Marc Chauvet

Champagne Marc Chauvet is based in Rilly-la-Montagne, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. The village is classified Premier Cru. The house is a Récoltant Manipulant (RM), so its champagnes are made from its own grapes. The family traces its winegrowing tradition back to Nicolas Chauvet, who has been buried in the church at Rilly since 1529. The present-day champagne house was founded in 1964 by Marc Chauvet. Since 1996 it has been run by his children Nicolas and Clotilde.

Brother and sister, two roles

Nicolas and Clotilde are co-managers. Nicolas looks after the vineyard, while Clotilde is the oenologist. They have kept the Champagne Marc Chauvet brand. Nicolas tends the vines by hand. By their own account, both have been committed to the environment since 2005. The estate practises sustainable viticulture (viticulture raisonnée) in Rilly-la-Montagne and Mont-Saint-Père. According to the house, it is HVE and VDC certified.

Figures for the vineyard area vary. Several sources give 13 hectares in the Montagne de Reims. The grapes grown are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier, with the emphasis on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The house avoids malolactic fermentation so that the wines can develop for longer.

The cuvées

• Brut Tradition: The non-vintage brut combines the three champagne grape varieties in equal parts.
• Brut Sélection and Brut Millésimé: According to the website, both are also available in magnum.
• Rubis: A rosé de saignée made from 100 per cent Pinot Noir.
• Duo: A blanc de blancs aged in oak barrels.
• Initiales: The prestige cuvée is made only in exceptional years. It is 70 per cent Chardonnay and 30 per cent Pinot Noir and spends nine years on the lees.

The house is a member of the Club Trésors de Champagne and bottles a Spécial Club.

Visiting

The house is at 3 Rue de la Liberté in Rilly-la-Montagne. For enquiries, the house gives the address champagnemarcchauvet@gmail.com. Ask there about visits and tastings.