Founded in 1864 in Épernay, this house is one of the most traditional Champagne houses. All wines are fermented in small oak barrels, while reserve wines are aged in large oak barrels (foudres). Malolactic fermentation is also avoided. 1,000 used oak barrels are on site – the third-largest collection after Krug and Bollinger. The main reason Gratien doesn't produce wines as great as Bollinger or Krug is that the grapes purchased from outside are not always of the highest quality. Pinot Meunier also makes up a surprisingly large proportion of the grapes. The wines of Nicolas Jaeger, the son of Jean-Pierre Jaeger, on the other hand, are very good: true cellar Champagnes, full of youthful acidity. With its high, age-friendly acidity, Gratien is more like Krug than Bollinger. All the wines are serious and of truly high quality.