Variety: Chardonnay
Jacques Lassaigne farms in Montgueux, a chalk hill west of Troyes that sits apart from Champagne’s traditional centers. His family has grown vines there for generations, but Jacques began bottling wine under his own name in the early 1990s, at a time when Montgueux was rarely associated with estate bottled wines. Rather than selling fruit, he chose to commit to the hill itself, convinced that its chalk soils could support serious, site driven wines beyond sparkling production.
Lassaigne works a small estate of just over four hectares, which allows him to manage each parcel directly. His background is firmly rooted in vineyard work. He farms organically, prioritizes soil health, and harvests later than many neighbors to reach full ripeness. While best known for Champagne, Lassaigne has long believed that still wines offer another way to understand Montgueux. His decision to bottle Coteaux Champenois reflects a desire to show the hill without bubbles or cellar framing. Writers often point to his still wines as clear expressions of Montgueux and as an extension of his broader philosophy rather than a side project.
Coteaux Champenois Blanc comes from Chardonnay grown on the chalk slopes of Montgueux. The parcels sit on deep chalk with minimal topsoil, encouraging deep rooting and moderate vine vigor. These vines are farmed with the same attention as those used for Champagne, with hand harvesting and careful selection in the vineyard.
The fruit is pressed and fermented with native yeasts, primarily in stainless steel with some neutral barrel depending on the lot. Aging takes place without new oak, allowing the character of the site to remain central. This wine is bottled as a still white under the Coteaux Champenois designation and is produced in very small quantities. It offers a direct look at Montgueux Chardonnay through Lassaigne’s lens.
