Montgueux, "Montrachet de la Champagne
The Champagne Jacques Lassaigne wine estate lies in the heart of Montgueux, in the Aude region. On the outskirts of Troyes, in the southern part of Champagne, this privileged terroir, unique in the Côte des Bar, combines the elegance of chalky soils and the richness of flint on a hillside overlooking the Seine and renowned for its freshness. The characteristics of this terroir, combined with the distinct mineral depth and suave complexity of Montgueux wines, have earned it the admiring nickname of " Champagne's Montrachet ".
The wine estate covers some 4.7 hectares devoted exclusively to Chardonnay, the emblematic grape variety of Montgueux, at odds with the hegemony of Pinot Noir in the Côte des Bar, and a veritable thread running through the house style. Here, the grape variety finds an expression of singular purity, between crystalline brilliance and silky texture. The vines benefit from a south-easterly exposure that captures the morning light and promotes slow, even ripening of the grapes. Each plot is vinified separately, and the wines are blended after ageing, so that their marriage reveals all the essence of their terroir. For this is the Champagne Jacques Lassaigne style: to reveal the diversity of expression that a single terroir can offer.
Emmanuel Lassaigne, between the demands and simplicity of terroir
Jacques Lassaigne founded the wine estate in 1964, and his son Emmanuel took over the reins in 1999, instilling a new, demanding viticulture. His viticultural practices respect the natural balance of the land, and are inspired by biodynamic principles, allowing the terroir to speak with sincerity.
Emmanuel Lassaigne is the embodiment of a new generation of authentic winemakers. His approach is based on a simple conviction: a great wine must above all be a sincere reflection of its terroir. To achieve this, he limits inputs as much as possible, works the vines gently and favors natural fermentation, without yeasting or sulfiting. Winemaking is carried out plot by plot, with the aim of preserving the integrity of each locality. This practice, rare in Champagne, enables us to create highly precise cuvées.
In the cellars, Emmanuel plays with materials and containers like a musician with his instruments. Fermentations and ageings are carried out in stainless steel vats as well as in old barrels, chosen not to wood the wine but to give it micro-oxygenation and depth. Dosages are deliberately low, often non-existent, and disgorging is still done on the fly, without prior glazing.
This quest for purity does not exclude generosity: each bottle of Champagne Jacques Lassaigne tells of a subtle balance between aromatic brilliance, mineral tension and silky texture.
Over the years, Emmanuel Lassaigne has established himself as one of the most inspired artisans on the Côte des Bar. His terroir-driven cuvées, precise, luminous and imbued with the vibrant minerality for which Montgueux is renowned, have seduced wine-lovers and wine guides alike.
The wine estate's great cuvées
Among our favorite cuvées, Les Vignes de Montgueux Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is the most accessible. Emmanuel Lassaigne brings out the direct expression of the hillside and its chalky soils. More straightforward, more immediate, this Champagne embodies the quintessence of Montgueux Chardonnay: citrus notes, mineral brilliance and a vibrant energy that make this a terroir wine both precise and generous.
Cotet Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is a perfect illustration of the wine estate's parcel-based approach. Produced from old vines planted on flint and chalk soils, this Champagne displays an incisive minerality and verticality rare among the wines of the wine estate. Deep, saline and long-lived, it reveals a profile cut out for gastronomy.
Finally, La Colline Inspirée Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut is without doubt the most emblematic. Produced from a blend of parcels covering the entire hillside, it reflects the spirit of the wine estate in its entirety. This is a Champagne of light, vinous and taut, where chalky freshness blends with ample texture.
Precision of gesture, sincerity of terroir and emotion in the glass: Emmanuel Lassaigne's signature carries the singular terroir of Montgueux high.
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