Champagne Crété Chamberlin

Tucked into the historic village of Moussy on the southern slopes of Épernay, Champagne Crété-Chamberlin is quietly emerging as one of the most compelling new voices in the region. Led by the brother-and-sister team of Mathieu and Blandine Crété, the estate is undergoing a thoughtful revival. As the 15th generation to work on these family vines, they have succeeded their father, Dominique, marrying a deep respect for tradition with a fresh, open-minded approach.

The estate’s recent work has earned it the distinction of being a "domaine to discover" by the critics at Gault & Millau. They have praised Mathieu and Blandine for creating cuvées that successfully combine "identity and terroir diversity", specifically highlighting a house style defined by a "tautly acidic" palate and a "saline, salivating finish". This focus on precision and a profile that is "modern in the natural sense" increasingly sets them apart from the more conventional houses of the region.

 Above all, Mathieu and Blandine aim to produce Champagnes that speak clearly of their terroir. These are elegant, high-energy wines with a profound sense of place, crafted with an openness to experimentation and a focus on pure drinking pleasure.

History and Background

The Crété family legacy dates back to 1683, when their ancestors first began cultivating vines in Moussy. While the first wines under the family name appeared in 1887, the estate was known for decades as Dominique Crété & Fils. In 2020, while researching family archives, Mathieu rediscovered the original Crété-Chamberlin name and chose to restore it — a decision that signaled the beginning of the estate’s current chapter.

The “1683” featured on their labels is more than a nod to the past; it anchors every bottle to the village’s founding and the family’s deep roots. Mathieu and Blandine operate as true partners, sharing both the administrative vision and the physical labour. Their philosophy is modest: they view themselves as stewards of the land rather than "stars" of the cellar. They believe that everything begins in the soil.

“Reminding many of the wines of Coche-Dury.”

by Charles Curtis MW, Decanter on the 00 Wines Chardonnays

Vineyard and Terroir

The domaine spans eight hectares, yet these are intricately partitioned into 84 plots across eleven villages — an unusually diverse mosaic for an estate of this size. Their most prestigious holdings are located in the Côte des Blancs, specifically the Grand Cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, and Avize. Here, pure chalk soils imbue their Chardonnay with signature finesse and saline minerality. Closer to home in Moussy and Pierry, clay-dominant soils provide structure and aromatic warmth to both Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.

The vines are impressively aged, averaging sixty years, with select massal selections dating back to the early 20th century. The siblings farm with pragmatic sensitivity; while they avoid rigid certification, their work is guided by organic and biodynamic principles. Every plot is harvested by hand and vinified according to its unique character, resulting in a breadth of expression rarely found outside the great houses.

Winemaking Philosophy

Mathieu and Blandine belong to Champagne’s thoughtful new generation. Their winemaking is precise without being rigid, experimental without being flashy. Fermentations are spontaneous, malolactic conversion occurs naturally (if at all), and pressing is handled gently via a traditional Coquard press. Most base wines are aged in stainless steel, but selected parcels see time in large oak foudres or neutral barrels. They are increasingly interested in longer élevage and low dosage, often releasing wines as Brut Nature or Extra Brut.

What stands out is their willingness to adapt. Each parcel is vinified and aged according to what it seems to need rather than a fixed recipe. The result is a range of Champagnes that feel "alive", boasting clarity, texture, and a sense of place that grows more defined with every vintage.

Signature Wines

The Crété-Chamberlin portfolio is a deliberate progression from bright, accessible cuvées to profound, terroir-centric expressions.

The 1683 Series | The House Style
• 1683 Brut NV: An energetic blend of Chardonnay and Meunier, defined by crisp green apple, lemon zest, and a signature chalky finish.
• 1683 Rosé: Crafted from a family recipe dating back to the 1960s, this cuvée balances delicate red-berry fruit with a bone-dry, refreshing structure.

Côte des Blancs | Terroir-Driven Cuvées
• C.D.B. Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru: A crystalline, saline expression of Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, softened by refined notes of toasted pastry.
• Les Mazaux Premier Cru (Villeneuve-Renneville): A more opulent Blanc de Blancs that marries stone fruit and a creamy texture with a striking, mineral-driven spine.

Prestige & Experimental | Limited Releases
• Quintile Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru: Aged for nearly a decade on the lees, this cuvée delivers a complex secondary profile of dried flowers, toasted nuts, and deep minerality.
• TDN 1.114 Brut Nature: Sourced from a historic 1903 plot in Oger (Terres de Noël) and fermented in foudre, this is an intense, textural powerhouse with exceptional length.
• Eclipsis Blanc de Meunier: A serious, herbal, and dry interpretation of Pinot Meunier that showcases the variety's sophisticated side.

Experimental Micro-Cuvées
Beyond the core range, the siblings’ curiosity leads to small-batch experimental bottlings, including rare Coteaux Champenois (still wines). These limited releases highlight the raw potential of their best parcels and the estate’s restless, creative spirit.

Recognition and Impact

Though the revived name is relatively young, Champagne Crété-Chamberlin has quickly caught the eye of top sommeliers and collectors who value artisanal precision. The estate has been formally designated a "domaine to discover" by the critics at Gault & Millau, who have praised the siblings' ability to balance historical legacy with a contemporary edge. They describe the house style as offering a "lovely, full, savory nose with aromas of white peach, ripe apple and fresh hazelnut", noting that the palate is consistently "tautly acidic, evolving to a saline, salivating finish".

This critical acclaim extends to their prestige releases, which are increasingly sought after for their depth. For the TDN 1.114, experts at Berry Bros. & Rudd provide a glowing endorsement of its complexity, describing it as an "intellectual Champagne [with] a stunning mineral tension, powerful lip-smacking acidity, and remarkable richness that gives both depth and body to the wine". They conclude that the estate's work represents a "masterful tribute to their ancestors".

With such strong institutional backing, allocations are becoming increasingly limited. Mathieu and Blandine have successfully created a brand that feels authentically traditional yet quietly modern — a rare and appealing combination in today’s evolving Champagne market.

Champagne Crété-Chamberlin is the story of a family estate finding its voice again. Mathieu and Blandine have taken a deep, multi-generational heritage and shaped it into something personal and contemporary. Their Champagnes are not loud or flashy; they are refined, expressive, and increasingly confident with each new release.

To drink them is to taste the chalk and history of Moussy and the Côte des Blancs, filtered through the lens of two thoughtful winemakers who clearly love what they do. As they continue to listen to their vines and refine their craft, Champagne Crété-Chamberlin looks set to become one of those quietly essential names that serious Champagne lovers seek out.

2017 Clos des Papes • Chateauneuf du Pape

He blends grapes from his different plots to co-ferment in large vats, after which he then re-blends in to large 20-55 hectoliter wooden foudres (casks) to mature for 15 months. New or small barrels are never used, “I like the oak to make an indirect impact – I only want tannins from the grape skins not even the pips and certainly not the stalks” says Avril. And though it may not be widely known, this domaine has been buying corks from the same producer in Portugal ever since 1926!

The wines are no doubt enticing, garnering great praise from many publications and critics such as Wine Spectator who awarded their 2005 vintage as “Wine of the Year”, stating that “in the Southern Rhône's recent trio of great vintages starting with 2003, no other Châteauneuf-du-Pape domaine has produced better wines than Clos des Papes”. But the accolades don’t stop there, as Robert Parker followed on to pronounce the 2007 vintage “the greatest Chateauneuf du Pape made since 1978 and 1990”.

We at Ginsberg+Chan are extremely proud to be the exclusive distributors of Clos des Papes, and with good volumes of both red and white back vintages too, we can ensure you a wide range of drinking windows for your cellar.

Available Wines From Champagne Crété Chamberlin