Description
Maison Lacourte-Godbillon is a grower estate based in the Premier Cru village of Écueil, in the Montagne de Reims. Run by Géraldine Lacourte and Richard Desvignes since 2006, the domaine has steadily evolved toward organic and biodynamic farming, with a strong commitment to biodiversity and meticulous vineyard work. Their approach centres on expressing individual parcels—each cuvée designed as a precise translation of terroir rather than a house blend.
“Chaillots” 2016 is a single-parcel (parcellaire) Champagne, sourced from a vineyard planted in 1966 with massal selections of Pinot Noir. The site, located in Écueil, is characterised by sandy topsoils over deeper chalk and tuf, with a south-facing exposure that ensures optimal ripening. This combination gives the wine both generosity of fruit and a firm mineral backbone, a hallmark of the best sites in the Petite Montagne de Reims.
The wine is vinified in oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation typically blocked to retain freshness and structure. It undergoes extended ageing on lees—around five years—before disgorgement, and is bottled with a very low dosage (around 1.5–2 g/l), placing it firmly in the Extra Brut style. Unfiltered and unfined, it remains a pure and transparent expression of both vintage and site, produced in very limited quantities.
In the glass, “Chaillots” 2016 reveals a nuanced and layered profile: aromas of yellow plum, citrus oil and orchard fruits are interwoven with notes of brioche, toasted almond and a gentle smoky nuance from barrel ageing. The palate is structured yet open, combining a fine mousse with incisive acidity and a long, saline finish. The balance between fruit depth and mineral tension makes it a highly gastronomic Champagne, equally suited to shellfish, richer fish dishes or simply enjoyed on its own.
A compelling expression of old-vine Pinot Noir from Écueil, “Chaillots” 2016 captures the house style of Lacourte-Godbillon: precise, terroir-driven, and quietly complex, with a strong sense of place and a long ageing potential.
