Nicolas Maillart

Champagne Nicolas Maillart is based in Écueil, a premier cru village on the Montagne de Reims, roughly halfway between Reims and Épernay. The family has grown vines since 1753, back then in the neighbouring village of Chamery. A document from 1533, a vineyard survey by the Chamery land surveyor Pierre Maillart for the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, even points to older roots. The family has had its own brand only since 1965.

The grower: Nicolas Maillart

Nicolas Maillart, the ninth generation, took over in 2003 after studying oenology and gaining experience abroad. He was 26 at the time and decided to stop delivering his grapes to the cooperative. Before that he had travelled to the USA and South Africa. The philosophy of the house: to express the potential of the Champagne terroirs in the wine.

Vineyards, vines and working methods

The parcels lie in premier cru and grand cru sites in Écueil, Villers-Allerand and Bouzy. Figures for the vineyard area vary: Gault&Millau gives just under 9 hectares planted, two thirds of it in sélection massale, while other sources speak of up to 16 hectares. Alongside Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier stands the almost vanished Petit Meslier. It returned to the estate's vineyards on Nicolas Maillart's initiative. Pinot Noir dominates, at 65 to 75 per cent depending on the source.

“The family has grown vines since 1753, back then in the neighbouring village of Chamery.

The estate keeps its own parcel of ungrafted vines. It holds HVE level 3 and Viticulture Durable certification. Maillart is working towards organic certification and ferments most lots in wooden barrels. Fermentation runs spontaneously, without filtration or fining. Since 2009 the estate has relied on solar power: according to the house's current figures, 600 m² of photovoltaic panels cover its entire consumption on paper. Older texts still gave 130 m² and 90 per cent.

Grauves

Cuvées, visits and tasting

• Platine Premier Cru Extra Brut: a blend from the premiers crus of Bouzy, Écueil and Villers-Allerand.
• Montchenot: a premier cru blanc de noirs made from 85 per cent Pinot Noir and 15 per cent Pinot Meunier.
• Other single-vineyard cuvées: Montchenot, Les Loges, Mont Martin, Les Courzy and Ronsures Chardonnay Grand Cru.

Visits and tastings are possible by appointment. Since 2017 there has also been a gîte for six people. Address: 5 Rue de Villers aux Nœuds, 51500 Écueil.