There are few growers in Champagne quite like Emmanuel Lassaigne. Working from the tiny village of Montgueux, Lassaigne has become one of the defining figures in contemporary grower Champagne. His layered, soulful, intensely mineral wines are among the region's most distinctive expressions of Chardonnay.
We rarely receive enough Lassaigne to feature these wines, so we're thrilled to have a small parcel of his brilliant Les Vignes de Montgueux to share today, along with the exceedingly rare Rosé Les Vignes de Montgueux.
The story begins with Emmanuel's father, Jacques, who helped revive the overlooked Champagne village of Montgueux after decades of decline. In the 1960s, he replanted abandoned vineyards on this isolated chalk hill just west of Troyes, convinced it could produce world-class Chardonnay. It was a bold belief, but one rooted in geology. Montgueux sits on the same chalk formation that runs through the Côte des Blancs. While its slightly warmer climate allows Chardonnay to ripen with ease, the wines retain the electric acidity and searing minerality that define the finest Blanc de Blancs.
When Emmanuel returned to the domaine in 1999, he pushed that vision even further. Out went herbicides and fertilizers, in favor of organic farming, cover crops, and meticulous soil work. He ferments with native yeasts, and keeps sulfur to a bare minimum. The wines quickly found an enthusiastic audience from Paris to New York. Today, many of Emmanuel's once-radical ideas have become standard practice among Champagne's top growers.
Les Vignes de Montgueux is the perfect introduction to Emmanuel's style. Drawn from nine small parcels and three subsequent vintages (‘23, ‘22, ‘21), it delivers tense, vibrant citrus fruit tempered by crisp acidity and pure limestone-infused mineral cut.
We're also delighted to offer the much rarer rosé version. Based on their gorgeous Chardonnay, a small portion of still Pinot Noir is added to the blend. It is packed with all of the signature Lassaigne energy and focus but with a heady layer of high-toned red berry fruit, wet stone, and fresh mountain herbs.
Jacques Lassaigne, Champagne Rosé Extra Brut Les Vignes de Montgueux [2023], NV $99.99
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