Eric Taillet

Family and history

The Taillet family farms its vines in Baslieux-sous-Châtillon, in the Belval valley. The oldest vines on the estate were planted in 1900 by Eric's great-uncles on both his father's and his mother's side. Daniel Taillet officially founded the estate in 1956, and Eric, the fourth generation, took over from his father in 1995. According to the grower's portrait, the first bottles were sold in 1961. Today Dylan works on the estate as manager and Léna as head of sales, the two of them counting as the fifth generation. The house is a Récoltant-Manipulant.

Vines and working methods

The estate covers 37 plots totalling 6.11 hectares. Depending on the source, the share of Meunier is given as anywhere from 75 to 82 per cent. Alongside it come Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and forgotten varieties such as Pinot Gris, Petit Meslier and Arbane. The soils form a mosaic of clay and limestone, flint and marl, and Eric builds his single-plot bottlings around it.

“The oldest vines on the estate were planted in 1900 by Eric's great-uncles on both his father's and his mother's side.

In the vineyard he avoids herbicides, and the estate holds the HVE and Viticulture Durable en Champagne certifications. Gault&Millau also lists the production as being in organic conversion. In the cellar stands a wooden Dollat press with a capacity of 4,000 kg, bought in 1970. Eric is one of the founders of the Meunier Institut, which was created in 2015 and brings together producers with at least one cuvée made from 100 per cent Pinot Meunier.

Cuvées, visits and tasting

The calling card is Bansionensi, named after the Latin name of the village, a pure Meunier from clay, limestone and flint, aged nine months in oak and a further 48 months on the lees in bottle. Exclusiv’T is a pure Meunier with around 30 per cent reserve wines from a solera of at least eight years. Other cuvées include Sur le Grand Marais, Prémisse and Rosae Bansoniensi. Eric is a convinced advocate of extra brut champagnes.

Visitors are welcome Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:00, and on Saturdays by appointment. After booking, you get a tour of the pressing house and fermentation room and a glass to taste. A vineyard visit and a harvest day are also on offer.

• Address: 37 Rue Valentine Régnier, 51700 Baslieux-sous-Châtillon
• Telephone: +33 3 26 58 11 42