Frederic Savart
Écueil is located on the Montagne de Reims, in the Pinot Noir region. Frédéric Savart cultivates 4 hectares of vineyards, almost entirely planted with Pinot Noir grapes, and produces nearly 12 different wines. He inherited the family vineyard in 2005, becoming the third generation to run the business. Prior to that, he was a soccer player signed to Stade de Reims's youth team, but a transfer offer and his girlfriend led him to change the course of his life.
Savart's Champagnes consist of Premier Cru and Grand Cru, and production is primarily centered around specific plots. Both in the vineyard and in the winery, he adheres to the philosophy of less is more. Malolactic fermentation occurs only when it happens naturally and is not artificially induced.
History
René Savart purchased his first vines in Écueil in 1947. This marked the beginning of the winery, and for decades, it remained a small-scale operation.
René ran the business until the 1970s, after which his son, Daniel, took over winemaking. Production remained very limited until the mid-1980s, but the family's farmland expanded significantly as Daniel began purchasing additional land.
Frédéric Savart was born into this environment. His dream was to become a soccer player. He signed a youth contract with Stade de Reims as an attacking midfielder. However, while pursuing that dream, he met the woman who would later become his wife, and when an offer to transfer to another club came along, he turned it down. As a result, his soccer career came to an end.
He returned to his hometown and worked in the vineyards with his father. He has been running this winery since 2005, and the wines bottled under the name Savart have changed significantly under his guidance.
Four hectares, two villages
Savart cultivates 4 hectares of vines. Most of it is located in Écueil, which belongs to Montagne de Reims, while approximately 1 hectare is in the neighboring village of Villers-aux-Nœuds.
Of this, the land belonging to Chardonnay amounts to only 0.5 hectares. All the remaining land belongs to Pinot Noir, and Écueil is particularly famous for this variety.
Among these, one plot in particular stands out: the sélection massale 'Pinot fin d'Écueil' parcel, located in Villers-aux-Nœuds, which consists of vineyards planted by Daniel and René. The term sélection massale refers to vines propagated from cuttings taken from across an existing, old vineyard, rather than from nursery clones, and thus offers greater genetic diversity. This method takes a long time to establish a vineyard and cannot be quickly replicated.
Most Savart bottled wines are blends of grapes harvested from multiple plots. The other wines are produced from single vineyards, and the Premier Cru and Grand Cru designations on the labels indicate the villages where the grapes were grown.
Pinot Noir, with a little Chardonnay
There are two varieties, but the ratio is heavily skewed toward one:
- Pinot Noir: Planted on almost all of the 4 hectares
- Chardonnay: 0.5 hectares in total
Winemaking
Savart's cultivation method can be summed up in one word: preventive. Rather than treating diseases after they occur, the goal is to take proactive measures to prevent problems from taking root. From a broader perspective, the aim is to create an environment where the vines can resist problems on their own, thereby minimizing artificial intervention.
The winemaking process follows the same logic. Frédéric Savart does not attempt to steer the wine toward a predetermined outcome. Decisions are made to preserve the inherent characteristics of the fruit, not to add anything to it.
Malolactic fermentation is the clearest example of this. He neither promotes nor inhibits it. The entire malolactic fermentation process proceeds naturally, at its own pace.
Most of the wine is fermented in stainless steel tanks. However, the proportion of barriques (small oak barrels) has been gradually increasing over the years, and a significant number of wines undergo a long, slow aging period in oak barrels. This is not a sophisticated, showroom-like wine cellar, but rather a small-scale, low-tech facility.
A dozen wines from four hectares
Frédéric Savart bottles nearly 12 different cuvées, which is a lot for an estate of just 4 hectares.
The cuvées released under the name Savart include the following:
- Le Mont Benoit
- Le Mont des Chrétiens Premier Cru
- Extra Brut Premier Cru L'Accomplie
- Extra Brut Premier Cru Les Noues
- Les Pinots V15.16 Extra Brut
- Bulle de Rosé Premier Cru Brut
- Brut Nature Expression Rosé
In addition to these, there are blanc de blancs wines produced from the small Chardonnay vineyard, as well as wines made with Grand Cru grapes and other rosé wines. Overall, the dosage is on the low side, and labels commonly indicate Extra Brut and Brut Nature (no sugar added).
Frequently asked questions
Where is Frédéric Savart based?
In Écueil, a village on the Montagne de Reims in Champagne. A smaller part of the estate's vines lies in nearby Villers-aux-Nœuds.
Is Savart a grower Champagne?
Yes. It is a family estate farming its own vines and bottling its own wine, rather than a house buying in grapes.
What is the estate best known for?
Pinot Noir from Écueil, bottled in small parcel-driven cuvées with very low dosage.
Who runs the estate now?
Frédéric Savart, since 2005. He is the third generation, following his grandfather René and his father Daniel.
