Oudart Ortillon

The roots of the house lie in Bassuet, where Serge and Lydia Ortillon-Beaulieu tended vines. In 2001 their daughter Nathalie and her husband Jean-Christophe Oudart took over the family estate. Since then the champagne has been made entirely in the village, from harvest to cuvée. The house works as a Récoltant-Manipulant. The website speaks of three generations. The correct address is Rue de Vavray le Grand, not Vauray.

Location and vineyard

Bassuet lies between Vitry-le-François, Sainte-Menehould and Châlons-en-Champagne. The house belongs to the Coteaux Vitryats, not the Côte des Blancs. The vines stand in Bassuet, Saint-Lumier-en-Champagne, Lisse-en-Champagne and Val-de-Vière. The estate names chalk soil as its foundation. The grapes grown are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. According to a growers' directory, the work in the vineyard follows the principles of "viticulture raisonnée". Organic certification is not documented. We could not find a reliable figure for the vineyard area.

The cuvées

The range is broad: Brut Nouvelle Ère, Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Cuvée Spéciale, Cuvée Millésime, Cuvée des Anges and a Ratafia.

• Rosé: 90% Chardonnay, plus 10% red-vinified Pinot Noir and Meunier.
• Cuvée Spéciale: It ages in oak barrels. The wood notes add complexity, texture and structure.
• Millésime: More than 30 months of ageing, an assemblage of 95% Chardonnay, 3% Meunier and 2% Pinot Noir.
• Ratafia: It combines fresh grape must with marc de Champagne and is aged in barrel.

Visit and tasting

The house welcomes guests for tours and tastings. Nathalie shows visitors around the estate. The tour takes in the press house, the cuverie, the labelling room and the storage rooms, all in a traditional half-timbered building. Opening hours are given as Monday to Saturday, 9am to 12pm and 2pm to 6pm. Outside the season and on public holidays it may be closed. So do get in touch beforehand: telephone 03 26 72 21 60 (from the UK or US, dial +33 3 26 72 21 60), email contact@oudart-ortillon.com.