Champagne Chartogne-Taillet is a highly-regarded Champagne house situated in Montagne de Reims, close to the city of Reims. It cultivates a total of 11 hectares (27 acres) of vineyards in the village of Merfy, planted to four grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Arbane. The estate traces its origins back to the 15th Century, when the Talliet family began growing vines in Merfy. Champagne Chartogne-Taillet is still family-owned today and has been managed by Alexandre Chartogne-Taillet since 2006. The Merfy vineyards are divided into 13 distinct parcels that occupy a combination of clay and sand soils. Alexandre Chartogne-Taillet uses organic farming methods in his vineyards and has abandoned the application of man-made herbicides. Grapes are harvested by hand and after pressing and fermentation with natural yeasts, the wines are aged for between 8-18 months in stainless-steel tanks, oak barrels or cement eggs. These wines are bottled without filtration, with the entire winemaking process taking place at the estate. The Chartogne-Taillet portfolio comprises Extra Brut, Brut, Rosé and Blanc de Blancs champagnes, as well as a range of single-vineyard, varietal Champagnes from vineyard parcels such as Les Barres (Pinot Meunier), Les Orizeaux (Pinot Noir) and Heurtebise (Chardonnay).