Food Pairing
A 'Blanc de Noirs' made entirely of black grapes. This is the Charpentier house style, an assemblage of two years' harvest with a little oak ageing. An excellent all-around Champagne, fine, fruity and elegant.
- Country
- France
- Region
- Champagne
- Grapes
- Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir
- Vintage
- NV
- ABV
- 12
- Code
- 10048
- Style
- Sparkling
- Methods

The Charpentier’s have been winemakers since 1920, when Pierre Charpentier began growing grapes. Before Champagne was glamorous, winemakers in the Champagne region essentially sold the grapes they produced to negotiators or to a local clientele if the economy was challenging. Pierre also produced red wine, but often the barrels used to store this wine were more valuable than the wine itself.
It was Pierre’s son, Marcellin, who first produced Charpentier Champagne in 1954. Four years later, Marcellin died suddenly and his wife, Solange, was left to run the business while rearing three children. While no doubt a difficult time for Solange, her son Jacky began making wine at the age of 11, showing prodigious ability.
Over the next few years, through hard work, diligence and passion, Jacky Charpentier managed to save and, indeed improve, the family business, achieving the recognition and respect that is now associated with the J. Charpentier label.
Jacky’s son Jean-Marc now runs the winemaking at Charpentier. With 38 plots of vineyards and three different varieties of grapes grown, there is a lot to be discovered among the Charpentier range. The grapes from different plots are pressed separately so Champagne can be made to represent each terroir, not just grape varieties or blends.
"There is seductive Champagne throughout the Charpentier range produced in the Marne Valley. Of the three supplied for our tasting, this was the best. Complex and classy."
"Fragrant nose, musk and wild flower, biscuits and almonds; long finish, slightly herbal. Huge charm and plenty of character."
"Beware of cheap supermarket Champagnes, churned out by co-ops in container loads! Better to sample the wares of small growers, producing limited quantities with pride. Most French wine buffs have their favourites: il faut demander! Here's a pleasant example, combining crispness with nice echoes of French apple tart."
Champagne J.Charpentier
The vines are located in the valley of the Marne in the heart of champagne 12 km from Epernay in the west. The vines are spread over many vineyards such as Villers sous Châtillon, Reuil, Binson-Orquigny, Châtillon sur Marne, Mareuil the harbour, Verneuil, Mont Saint Père, Neuville sur Seine and Le Breuil: 9 communes and 38 parcels in total. The 3 Champagne varieties are grown in Champagne J. CHARPENTIER: Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The majority grape varieties are black grape varieties such as pinot Meunier, which give fruity and light champagnes, but also the Pinot noir grape with aromas towards the body, vinosity and power. The Chardonnay grape, a white grape variety, brings freshness and vivacity, giving wines to floral notes