Maxime ULLENS
Neither the son of a wine merchant, nor the umpteenth generation of a winegrowing dynasty... What a singular career path for Maxime Ullens, who lives in Hermonville in the Massif de Saint-Thierry!
Presentation
An architect of Belgian origin, his destiny as a winegrower was not, at first sight, a foregone conclusion... But then, a professional trip that brought him to Champagne, his passion for wine, the change in his life, his wife Anna who pushed him... In short, Maxime Ullens took the plunge in 2012, landing in the northernmost terroir of Champagne, to breathe new life into an estate that was already a success.in short, Maxime Ullens took the plunge in 2012, landing on Champagne's most northerly terroir, to breathe new life into an estate that had stopped producing for a very long time. In other words, he had to recreate everything from A to Z, or almost, and get to know his vines - 3.80 hectares planted with 80% Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Noir. He may be a young winemaker, but Maxime Ullens has strong convictions and knows what he wants. Since setting up, he has obtained organic certification - some parcels are still in the process of being certified - and is now moving towards biodynamic viticulture. He speaks of a Burgundian approach, of a parcel-by-parcel approach, of a fairly long ageing process in oak barrels made by himself! And he has a precise conception of champagne: " I want to make a champagne wine: contrary to what is often done elsewhere, I think first of making wine, and only then do I think of the bubbles... And in this idea, we have fuller, deeper, textured wines ". Each year, he produces a Brut sans année made from 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, and a 100% Meunier called La Petite Montagne. He also signs three other cuvées, which he invents according to the harvest.
