Gounel Lassalle

In Chigny-les-Roses, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims, Arnaud Gounel and Sophie Lassalle carry on a winegrowing tradition that goes back to 1870. The village is classified Premier Cru. Arnaud Gounel is the fourth generation and took over the estate in the 2000s. Sophie joined him in 2016. On his labels he calls himself the "Wine-Rider".

From cooperative grower to their own cellar

As early as the 1950s the family belonged to the cooperative of Chigny-les-Roses. With the building of their own cellar, the couple has made all of their champagnes themselves since 2018. The estate focuses entirely on single-plot wines and restrained cellar work. Around 20,000 bottles are produced each year, all bottled without dosage.

29 plots, one mosaic

The estate covers about 5 hectares, spread over 29 plots in the Premier Cru villages of Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne. Barzy-sur-Marne is also part of it. The grapes grown are Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with the emphasis on Pinot Meunier. The small-scale holdings, handed down over generations, offer different exposures and soils of chalk, clay and sand. The family has worked most of the plots for generations.

The estate is certified HVE (Haute Valeur Environnementale) and VDC (Viticulture Durable en Champagne) and is converting to organic. It has used no insecticides since 2007, and a cover crop grows between the vine rows.

The cuvées and your visit

The range includes Esprit Voyageur, Terre d'Ancêtres, Le Haut Bélai, Dessus la Ville, Les Noues and Les Ruelles. There are also Les Agneaux and a rosé called 29 Parcelles. Les Agneaux comes from a plot of just 27 ares planted only with Meunier. The single-plot wines are aged in barrel before they go into bottle. Terre d'Ancêtres is aged in oak barrel and foudre and is a brut nature made from equal thirds of Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Le Haut Bélai, a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, was given 96 points by James Suckling.

The estate offers tastings and cellar tours by appointment. The address is 6 rue Nicolas Jobert in Chigny-les-Roses. You can reach the estate by phone on +33 (0)3 26 03 43 05.