Edmond Barnaut

It began with a marriage and a decision. Edmond Barnaut, a grape grower and wine broker, married Apolline Godmé-Barancourt in 1873, the daughter of an old family from Bouzy. With his own vines and those of his wife, he created a brand of his own and began selling bottles the following year. In 1874 he was one of the first growers to make his own champagne. Today the Secondé family runs the house, direct descendants of the founder. Philippe and Guillaume Secondé represent the fifth and sixth generations.

Sites and vines in Bouzy

The estate farms 11.27 hectares, spread over 32 parcels in the Grand Cru sites of Bouzy, Ambonnay and Louvois. Pinot Noir makes up around 80 per cent of production, the rest is Chardonnay. In addition there are 4.6 hectares in the Marne Valley, whose grapes go to a cooperative. The house keeps some Chardonnay back for a blanc de blancs. The estate is certified HVE and VDC (sustainable viticulture in Champagne).

Style and cuvées

All the cuvées are built on a perpetual reserve: each vintage is added to it, half is bottled and the other half stays behind as reserve for the following year. Malolactic fermentation takes place in stainless steel. The Grande Réserve is the original cuvée. Its reserve wines come from the perpetual cuvée that Edmond Barnaut began in 1874. It is made up of 95 per cent Grand Cru sites in Bouzy, with a touch of Ambonnay, and is 67 per cent Pinot Noir and 33 per cent Chardonnay. The Blanc de Noirs is pure Pinot Noir from Bouzy. It was first produced in 1995. Other cuvées include:

• Rosé Authentique: a saignée rosé made from Pinot Noir with 10 to 15 per cent Chardonnay from Bouzy.
• Cuvée Edmond and Éclat de Chardonnay
• Bouzy Rouge and Clos Barnaut Rosé as still wines from the Coteaux Champenois

Visiting and tasting

In a boutique in period style, the house invites you to a guided tasting of its Grand Cru champagnes, the Bouzy Rouge and the Clos Barnaut Rosé. Edmond Barnaut once had a cellar dug 15 metres deep into the chalk. Before a visit, it is worth booking an appointment directly with the house.