Champagne Lacourte-Godbillon (Biodynamic)

Located in the Premier Cru village of Écueil on the west bank of the “Petite Montagne de Reims”, these vines have belonged to the Lacourte & Godbillion families for generations.  The very first planting of Champagne vines was prior to 1947, however Jean-Guy Lacourte and Claudine Godbillon had their very first harvest under the name Lacourte-Godbillion in 1968.  In 2006, almost 40 years later, Richard Desvignes and Geraldine Lacourte decided to leave their executive city jobs to come back to the family vineyard.  This new life of wine making has been a total revelation for them, and they strive to follow the philosphy of their ancestor, Jean-Guy Lacourte: “Only the highest quality grapes can produce a high quality wine.”  The estate now includes 20.5 acres of vines (95% planted in Écueil, 5% in the neighboring village of Les Mesneux).

The vineyards are worked exclusively by Lacourte-Godbillion’s team.  They plow during the winter to break up the soil, and mow the grass between the vine rows to maintain and develop soil vitality.  The vineyards are certified organic and demeter; there is no use of any pesticides, weedkillers, or other anti-botrytis treatments.  Their goal is to control the number of buds and shoots so that new growth is consistent and well spaced out.  Care is taken to separate out the shoots; keeping the vine canopy well aerated with no overcrowding of leaves or grape bunches results in only the highest quality grapes.  Harvest is done manually.

Surface Area: 8 ha
Average Age of Vines: 30 years old
Grapes Varietals: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay

This particular terroir is characterized by an incredibly diverse sub-soil. Some sections are predominantly sandy over a layer of deep chalk, others are composed of “Sparnacian” clay and shallow chalk at the bottom of the hillside, similar to the soils of Les Mesneux.

Lacourte-Godbillon has a clear vision for their winery: a wine must reflect its terroir.  The wood for the oak barrels either comes from Ecueil’s forest or from Champagne-Ardenne.  The harvest from each plot is pressed and vinified separately and the juice is not pumped, but moved by gravity as far as possible to allow the resulting wine to retain its intrinsic qualities.

The fermentation process is temperature-controlled and monitored daily.  The wine is left in tank or barrel in contact with the lees for the autumnal season.  No racking is done in order to develop complexity and unique personality.  For the wine fermented in oak barrels, no stirring or filtering is carried out.  The chilling process is done outside to utilize the seasonal cold temperatures.

The bottles are aged in the cellar for 30 months and up to 7 years.  This is followed by an average resting time of 3-6 months after the yeast deposits have been removed by disgorgement.  The optimum dosage for each wine in each year is decided by several trial tastings.  The objective is to find the best possible balance as each wine is a living being with its own character.

Grape Blend: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay

Viticulture: The soil is worked mechanically; plowing under the vines, and grass between the rows.

Harvest: Manual

Average Age of the Vines: 30 years old

Vinification: Temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, malolactic fermentation carried out

Aging: Minimum of 30 months on lees and 3 months after disgorgement

Cellaring Potential: 3-5 years

Serving Suggestion: An excellent choice for all occasions, ideal served as an apéritif. Serve at 8°-9° C.

Grape Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

Cru: Ecueil

Average Age of the Vines: 25 years old

Viticulture: Ploughing under the vines and grass between the rows.

Vinification: 90% in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks, 10% in oak barrels (228l).

Aging: Minimum of 4 years on lees and 6 months after disgorgement.

Grape Blend: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

Soil: Sand and clay sub-soil. Mid-slope position

Average Age of the Vines: 30 years old

Viticulture: The soil is worked mechanically.

Harvest: Manual harvesting.

Vinification: Temperature controlled stainless steel tanks, malolactic fermentation prevented for the Chardonnay.

Aging: 6 years minimum in our cellars.

Aging Potential: 5 years

Tasting Notes: Golden straw color. The nose has intense aromas of stone fruits (mirabelle plum), toast, and brioches notes. On the palate, this wine is ample and intense on the attack followed by freshness and tension with notes of citrus.

Food Pairings: Veal chops cooked medium-rare, sea bass

Serving Temperature: 10°-12° C

Grape Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

Vineyard: “Chaillots” plot planted in 1966, massal selection of pinot d’Ecueil, sand on the surface and tuf in the depth. South exposition, ploughing under the vines and grass between the rows.

Vinification: Fermentation in 300 l oak barrels, oak from Ecueil’s forest. No malolactic fermentation. Use of gravity exclusively, not filtered, not fined,  natural cold stabilization.

Aging: Minimum of 48 months on lees and 6 months after disgorgement.

Tasting: A lovely balance of yellow plum fruit and an incisive, well-judged structure from the barrel fermentation. Open and long texture. Lily and smoke and the whiff of baking, with a fresh lemon-oil note on the end.

Grape Blend: 100% Chardonnay

Vineyard: Mid-slope “Chaillots” and “Hautes Vignes” plots, aged 40 years, ploughing under the vines and grass between the rows.

Vinification: Fermentation in 228 liter oak barrels.  No malolactic fermentation.  Use of gravity exclusively, not filtered, not fined, natural cold stabilization.

Aging: Minimum of 36 months on lees and 6 months after disgorgement.

Tasting Notes: Gentle nose of lemon-butter and smoldering sweet smoke. Starts urgently, gaining instant attention, so fresh and dry! Complex and creamy. Gorgeous, sweet, sponge-cake and almond notes to sign off.

Vineyard Plots: This Champagne is produced from plots in Ecueil and Mesneux: Mont Âme & Migerats.

Soil: Chalk (Mont Âme) and light clay (Migerats)

Average Age of the Vines: 55 year old Sélection Massales

Grape Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

Vinification: Base wine aged in 300-liter barrels after pressing and spontaneous fermentation, no malo.  No fining or filtration.

Aging: Aged for five years on lattes.

Tasting Notes: Complex with lemony, buttery, and pastry notes. Vibrant saline finish.

Grape Blend: 100% Pinot Noir

Vineyard Plots: Mid-slope plots, 40 years average age, ploughing under the vines, and grass between the rows.

Vinification: 60% in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks, 40% in oak barrels (228l), no malolactic fermentation.

Aging: Minimum of 40 months on lees and 6 months after disgorgement.

Tasting Notes: Concentrated, intense nose of yellow fruits, sweet spice. Precise structure and meaty substance of Pinot d’Ecueil. Vibrant, high pitched, and persistent texture. Accomplished modern champagne, wholly expressive of Ecueil.