“La Grande Dame” is what Françoise Bedel is also called in Champagne. And there is a reason for that. Because we can now conclude that she was way ahead of the pack for a long time. As early as 1998, she started with biodynamic viticulture (the fields were already organic at that time), and gradually converted her entire company to it.
The story of the Françoise Bedel estate (she is one of the few top female winegrowers in Champagne who produces under her own name) begins at a key moment in Françoise's life. Her son Vincent is in very poor health, and no one seems to be able to do anything about it. Françoise calls in the help of a homeopathic doctor, who does successfully help her son. It happens at a time when she is taking over her family estate and at the same time is gripped by homeopathy and biodynamics. At that time, in the early 80s, very few people had heard of it. Françoise sees the advantages of this way of thinking and acting.
In the period between 1998 and 2006, she succeeded in converting the entire domain to biodynamics. All 9 hectares are now cultivated according to principles that stimulate the health and vitality of all organisms. Her main goal is to make quality wine, by letting the unique elements of the terroir speak. This can only be done through understanding, skill and moving along. All elements in the vineyard are healthy and in balance. 'Without a healthy soil, there is no terroir effect' , says Françoise.
The company is located in the Vallée de la Marne, right on the western edge of the Champagne region, in the village of Crouttes-sur-Marne on the banks of the Marne river. Closer to Paris than to Reims... Its vineyards are located on both banks and have soils of clay-limestone and alluvial-limestone. A special aspect of the planting is the large share of Pinot Meunier, at least 79%! The rest is Chardonnay and a little Pinot Noir.
In the cellar, the wines are fermented with yeasts that Françoise selects from the vineyards. Partly in oak barrels to enhance the aromatic complexity, the rest in small enamelled vats to capture the purity of the terroir. All plots are vinified separately. Throughout the process, the lunar calendar of Maria Thun is taken into account.
Remuage and final disgorgement is done by hand(!), followed by a modest dosage. All her wines mature for several years before they are allowed to enter the world, partly because of this her wines always have a fine, modest oxidation tone.
