Gabriel Pagin Fils

Gabriel-Pagin Fils is a family estate in Avenay-Val-d'Or. The village lies in the Montagne de Reims Regional Nature Park, about 10 km from Épernay and 30 km from Reims. The family story begins in 1946, when Roger Gabriel harvested the first grapes from his own vines in Avenay-Val-d'Or and made champagne under his own name. His son Pascal Gabriel took over the estate in 1984 together with his wife Marie-Catherine. Aurélien Gabriel, an oenologist and the third generation, has run the house since 2012, according to the Guide Hachette.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The 9.5 hectares of vines lie in premier cru and grand cru sites: Avenay-Val-d'Or and Mutigny in the Grande Vallée de la Marne, Avize and Cramant on the Côte des Blancs. The focus is on Pinot Noir. For 2020 the Guide Véron gives 79% Pinot Noir, 18% Chardonnay and 3% Pinot Meunier. 93% of the vineyard area lies in Avenay-Val-d'Or. The holdings are split into many small parcels, and the vines average 30 years of age.

“His son Pascal Gabriel took over the estate in 1984 together with his wife Marie-Catherine.

Way of working

The vineyards are ploughed rather than treated with chemical weedkillers. Diseases and pests are tackled selectively, after sampling and observation in the vineyard. The estate has held Ampelos certification since 1999 and has had Haute Valeur Environnementale certification at level 3 since 2014. The wines age for a long time on the lees in the cellar and are bottled without filtration, with only a natural fining. Wood is used deliberately: for the rosé, white Pinot Noir is blended with 25% red wine aged in barrel.

Cuvées, visits and tastings

The range includes Carte d'Or and Brut Nature as blanc de noirs, the Grande Réserve, the rosé and the vintage cuvée Roger Gabriel. The Grande Réserve is based on the 2015 vintage, topped up with a perpetual reserve (réserve perpétuelle). It spent five years on the lees and is 70% Chardonnay, with Pinot Noir making up the rest. Annual production most recently stood at around 35,000 bottles.

Pascal and Aurélien welcome visitors for a cellar tour and tasting. The estate is open Monday to Friday from 9 to 12 and from 1.30 to 6 pm, on Saturdays from 10 to 12 and from 2 to 6 pm, and on Sundays from 10 am to 1 pm. The estate also runs a gîte d'étape for walkers. It is wise to book ahead.