Jacques Lassaigne

The domaine was created in 1964 by Jacques Lassaigne on the hill of Montgueux, near Troyes. Since 1999 his son Emmanuel Lassaigne has run the estate, shifting from selling grapes to the co-op toward estate-bottled champagnes. The 4.7-hectare vineyard is planted almost entirely to Chardonnay on a chalk vein geologically identical to Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, earning Montgueux the nickname "the Montrachet of Champagne."

Emmanuel vinifies nine parcels separately, ferments with indigenous yeasts, uses sulfur only at the press, and hand-disgorges every bottle. All cuvees are now released without dosage. He refuses organic certification but farms organically, avoiding all pesticides, chemical fertilizers, and synthetic products. The key cuvees are Les Vignes de Montgueux (multi-vintage, multi-parcel Blanc de Blancs), Le Cotet (single vineyard from the first plot Jacques planted in the 1960s, 40+-year-old vines), La Colline Inspiree (four-vintage blend aged in 500-litre barrels), and Clos Sainte-Sophie (a historic parcel aged six years on lees in mixed barrels). He also produces still Coteaux Champenois wines, both white and a Pinot Noir rouge.