Derouillat

Champagne Dérouillat is a family estate in Monthelon, a small village in the Coteaux Sud d'Epernay. The estate has been there since 1929. The village has only around 330 inhabitants. Today the family runs the estate in its fourth generation.

From the cooperative to selling under their own label

It all began with Jean Dérouillat and Régine Franquet. From simple grape suppliers they became cooperative members who sold their champagne themselves. In the 1980s their son Luc joined them. He and his wife Florence left the village cooperative and invested in their own equipment. Since then they have worked as a Récoltant-Manipulant. Today the daughters Fanny and Cécile are part of the estate. Fanny makes the wines together with her father and runs sales, while Cécile works in the vineyard all year round. Two cuvées carry their names: Cécile and Fanette.

Sites, grape varieties and cellar

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grow on just under 6 hectares on the southern slopes of Épernay, on the Côte des Blancs and in the south of the Aisne département. The family itself also names the Marne Valley among its sources. Other sources speak of around 5 hectares. The vineyards are managed sustainably (viticulture raisonnée) and harvested by hand. The vines are on average 25 years old.

In the cellar there is a traditional wooden press, stainless steel tanks and oak barrels. The white wines go through malolactic fermentation and are filtered without fining. Riddling is done partly by machine and partly by hand on the pupitre.

The cuvées and visiting

The range includes Fleur de Bulles Brut, L'Esprit Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru, Arthémia Rosé and Secret de Famille Brut, among others. There are also vintage champagnes such as Cécile 2011 and Fanette 2012. In addition there is a Blanc de Noirs and, with Coeur de Raisin, a champagne made from Pinot Meunier. L'Esprit and the Blanc de Noirs each received 88 out of 100 points from Gault&Millau.

Tastings and sales direct from the estate are possible. Opening hours according to the estate's website: Monday to Saturday from 10 to 12 and from 2 to 6 pm, closed on Sundays. It is advisable to book by phone on +33 3 26 59 76 54.