Guy Blin-Laurent

Trigny is a small village in the heart of the Massif de Saint-Thierry, about ten kilometres north-west of Reims. This is where Guy Blin-Laurent runs his family estate. Carrying on the family tradition, he tends the vines together with his wife Violette and daughter Angélique. The year 1972 is given as the start of the estate's activity.

Sites and grape varieties

The vineyard stretches across three villages: Chenay, Hermonville and Trigny. Sources differ on its size: the estate's own website gives 6 hectares, while older directories speak of 3.5 hectares. In Trigny, whose terroir covers around 200 hectares, sandy and clay soils dominate up to mid-slope, and these suit Pinot Meunier. On the more chalky upper slopes grow Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Methods and cuvées

The house focuses on sustainable viticulture and is certified VDC (Viticulture durable en Champagne). It also carries the Terra Vitis label. Instead of insecticides, mating disruption is used against the grape moth, most of the parcels are grassed over, and bark is used to feed the soil organically. Picking is done by hand, and ageing takes place on the lees, in bottle and in tank. The range, according to the directory:

• Brut de Terroir and Cuvée Prestige
• Cuvée Vieilles Vignes as a blanc de noirs
• Rosée Perlée as a blended rosé
• Cuvée Confidentielle as a blanc de blancs
• Cuvée Valentine, vintage 2014

Visits and tastings

The estate offers visits and tastings. The winemaker's house is decorated with flowers and features a fresco of the old trades connected with wine and vines, along with collections of bottles, grapes and old tools. Overnight stays are also possible. Opening hours are given differently depending on the source: the Champagne trade association's page says daily from 8am to 7pm, while another directory mentions visits by appointment. Booking by phone on +33 3 26 03 14 47 is therefore advisable.