Alain Brugnon

Champagne M. Brugnon is based in Ecueil, a premier cru village about ten minutes from Reims. Maurice Brugnon, Alain's grandfather, founded the M. Brugnon brand in 1947. He also set up the Ecueil cooperative. Alain Brugnon has run the house since 1986. He is the third generation of winemakers in the family. The roots go back further still: from Ludovic to Alain, the house counts four generations of growers. Alain is also president of the Ecueil cooperative.

Vineyards and approach

The estate farms 8.6 hectares, spread across three crus and 36 plots. In Ecueil, the Pinot Noir grows on sandy soil. According to the house, these grapes go into the Brut Réserve, the rosé and the vintage cuvées. Rilly-la-Montagne sits on chalk and yields 100 per cent Chardonnay. The vintage blanc de blancs comes exclusively from there. The third site is Mont-Saint-Père in the Marne valley, with clay soil. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier are grown there.

On environmental matters, the estate relies on certifications. It received HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) and VDC (Viticulture Durable en Champagne) in 2018. The Terra Vitis label is also mentioned. Organic farming is not mentioned in the sources.

The champagnes

The range includes, among others, a Brut, the Brut Sélection from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a vintage Brut, a blanc de blancs and a rosé. The Gault&Millau guide gave 90 out of 100 points to the Brut and the Millésime 2013, and 88 points to the Blanc de Blancs 2015. For the Sélection Brut, a US importer describes yellow apple, quince, brioche and chalk, with pear, toasted nuts and lingering minerality on the palate.

Visiting and tasting

The house welcomes visitors. The tour takes you through the courtyard, the pressing house and the cellar, explaining the steps of champagne making. A tasting of the range follows. The price is €12.50 per adult. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, by arrangement. From time to time the house shows contemporary art exhibitions. Your hosts are Alain and Valérie. The address is 1 Rue Brûlée, 51500 Ecueil, telephone +33 3 26 49 25 95.