The house was founded in Reims in 1760 by François Delamotte, a vineyard owner, and Delamotte is among the very oldest champagne houses. In 1927 Marie-Louise de Nonancourt gave the brand new life and moved it to Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs. In 1988 Delamotte came under the umbrella of the Laurent-Perrier group, together with its neighbour Salon.
Since 1997 the house has been run by Didier Depond, who also runs Salon. The two houses share the same team for viticulture, cellar work and management. Winemaking is in the hands of Michel Fauconnet, the long-serving cellar master of Laurent-Perrier.
The foundation is Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, supplemented by smaller amounts from Avize, Oger and Cramant. For the Brut and the rosé, Pinot Noir from grand cru sites on the Montagne de Reims is added, for example from Bouzy, Ambonnay and Tours-sur-Marne. The range is deliberately slim and comprises four cuvées: Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Blancs Millésimé and Rosé. The Blanc de Blancs is regarded as the house signature and shows up in the shops as taut and mineral, with notes of brioche and citrus. If you want to get to know the Côte des Blancs in a clear, precise form, this is a good place to start.
