Champagne Devaux - Ultra D Extra Brut

Founded in 1846 in Épernay by the Devaux family, this house—housed in a magnificent manor in the heart of the Côte des Bar—has retained its family-run character. For nearly thirty years, it has been owned by the Union Auboise (Alliance Champagne), a cooperative founded in 1967. Within this group, Devaux stands out as the finest, with its exceptional Collection D (single-vineyard selections, reserve wines aged in large oak casks for a minimum of five years—seven years for magnums)—whose wines are produced from 80 meticulously selected hectares. A wonderful source of enjoyable champagnes that never disappoint.

Pinot Noir (55%) and Chardonnay make up this organic cuvée from selected vineyards, which aged for 5 years in the cellar. The winemaking process (partial malolactic fermentation) and the low sugar content (extra-brut) contribute to the freshness of this champagne, which has a mineral nose and is lively, floral, and crisp on the palate.

In 1846, brothers Jules and Auguste Devaux founded a champagne house based in Épernay, which the last generation—having no heir—sold in 1987 to the Union Auboise, a major cooperative founded in 1967. Under the Veuve Devaux (or Devaux) brand, the house “dresses up” its premium line: champagnes aged for at least three years.

Devaux, formerly Veuve A. Devaux, is the brand of the Union Auboise, a cooperative winery that brings together 800 winegrowers cultivating 1,400 hectares of vineyards. Major houses in the Marne region purchase its base wines, but the cooperative vinifies one-fifth of the grapes itself for its own brand. The “D” cuvées are particularly successful (with a minimum of five years of aging in the cellar), as are the champagne cuvée and the red Coteaux-Champenois, born from a partnership with Michel Chapoutier, the renowned Rhône winemaker. Pinot Noir makes up the vast majority of the blends, but the Chardonnays from Montgueux and the Côte des Blancs also play a significant role. The estate’s manor house is open to the public for tours.