipped as an aperitif, they can be drunk with light starters and light main courses and can be drunk with a dessert. What more can you ask for. If ever you are in Troyes, find your way to the local vineyards and get ready to be impressed by the finest sparkling wines in the world.
