Guy Charlemagne

The house of Guy Charlemagne stands at 4 Rue de la Brèche d'Oger, in the upper part of the village, opposite Champagne Salon and only a few steps from Krug's Clos du Mesnil. The street once formed part of the fortifications of the "Ville Haute". This is where the family has always pressed its grapes, vinified its musts and aged its wines. The estate was founded in 1892.

Five generations

The estate has been in family hands for five generations. Gustave, Louis, Guy and Philippe Charlemagne were followed by the sisters Justine and Marie, who run it today. The house works as a récoltant-manipulant: it harvests and vinifies only grapes from its own vineyards.

Vineyards and methods

By its own account, the house farms around twelve hectares, mostly in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. They are spread across 17 lieux-dits and 29 plots, on the slope and in the heart of the grand cru terroir. Older merchant listings still give 15 hectares, including sites in Oger, Sézanne, Glannes, Mancy and Cuis. These also mention 87 per cent Chardonnay and 13 per cent Pinot Noir. The wines themselves are blanc de blancs. In the cellar, vinification is mostly in stainless steel tank, to preserve the minerality and linearity of the Mesnil terroir. One merchant also describes the estate as HVE-certified.

Cuvées and tasting

The entry-level wine is the Grande Réserve: a non-vintage cuvée from 12 plots in Le Mesnil, shaped by long ageing on the lees. Alongside it come the vintage Mesnillésimes and single-vineyard champagnes. The portfolio of the US importer Polaner lists Les Chétillons, Les Coullemets and Les Vieilles Vignes. Coulmets is a special plot of old vines on a gentle slope south of the village.

• Annual production: about 130,000 bottles, most of them exported
• Visiting: for visits and tastings, it is best to ask the house directly.