CHAMPAGNE ULYSSE COLLIN
Congy
Nestled amidst the historic Côteaux du Petit Morin, Domaine Ulysse Collin in Congy has etched its name into the annals of Champagne history. This storied vineyard has a rich heritage that dates back to 1812 when Jean-Baptiste Collin, a vigneron, first acquired a parcel of vines in the village. The Collin family's winemaking tradition has flourished through generations, with notable achievements such as George Collin, Olivier's great-grandfather, winning a prestigious prize at the Concours Général Agricole de Paris in 1935. However, this legacy was briefly interrupted in 1987 when Olivier's father leased the vineyards to Pommery, pausing their own wine production.
In the early 2000s, driven by a deep passion for viticulture and armed with a law degree, Olivier Collin embarked on a mission to reclaim his family's vineyards. His tenacious efforts culminated in regaining control of the 8.7-hectare domaine in 2003, marking the beginning of a new era for Ulysse Collin. From the outset, Olivier committed to sustainable practices, shunning chemical fertilizers for organic compost and emphasizing terroir expression.
Olivier's commitment to quality continued as he began fermenting his wines in used Burgundy barrels, a nod to an ancestral cooper. He further refined his techniques with the introduction of a new Coquard press and reserve wines in 2009, alongside large oak foudres that provided expanded maturation options. His dedication to precision and innovation resulted in distinctive, single-vineyard champagnes known for their depth and purity, all Extra Brut, single-varietal, and aged in wood without fining or filtration. These initial choices, once considered revolutionary, have established the domaine as a leader in single-vineyard champagnes, celebrated by wine enthusiasts and lauded by the international press, including Wine Advocate and Jancis Robinson.
Today, Domaine Ulysse Collin is renowned for its unyielding adherence to founding principles, focusing on extended aging of cuvées to achieve the ultimate expression of the unique terroirs of the coteaux du Petit Morin (Les Pierrières, Les Enfers, Les Roises, and Le Jardin d’Ulysse) and the coteaux du Sézannais (Les Maillons and the saignée rosé of Les Maillons).
The exclusive import and distribution of Domaine Ulysse Collin's wines are handled by SOUVERAINE LTD in Hong Kong and MUYI FINE WINES in Mainland China, ensuring these exquisite champagnes reach enthusiasts who appreciate their deep-rooted legacy and innovative craftsmanship.
• "Les Pierrières" is a champagne of great finesse and elegance, originating from east-facing vines on a cool terroir. The clay soil of this plot is lean, and the surface chalky rock is rich in black flint carbonates, characteristic of the slopes of Petit Morin. This feature gives the wine an exacerbated minerality combined with optimal grape maturity for this terroir.
• "Les Enfers" is a historic plot within the Domaine that has been part of it for two centuries. The fifty-year-old vines are planted in red clays rich in iron, benefiting from an eastward orientation towards the rising sun. The silty clay soil here has a depth of 80 cm, and the soft chalk of the Campanian era is mixed with flint nodules. A minimum of 60 months of aging on lees (after bottling) allows for the production of a highly complete champagne. This single-vineyard cuvée has been awarded a perfect score of 100/100 by the Wine Advocate, Robert Parker's independent review, on several occasions.
• "Les Roises" is also a historic plot adjacent to "Les Enfers." These old vines in Congy are a venerable 75 years old and were planted using mass selection. The low "Burgundian" yields combined with a south-facing orientation produce champagnes of exceptional concentration and a unique taste resonance. This cuvée has also scored 100/100 from the Wine Advocate.
• "Le Jardin d’Ulysse" is a special cuvée in the Domaine’s production. The vines are located in the heart of the village of Congy, particularly within the bounds of the property, just meters from the cellar and the family home. This plot, commonly and historically known as "the Clos," is partly north-facing (70%) and partly south-facing (30%). It is the only plot co-planted with the three main grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier). Each characteristic of this plot contributes to the cuvée's original signature. A minimum aging of 72 months on lees after bottling gives it perfect balance.
• "Les Maillons" is a plot from the coteaux du Sézannais, a sunnier terroir than the slopes of Petit Morin. Harvesting always begins with this plot of Pinot Noir, which has had an average maturity of 11.2° over the last decade. Even though this plot, planted in 1971, faces east, the grapes are always flavorful, and the wines retain the advantages of this orientation in their finesse and mouthfeel. The soil, with a depth of 80 cm, is clayey and rich in iron. The bedrock here consists of pure soft chalk from the Campanian era, characteristics that are perfectly suited to the expression of this great 100% Pinot Noir from Champagne.
• The Saignée Rosé from "Les Maillons" is a cuvée whose grapes come from the same plot as the Blanc de Noirs. A specific part of the plot is dedicated to the production of this cuvée to achieve superior phenolic maturity and also lower yields for a natural concentration of flavors in a distinctly Burgundian spirit. Maceration varies between 24 and 36 hours depending on the vintage to extract the essence of the grape with perfect health. The production of Saignée Rosé is minimal in Champagne, and the Maillons are a benchmark in this respect with a 60-month aging on lees after bottling. It is a grand rosé champagne for gastronomy.
