Bertrand Lapie

A family house since 1991

Maison Champagne Bertrand-Lapie was founded in 1991 in La Chaussée-sur-Marne. It carries the names of Gérard Bertrand and Marie-Josèphe Lapie, both of whom were committed to viticulture. The next generation, a child of the founders, joined the estate after a career in healthcare. The focus is on passing things on, consistent quality and responsible work in the vineyard.

Chardonnay from Bassu

The vines stand in the commune of Bassu. According to the grower, the very chalky soil and the east and south-east orientation are ideal for Chardonnay. The plots lie on the slopes of the Vitryat and are regarded as a source of finesse and freshness. Bassu belongs to the area around Vitry-le-François and is therefore not part of the well-known core zones of Champagne. The estate covers less than 3 hectares of vines. The vineyard work is done by hand. The house holds the Viticulture Durable en Champagne (VDC) label. According to the sources available, it is not an organic estate.

The cuvées

The cuvées are made mainly from Chardonnay. The speciality is the blanc de blancs called Cœur de Craie. The vintage champagne is aged in oak barrels. The range at a glance:

• Tradition (brut)
• Cuvée Duo (sec)
• Demi-sec and Cœur de Craie (blanc de blancs)
• Millésime (blanc de blancs)
• Rosé and Symphonie (rosé champagne from an assemblage)

The Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2010 won a silver medal at the Concours Général de Paris.

Visits and tasting

Cellar visits are by appointment only. Tours are available in German, English and French. They include an introduction to the appellation, an explanation of how champagne is made, a look around the facilities and a tasting. Among other things, you can taste vin clair and blanc de blancs. Gérard sometimes involves guests in individual steps, such as riddling by hand or labelling. The address is 69 Grande Rue de Coulmier, 51240 La Chaussée-sur-Marne.