Champagne Carre Freres is a fascinating case: outside of France, importers and Champagne geeks are already chasing these bottles, people travel to meet Edouard at the domaine, yet within France the name still remains relatively under the radar (apart from Champagne itself). A paradox that feels ready to be corrected.

Together with his brother Victor, who manages the vineyards, Edouard decided a few years ago to start vinifying part of the family’s holdings — around 20 hectares spread between Trépail and Verzy. The approach is straightforward: each year, select only the most compelling fruit from an already strong terroir and work exclusively with that.

Then comes the defining element — barrel work. A dedicated cellar was built for this purpose, and it’s here that the house style takes shape. Even when working with single-parcel vintage cuvées, Edouard remains faithful to the Champagne philosophy of blending — but instead of parcels, he blends barrels. Different coopers, toast levels, wood origins, shapes and volumes all act as individual instruments, each bringing its own dimension and refining the final expression. This is not about effect, but about precision.

The result is wines with a clear identity. At their core lies the tension and freshness typical of the northern Montagne de Reims, combined with a confident use of oak — subtle micro-oxidative character, depth and texture. These Champagnes are immediately engaging, yet built to evolve over time.

Lambier Wines works directly with Carre Freres, providing access to key cuvées through private allocations for private clients.

In our portfolio:

Champagne Carre Freres Le Champ Des Maladries 2021