Champagne La Villesenière

The La Villesenière champagne range is a barrel-fermented clutch of cuvées made under a separate brand by Champagne Claude Michez in the Marne at Boursault, west of Epernay. Cyril and Laurence seem to have remarkable feel for the skills of barrel fermentation and management and word is spreading to Paris restaurants and some European exports.  There are 4ha, mostly in Boursault but also in Cuis and Mardeuil, the Marne parcels being all on the north-facing south (left) bank of the river. Viticulture is particularly painstaking, reducing yields and ploughing the soil. They make an unusual champagne in the range: Les Cuteries, a 100% Chardonnay from a single Boursault lieu-dit, a village planted 69% to Pinot Meunier.