Guy Preaut

In Gyé-sur-Seine, in the south of Champagne, the Préaut family runs its estate in the Côte des Bar. The family has been working vines here for seven generations. The house's website says the family has been passing on its knowledge for 140 years. Today the estate is run by Alexandra and Thierry Préaut. Thierry Préaut is managing director of EARL Champagne Guy Préaut. The company was founded on 1 April 1991.

Vines and working methods

The vineyards are spread across four villages: 10 hectares of Pinot Noir and 2 hectares of Chardonnay. In total that makes 12 hectares, 80 per cent Pinot Noir and 20 per cent Chardonnay, planted on clay-rich limestone soil. Pinot Noir therefore shapes the profile of the house.

Préaut is a récoltant-manipulant and farms sustainably (culture raisonnée). The soil is worked mechanically, and the estate is certified under Viticulture Durable en Champagne and Haute Valeur Environnementale (level 3). Harvesting is by hand. The grapes are pressed slowly and gently on the day of the harvest, after which the first fermentation begins. The estate uses only its own grapes. By its own account, the champagnes spend at least three years in the cellar, even though champagne regulations allow them to be sold after just 15 months.

The cuvées

The range comprises six champagnes, divided into the Les Essentielles and Les Subtiles lines. One directory lists the following cuvées, among others:

• Les Faucillières, a blanc de noirs, as a brut and as a demi-sec
• Les Petites Vignes as a brut
• Xalandréa, a blanc de blancs
• Rosé as an assemblage and Cuvée T as an extra brut

Gault&Millau rates the Cuvée Xalandréa Esprit de Femme and Les Petites Vignes at 91 out of 100 points each.

Visiting and tasting

The estate is at 28 Rue Saint Léon in Gyé-sur-Seine. It lies on the Route touristique du Champagne, about 40 kilometres from Troyes. According to a producer directory, the boutique is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 12 noon and from 1.30 pm to 5.30 pm. The house is also represented at the Marché du Tambourinour every first Friday of the month from 2 pm to 7 pm. It is best to book ahead on +33 3 25 38 21 55.