Comtesse Lafond

Château Comtesse Lafond stands at the far end of the Avenue de Champagne, at number 79, in Épernay. It is one of the family estates of Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, which, alongside champagne, also include wines from Burgundy, the Loire and Provence. The house takes its name from the Comtesse Lafond, an ancestor of the baron. In the 19th century she enhanced the reputation of the family's wines and châteaux.

From the Château de Pékin to a champagne house

The 19th-century building was formerly known as the Château de Pékin. In 1873 Eugène Mercier bought the property together with its presses and cellars. The house of Mercier parted with the dilapidated château in 2000. Baron de Ladoucette restored it and made it the home of Comtesse Lafond. The estate includes a park of 4 hectares with views over the Côte des Blancs. The sources I checked give no details of the house's own vineyard holdings or plots. The Épernay tourist office names the Côte des Blancs and the southern slopes of the Vallée de la Marne as the area of origin.

The cuvées

The range runs from Extra Brut to Rosé. There is also a Blanc de Blancs, a vintage champagne and the prestige cuvée Private Comtesse. The Extra Brut is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Falstaff rated it 91 points in 2020. The tasters noted biscuit, yellow apple and a little pineapple over acacia honey. The Blanc de Blancs is made from Chardonnay alone. The Rosé brings together Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The house lists the Vintage 2014 as its current vintage.

Visiting and tasting

The château welcomes visitors for tastings without an appointment, either in the shop or, from May to September and weather permitting, on the terrace in the park. Two glasses cost 15 euros, three glasses 20 euros. Private visits to the Cave Comtesse, the caveau and the salons are possible on request.

• Guided tasting: it begins in the Cave Comtesse with the Extra Brut. In the château the Blanc de Blancs follows, in front of the portrait of the Comtesse.
• One variation offers the chance to sabre your own bottle.
• A private tour with a menu includes seven champagnes and six canapés.

For current opening hours and prices, see the house's website.