Chardonnet Et Fils

Lionel Chardonnet runs the house of Chardonnet & Fils in Avize, now in its third generation. The name suits the location: the estate sits in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, where Chardonnay sets the tone. The address is 7 Rue de l'Abattoir, and the business trades as EARL Lionel Chardonnet.

Three generations, one vineyard

The vineyard was planted by grandfather Gabriel, who at first had his grapes vinified by the cooperative. Gabriel's son Michel and his wife Yvette expanded the business, took over the champagne-making themselves and built up direct sales. According to the Guide Hachette, the first champagne under their own label came onto the market in 1970. In 1990, Lionel took over the family business after studying viticulture and oenology at university. Together with his wife Valérie he has created new cuvées and introduced sustainable farming adapted to site and vintage (viticulture raisonnée). That is not organic certification, and the house's website makes no mention of it. Their daughter Lucile, the fourth generation, designs the label.

Vineyard sites and work in the vines

Depending on the source, the vineyard area is around 5.5 hectares on the grand cru terroirs of Avize, Chouilly and Cramant. On top of that comes the vineyard in Celles-les-Condé in the Surmelin valley, with Pinot Noir and Meunier on a south-facing slope. Some of the Chardonnay vines are up to 60 years old. One caveat on the phrase you often read, "100 percent classified grand cru": it applies to the sites in the Côte des Blancs. Celles-les-Condé is not grand cru.

“According to the Guide Hachette, the first champagne under their own label came onto the market in 1970.

The work follows the rhythm of the seasons. The vines are pruned by hand, the Chardonnay in the Chablis style, the red varieties as Cordon de Royat. The harvest is also by hand, with help from friends and family as well as students. For the assemblage, the family tastes the base wines from different vintages, grape varieties and sites together. For the remuage, the bottles are turned by hand on riddling racks, 40 to 60 turns over three to four weeks.

Champagner Historie

Cuvées, visits and tastings

The range includes the Tradition in the dosage levels brut, demi-sec and extra brut, as well as a Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru. One source recommends the Brut Tradition and the long-aged Cuvée Réserve. The Guide Hachette describes a Réserve from the years 1996 to 1998 as powerful, vinous and long.

Visitors are welcome. According to the website, the estate receives visitors for tastings every day all year round. One directory, by contrast, lists visits by appointment only. It is therefore wise to book ahead. You can reach the house by telephone on +33 3 26 57 78 30.