Champagne Brut Essentiel

Perfect as an aperitif, but also a good companion for fish dishes and for non-invasive first courses; risotto with lobster pulp; amazing with smoked sausages

Lahaye owns 4.8 hectares, largely planted with pinot noir. Three hectares lie in Bouzy, one hectare just over the border in Ambonnay, to the east, and another 60 ares in Tauxières, to the west. In addition, a 20-are parcel of 50-year old chardonnay vines is planted in Voipreux, in the southern Côte des Blancs, and since this is so far away from Bouzy, these vines are worked by Pierre Larmandier. Cover crops are planted in all of the parcels to encourage competition and prevent erosion, and Lahaye has observed that since he’s started using cover crops, a larger number and variety of plants have begun to grow in the vineyards, creating a healthier biodiversity.

This Grand Cru champagne is aged in casks for 10 months and develops a beautiful aromatic harmony.

In the cellar the work is as minimal as possible. Lahaye has slowly been increasing the percentage of his wines vinified in 205-liter barriques, and as of the 2012 harvest, all base wines are fermented in barrel. All of the wines in barrel are fermented with natural yeasts. He has also experimented with terracotta amphorae, although he hasn't been satisfied, as he finds that the wines quickly lose freshness compared with those in barrel. In general, he prefers to blend both malo and non-malo lots.

Benoît Lahaye is located in Bouzy a village in the region of the montagne de Reims classified Grand Cru. He works in the winery with his wife Valérie and their two sons. The domaine which covers a surface area of 4.8 hectares is situated in the region of Bouzy (3 hectares) Ambonnay (1 hectare) and Tauxières (0.6 ha). Bouzy brings structure power and fruit while Ambonnay brings acidity and roundness. The domaine is mainly planted with Pinot Noir vines (just under 90%) on South - South West facing slopes. The total production is less than 40.000 bottles per year.