Paul Clouet

Paul Clouet is a champagne house founded in 1907 in Bouzy that specialises in Pinot Noir from Grand Cru sites. It was founded by Paul Clouet. Since 1992 it has been run by his granddaughter, Marie-Thérèse Bonnaire. In the same year she launched the Paul Clouet brand in memory of her grandfather. Today her sons Jean-Etienne and Jean-Emmanuel run both labels under one roof. These are Paul Clouet and the house of Bonnaire, which comes from her husband's family. So the family does not merely work with Bonnaire, it runs both houses together.

Vineyards and grape varieties

The house farms six hectares in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs, three of them in Bouzy Grand Cru. Further plots lie in Chouilly, Cramant, Cuis, Bergères-lès-Vertus and Fossoy. Bouzy sits on a broad, south-facing slope. It is one of the warmest villages in the region and is regarded as one of the best addresses for Pinot Noir outside Burgundy. Pinot Noir dominates, and the house accordingly sees itself as a specialist in blanc de noirs. The Chardonnay plots from the Côte des Blancs complement it.

“Paul Clouet is a champagne house founded in 1907 in Bouzy that specialises in Pinot Noir from Grand Cru sites.

Working methods and wines

The vineyard is managed according to the principles of "viticulture raisonnée", and the wines are aged in stainless steel tanks. Harvesting is by hand. Pressing, bottling and storage take place at the family's winery in Cramant. Annual production is around 50,000 bottles.

• Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru: 100 per cent Pinot Noir from Bouzy, aged at least 60 months on the lees.
• Brut Grand Cru: According to Vivino, 80 per cent Pinot Noir and 20 per cent Chardonnay.
• Bouzy Rouge: A still red wine from the Coteaux Champenois appellation, made in suitable vintages.

Visiting and tasting

Direct sales and tastings are available in Bouzy. The address is 1 Place André Tritant. The wines are largely shaped by Pinot Noir. According to one importer they are rich and powerful, as is typical of Bouzy, while also showing finesse and a polished structure. Anyone wanting to stay longer will find the family's own guest house, Les Barbotines, in the village: it has five rooms and occupies a 19th-century building. We could not confirm whether the events room for 70 people mentioned in the original text exists. Please ask the house directly.