Meet our winemakers...
La Maison Carrée
The Perrochet family has been making wine since before ancestor Jean-Jaques Perrochet bought the house and wine cellar in 1827. The first word that comes to mind for many visitors is “tradition”, when seeing the building and decor, then the old barrel room and vertical tanks that are still in service. The Perrochets today combine the charm of this with a sharp appreciation for contemporary winemaking knowledge and tools. The family winery has been biodynamic since 2012, ensuring not only healthy soil but a high degree of biodiversity in the vineyards. The winery remains relatively small but is proud that it does not buy in from other growers or producers, thus ensuring authenticity and quality.
Neuchatel, home to La Maison Carrée winery, is widely considered to be one of the best places to learn French, for the elegance, balance and finely-tuned accent here—and many who appreciate fine wines would argue that the same logic can be applied to appreciating wines from this region, Pinot Noir in particular. The square house that gives its name to the winery sits in the village of Auvernier at the top end of Lake Neuchatel.
Jean-Denis Perrochet's Legacy
In 2008 Jean-Denis Perrochet and his wife, Christine took over the winery that he had been running with his father, Jean-Jacques. Their son, Alexandre joined them in 2015. Sadly, the tradition of father and son working together was cut short by Jean-Denis’ sudden and unexpected death in November 2024, but Alexandre, now responsible for the winery, had time to benefit from his father’s rich experience. He also inherited the good-natured, generous mindset of his father, one of the hallmarks of the winery.
Neuchatel’s vineyards stretch the length of the lake, carved out by the Rhone glacier. Maison Carrée grows five grape varieties that are traditional in this area: Pinot Noir (50%) is the only red, alongside Chasselas (15%), Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Savagnin Blanc. The 10 hectares of vines are split between Auvernier to the west of the town of Neuchatel and Hauterive, 10 km to the east. The vines are on mainly clay-limestone soil, at 440-510 m. altitude. In Auvernier some of the vine parcels have partly marly soil, which retains water well even in summer, suitable for aromatic white grapes. Others have small pebbles in the sub-soil and retain water less well, making these parcels very good for Pinot Noir. The iron-rich soil in Hauterive, where the clay rises to the surface easily, allows the vines’ deep roots to seek out moisture down at the level of the mother rock, giving Pinot Noir vines here a particular terroir character that is celebrated in the wine.
our hand-selected white wine
from
La Maison Carrée
Chasselas non-filtré
Wine profile
Dry, slightly bubbly, notes of fresh pear, citrus and pencil shavings. In mouth, large and somewhat mineral. Lively yet subtle, always reflecting its vintage. A large part of this Chasselas is made in the traditional, unfiltered manner. Neuchatel celebrates its new vintage unfiltered Chasselas wines every January, so it is easy to forget that they age nicely and are, if anything, better for a few months in bottle. In this case, it is a Chasselas with a marked regional character and keeping it for a few months shows how well the unfiltered method of vinifying it brings this out.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic vineyards. In the cellar, brief maceration, then vertical pressing, matured on lees in large oak vats.
Food pairing
Aperitif, fish, salty cold dishes such as hams and dried meats, cheeses. Fresh fruit desserts, fruit salads.
Perdrix Blanche
Wine profile
A powerful, dry, somewhat mineral and robust wine with notes of white flowers, citrus, grilling. In mouth, silky, lively, long finish. Slightly bubbly.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic vineyards. Pinot Noir grapes, whose juice is white, are pressed whole and without crushing or maceration. The juice obtained is nearly that of a white wine. After a year in a large oak vat, on its lees, the wine develops its golden color. Two to 3 years of maturing in bottle helps to bring out all the elegance of this grape.
Food pairing
Pairs well with highly flavored dishes, gratins and delicately spiced hors-d’oeuvres.
Savagnin Blanc
Wine profile
Back to the past, for this Jura grape preceded Chasselas as the most widespread white grape in the Neuchatel region. This is a powerful, rich wine, notes of pear and white peach, lively and fresh with medium acidity, long finish. Best to allow it to age 3-4 years.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic vineyards. Vinified and matured in large oak vats, Burgundy-style.
Food pairing
Fish with sauce such as monkfish with hollandaise, well-flavored chicken such as Bresse with cream sauce, curried dishes, mature Gruyère and other ripe cheeses.
our hand-selected red wine
from
La Maison Carrée
Hauterive Pinot Noir
Wine profile
This is a wine notable for its elegance and delicacy, pure, mineral, fresh. The classiness for which Pinot Noir is known comes forth here with notes of red cherries, subtle spices and dried fruits.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic vineyards, vines growing in sandy limestone soil that sits on a block of crumbling yellow limestone. Two to 3 weeks in stainless steel is followed by 12 months in oak containers of various sizes from barrel to large (5,000 liters) vats. After bottling in the autumn the wine needs to mature, often released by the winery only after several years.
Food pairing
Well-flavored red meats, game.
Auvernier Pinot Noir
Wine profile
A nose of juicy red fruits, big and powerful, mouth-filling, from vines with roots that grow deeply in clay-limestone soil. Its tannins allow it to age well.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic vineyards. Two to 3 weeks in stainless steel is followed by 12 months in oak, containers of various sizes from barrel to large (5,000 liters) vats. After bottling in the autumn the wine needs to mature, often released by the winery only after several years.
Food pairing
Red meats, game, hard cheeses.
our hand-selected rosé
from
La Maison Carrée
Oeil de Perdrix 2023
Wine profile
This is a rosé made from Pinot Noir, for which Neuchatel is justifiably famous. Dry and fruity, its rosy-amber color and delicate tannins make it a very versatile wine.
Cultivation and vinification
Biodynamic vineyards. After crushing and maceration lasting 2 to 3 days during which a bit of the color, grape aromas and tannins are diffused through the skins into the juice, the grapes are pressed using the vertical presses. Fermentation and maturation both take place in large oak vats. The wine is bottled in the spring and it can be drunk young or left for several months to develop more fully.
Food pairing
A wine that goes well with a great number of dishes of varied sorts, including grilled foods—or simply shared around the table with friends.
Cultivation Method
The Perrochets are strong believers in the approach to winemaking that says 70% of the wine is made in the vineyard, thus biodynamic cultivation to strengthen the soil and vines. In the cellar, winemaking is as close to natural and hands-off as possible while watching and helping their development with great precision.
