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.

Blend: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay

Base Vintage: 2015 vintage (57%) plus 43% reserve wines

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

Alcohol: 12%

Total Acidity: 5.6 g/l H SO

Volatile Acidity: 0.28 g/l H2SO4

Total SO2: 62 mg/l

pH: 3.05

Dosage: 6 g/l

Cellaring Potential: 3-5 years

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

2019 Release Reviews: “Disgorged in April 2019 with 4.5 grams per liter dosage, the latest release of the NV Brut Premier Cru Terroirs d’Ecueil offers up aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, blanched almonds, pastry cream and Meyer lemon oil. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a broad attack, a lively and incisive core of nicely concentrated fruit that’s still quite tightly wound and a long, chalky finish. It’s a blend of 85% Pinot Noir and the balance Chardonnay, based on the 2015 vintage supplemented by some 43% reserve wines. This will be even better with a year or two on cork to unwind.” – 92pts, Wine Advocate

2017 Release Reviews: “…offers a very clear, pure, fresh and fruity nose and palate. It is a very filigreed, rather light and finessed yet intense and chalky Champagne with good tension, grip and lingering salinity. Straight yet fine and complex.”-91pts, Wine Advocate

2016 Release Reviews: “Come-hither nose of vanillin, peaches, and cream, supported by a generous mousse. Pinot Noir to the fore here with mouth-coating brambly fruit.”-90pts, Decanter

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir, with 10% in oak barrel (red wine).  Harvest 2013, 20% reserve wines 2012.

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.

Alcohol: 12%

Total Acidity: 5.9 g/l H2 SO4

Total SO2: 27 mg/l

pH: 3.02

Dosage: 6 g/l

Reviews: “Violet and wild cherry notes waft through this aromatic rosé, mixing with strawberry, pastry dough, lemon meringue and almond accents on the finely detailed bead. Mouthwatering and accessible.” – 91pts, Wine Spectator

Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay

The Vines: The soil is worked mechanically

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

Average Age of the Vines: 30 years old

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

Alcohol (%vol): 12.36

Total Acidity (g/l H SO): 5.0

Volatile Acidity (g/l H2SO4): 0.22

Total SO2 (mg/l): 33

pH: 3.02

Dosage (g/l): 3.5

2012 Reviews: “Disgorged with March 2019 with three grams per liter dosage, the 2012 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Millésimé offers up an inviting bouquet of honeyed orchard fruit, freshly baked bread, dried white flowers and beeswax. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and fine-boned, it’s deep and layered at the core, with ripe but racy acids and a long, chalky finish. This is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir with 40% Chardonnay, all from the village of Ecueil.” – 93pts, Wine Advocate

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir. Harvest 2012

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.

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

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.

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.

Alcohol (% vol): 11.90

Total Acidity (g/l H2 SO4): 7.5

Total SO2 (mg/l): 63

pH: 2.83

Dosage (g/l): 2

2012 Reviews: “Disgorged in September 2017 with two grams per liter dosage after 54 months on the lees, the 2012 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Les Chaillots from Lacourte Godbillon is entirely sélection massale Pinot Noir, planted in 1966 on the south-facing slopes of Ecueil. Offering up aromas of mirabelle plum, yellow apple, blanched almonds and dried white flowers, it’s medium to full-bodied, crisp and chalky, with fine-boned structuring extract, ripe but racy acids and a long, saline finish. It’s quite typical of the elegant, mineral Pinot Noir-based Champagnes of this part of the Montagne de Reims. 1337 bottles were produced.” – 94pts, Wine Advocate

Grape Varietals: Chardonnay

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

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

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

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

Alcohol: 12.06

Total Acidity (g/l H2 SO4): 7.7

Total SO2 ( mg/l ): 65

pH: 2.90

Dosage (g/l): 5

2015 Reviews: “Disgorged in September 2019 with 3.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2015 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Les Chaillots opens in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white currants and wet stones, mingled with subtle hints of warm pastry and almonds. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly muscular and incisive, with a tangy spine of acidity and a pretty pinpoint mousse, it’s nicely concentrated and structured, concluding with a bone-dry and delicately oak-inflected finish. It will be even better after another year or two on cork.”- 92+pts, 09/23/2021, Wine Advocate

2014 Reviews: “Disgorged in June 2018 with 3.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2014 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Chaillots Hautes Vignes C.H.V. is showing very well indeed, exhibiting aromas of warm bread, lemon oil, white flowers and hazelnuts. Medium to full-bodied, racy and incisive, this is the chalkiest, most tensile and most overly mineral wine in the Lacourte Godbillon range. That’s not surprising, as it’s entirely Chardonnay from Pinot Noir-stronghold Ecueil.” – 92pts, Wine Advocate

Location: This Champagne is produced from plots in Ecueil and Mesneux

Plots: Mont Âme & Migerats

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

Average Age of the Vines: 55 year old Sélection Massales

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

Vinification: Base wine aged in 300-liter barrels after pressing and spontaneous fermentation, no malo.  No fining or filtration.  Aged for five years on lattes.

Dosage: 1 g/L

Production: 1,742 bottles & 30 magnums

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

Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir

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

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

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

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.

Alcohol: 12.69%

Total Acidity: 7 g/l

Total SO2: 62 mg/l

pH: 2.90

Dosage: 3 g/l