Gallimard Pere Et Fils

Les Riceys lies in the south of Champagne, in the Côte des Bar in the Aube département, closer to Chablis than to Reims. This is where the Gallimard family runs its estate, which has passed from father to son for six generations. Their own champagne production began in 1930, when Jules and Ernest Gallimard, until then grape growers, made their first cuvées. They were followed by Pierre and Jean Gallimard, and today Didier and Arnaud lead the house.

Les Riceys and its vineyards

Les Riceys is the largest wine-growing village in Champagne and the only one with three appellations: Champagne, Coteaux Champenois and Rosé des Riceys. The family farms 12 hectares. Some sources give older figures of 10 or 13 hectares, but the estate's own figure is 12. The vines are 85 per cent Pinot Noir and 15 per cent Chardonnay, trained using the Guyot, Cordon de Royat and Chablis methods. A share of Chardonnay like this is rare in the Côte des Bar, because the region sits on the edge of the Kimmeridgian belt.

Winemaking and ageing

The wines are made with as little intervention as possible, so that they express the terroir. In the vineyard the soil is ploughed rather than treated with chemical weedkillers, and all the grapes are picked by hand. Organic certification is not documented in the sources I checked. The house focuses on single-variety and single-vintage champagnes, carefully judged dosages, and ageing in oak barrels or egg-shaped terracotta amphorae. On top of that comes a perpetual solera of reserve wines. The cuvées mature in vaulted stone cellars dating from the 17th century.

“Their own champagne production began in 1930, when Jules and Ernest Gallimard, until then grape growers, made their first cuvées.

Cuvées and visiting

The experiments with amphora ageing led to a cuvée of their own: Amphoressence. Other names in the range are the Quintessence, the blanc de noirs Les Meurgers made from pure Pinot Noir, the Cuvée Réserve Blanc de Noirs, the Brut Rosé and the Prestige Millésimé. There is also the still wine Rosé des Riceys. Since 1986 the estate has been recognised by the Guide Hachette des Vins and has won numerous gold medals at wine competitions.

According to the sources I checked, you will find the cellar at Rue Gaston Cheq in Le Magny, Les Riceys (nos. 18 to 20). For a visit and tasting, you can reach the house on +33 3 25 29 32 44. It is best to ask about opening hours in advance.