Coqueret-Benard

The house of Coqueret-Bénard is a grower-producer (Récoltant-Manipulant) from the Montagne de Reims. The estate was based in the village of Ludes (51500) in the Marne. The village is classified Premier Cru. The vines grow on a subsoil of limestone and chalk. For current details on the house, see champagner.com.

New location in Épernay

The address on Rue Victor Hugo in Ludes is out of date. Michèle and Claude have moved to Épernay, where they continue to welcome guests for tastings and sell their cuvées. The former address was 14 Rue Victor Hugo in Ludes. There is no longer a site in Ludes. The new address is 42 Avenue Paul Chandon, 51200 Épernay. If you would like to visit, please get in touch beforehand. The house recommends letting them know the day and time of your visit in advance.

Vineyard and style

The grape varieties named are Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. The estate works according to the principles of "viticulture raisonnée", a low-intervention approach to growing that is gentle on the environment. The wines are made using the traditional method. One directory lists the Premier Cru Brut as a cuvée. Annual production is estimated there at around 25,000 bottles. This figure is an estimate and not a statement from the house. The hosts describe their Champagne de Tradition as very elegant. The assemblage, they say, brings out the long-lasting aromas of Chardonnay.

Visit and tasting

In the Cellier aux Lys, built in the style of Louis XIII, the owners explain how champagne is made through an exhibition in which past meets present. The existing text mentions Louis XVIII. According to tourism directories, that is wrong. The visit continues to the vineyard on the Montagne de Reims and ends in the 18th-century cellar. This description refers to the estate in Ludes. Whether the tour is still offered unchanged at the new site in Épernay is something you should ask when you book. Visits are by appointment only. The house gives French as the language.