Charlot Père & Fils

It is always very surprising to see a new Vigneron suddenly appear in the Champagne region. And yet, looking closer, Pierre Charlot is far from being a newcomer, but rather at the head of the family Domaine with a long wine history behind him. This is the story of Charlot Père & Fils: winegrowers for several generations, who, with their 4.5 hectares located near Châtillon-sur-Marne, have long been cultivating the vineyards facing south in the Vallée de la Marne. Since 1941, after the death of her husband, Madame Solange has managed the Domaine, making wine until the age of 88.

It was then her nephew Pierre who took over the business in 2009, while still remaining a "reserve soldier". Relying on his grandmother's inheritance and on Pierre Masson's advice - one of the fathers of biodynamics and author of the "Guide pratique de la bio-dynamie à l'usage des agriculteurs" - Pierre started the conversion of the production according to the principles of biodynamics. Meunier grapes are the real and main protagonist of the Domaine's winemaking, occupying 85% of the vineyards and leaving room for only 10% Chardonnay and the remaining 5% Pinot Noir.

The splendid vineyards of the Domaine are on average 30 years and, together with the richness of mineral salts from the subsoil, give their wines a natural richness and depth. Pierre's approach is very natural both in the vineyard and in the cellar; fermentation is spontaneous and takes place in steel tanks and in 228 or 500 litre fût de chêne; bottle ageing on the yeasts lasts up to four years with a total sulphur content always very low - less than 30 mg/l. Pierre Charlot is undoubtedly a great promise, making Champagnes that tell the story of the terroir of the Vallée de la Marne in a natural way.