NV Henri Goutorbe, ‘Cuvée Prestige’ Brut, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

Producer: A family owned, independent grower champagne house, with 25 hectares of vines. The Goutorbe family were first vine nurserymen, since the beginning of the 20th century, propagating vine cuttings, then started making estate bottled Champagne late 1940s. The Goutorbe family with Rene & wife Nicole, their sons, Bertrand & Étienne. Daughter Elizabeth has now opened her own Champagne house, Champagne Egrot et Filles.

Place: Located in the Village of Aÿ, the vineyards are on the steep slopes of the Bois de Charlemagne, Marne Valley.

Farming: sustainable/environmentally conscious, HVE certified  

Varietal: 70% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 5% Meunier blended from premier plots: Pinot Noir & Meunier from Aÿ Grand Cru, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ 1er Cru – Chardonnay from Bisseuil 1er Cru

Soil: predominantly chalk & limestone

Winemaking: Aged on lees in bottle at the cellar 3 years before disgorging.