Forget Chauvet

Forget-Chauvet is based in Ludes, a premier cru village on the Montagne de Reims. Families named Forget have worked vines there since the 1700s. The name of the house goes back to a marriage: in 1936, Pierre Forget married Cécile Chauvet, from another of the Champagne's winegrowing families.

Family and history

With their son Emile, the couple began making champagne under the name Forget-Chauvet in 1950. In 2014, Arthur Lelièvre took over the estate as the sixth generation. Today he runs it together with his sister Ophélie. The house is a member of the Vignerons Indépendants and is certified "Haute Valeur Environnementale". The estate includes the 17th-century Château de Ludes. According to the listing with the Vignerons Indépendants, guest rooms and a gîte for six people are offered there.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The domaine farms 10 hectares across three sites, on predominantly clay-limestone soil with chalk. The text on the website says "more than 10 hectares". The sources agree on roughly 10 hectares. The plots lie in Ludes, Taissy and Lagery. In Ludes, the vines stand in 16 premier cru plots on the north-facing slope. So not the whole estate is premier cru: in Lagery there is a south-west-facing vineyard with heavy, clayey soil. According to the Vignerons Indépendants, the plantings are 50% Pinot Meunier, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay.

The champagnes

The Sélection Premier Cru Brut shows the house blend. It is made up of 40% Pinot Meunier, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay. The Blanc de Blancs is a rarity: the Chardonnay comes exclusively from Ludes, and only 1,500 to 2,000 bottles are made each year. Fermentation and ageing now take place entirely in stainless steel tanks. The range also includes, among others, a rosé, the Cuvée FC and the Cuvée 1672.

Visit and tasting

The visit follows the making of champagne from the press to labelling and ends with a tasting of three champagnes. If you wish, you can also tour the vineyard. The house welcomes visitors Monday to Friday from 9 to 12 and from 1.30 to 5.30 pm, and on Saturdays by appointment. The address is 8 Rue Victor Hugo, 51500 Ludes.