Allouchery-Deguerne

Allouchery-Deguerne is a family estate in Chamery, a premier cru village on the Montagne de Reims. The village lies within the UNESCO World Heritage area of Champagne, holds the four-flower label and is overlooked by a listed church. The family has worked as winegrowers for generations and founded the brand in 1998. Nicolas Allouchery has run the house since 2015.

Vineyards and approach

The premier cru vineyards lie mainly in Chamery and Écueil, along with a few neighbouring villages. Champagne and still wines are made exclusively from grapes grown in the estate's own vineyards. As a récoltant-manipulant, the house is therefore responsible for everything from vine to bottle. The estate gives no figure for its vineyard area in the sources I checked.

The estate has been certified HVE Level 3 (Haute Valeur Environnementale) since 2015 and has held VDC certification, Champagne's sustainable viticulture scheme, since 2017. The wines are aged in stainless steel tanks, and the dosage ranges from three to eight grams per litre.

The cuvées

The range runs from the entry-level champagne to vintage cuvées. There is also a blanc de blancs, a blanc de noirs and a rosé, as well as a rosé de saignée. According to Gault&Millau, the Sélection is made up of 60 per cent Pinot Noir and 20 per cent Chardonnay. The Cuvée Louis Vieilles Vignes 2015 is a blanc de noirs, half Pinot Noir and half Pinot Meunier, made as an extra brut. Gault&Millau scores it 92 out of 100.

A particular curiosity is Les Plantelles, a red Pinot Noir from Écueil, grown on a small plot of just 17 ares. Red coteaux champenois wines like this have become rare in the region.

Visiting and tasting

Visits are possible daily by appointment. If you would like to stay longer, the estate has a gîte for six people. That way you can explore the vineyards and taste through the range at your leisure.

• Address: 9 Rue du Château Rouge, 51500 Chamery
• Telephone: +33 3 26 97 63 74
• Email: champagne@allouchery-deguerne.com