Lallement Fagot

The house of Lallement Fagot usually trades under the name Champagne Alain Lallement. It is based in Verzy, a village on the Montagne de Reims classified as grand cru, where the family has been settled for around a century. The business is registered as EARL Lallement-Fagot, dating from 4 July 2006.

Family and generations

Odile and Alain Lallement both come from winegrowing families in Verzy and Rilly-la-Montagne, who have been growing vines there for several generations. By their own account, they settled in Verzy in 1985. According to the Guide Hachette, Alain Lallement founded the estate in 1975 and handed it on to his son Antoine in 2020. The dates 1975 and 1985 therefore refer to different steps: taking over the business, and moving to Verzy. Antoine runs the estate together with his partner Camille.

Vineyards and methods

The vines are in Verzy, Rilly-la-Montagne and Tauxières. The house farms them following the principles of viticulture raisonnée, or "reasoned" viticulture. This is not organic farming, but a approach based on targeted, restrained intervention. Verzy is known as a Pinot Noir village, and its grand cru vineyards are planted mostly with Pinot Noir. That makes the Chardonnay from Verzy all the more remarkable: Hachette praised a 2017 blanc de blancs as an original wine from a Pinot Noir village.

The champagnes

The range includes Brut Tradition, Prestige, Blanc de Blancs, Rosé and Ratafia. An older description of the house listed a Brut Tradition from three vintages, with 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, and a blanc de blancs made from 100% Chardonnay. The blend can change from vintage to vintage. Production at the time was around 25,000 bottles a year.

Visiting and tasting

The house sells directly from the estate. On request, you can visit the cellar and the fermentation room. It is open Monday to Saturday from 9 to 12 and from 2 to 6 pm, and on Sundays from 9.30 to 11.30 am. If you would like to stay longer, there are two guest rooms and two small gîtes sleeping two to four people. The hosts live in a 19th-century house. Guests report being welcomed with a tasting. Booking ahead is advisable. The address is 19 Rue Carnot, 51380 Verzy.