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Franck Pascal
Vallée de la Marne, France1 wine4.1 avg
Champagne grower-producer in Baslieux-sous-Châtillon, on the right bank of the Vallée de la Marne. Franck Pascal took over the family domaine in 1994 at age 23 after the death of his brother Jérôme; converted the estate to biodynamic farming in the early 2000s, certified Biodyvin from 2005 - widely cited as the first vigneron in Champagne to convert to biodynamics. Around 7 hectares across 44 plots in six right-bank communes. Cuvées named for virtues: Reliance, Tolérance, Quintessence, Sérénité, Harmonie, Pacifiance, plus the still Confiance Coteaux Champenois.
Franck Pascal is a fifth-generation grower-producer based at Baslieux-sous-Châtillon, on the right bank of the Vallée de la Marne (Marne 51). Trained as an engineer, he took over the family domaine in 1994 at the age of 23, after the death of his younger brother Jérôme. The estate started at around 3.5 hectares and has grown to about 7 hectares (some sources cite 7.5), spread across 44 plots in six communes: Baslieux-sous-Châtillon, Cuchery, Orcourt, Belval, Olizy, and Montigny-sous-Châtillon.
Conversion away from synthetic chemicals began in the late 1990s. Biodynamic practice from 2002; first certified organic harvest in 2005; Biodyvin certification the same year. Widely cited as the first vigneron in Champagne to convert to biodynamics. The approach goes well beyond standard biodynamic protocol into naturopathic / energy work, with minimal sulphur, indigenous yeasts, and a deliberate refusal of cellar shortcuts. Soils are clay with flint, millstone, and hard limestone fragments. Plantings are roughly 55% Pinot Meunier, 27% Pinot Noir, and 18% Chardonnay - typical of right-bank Vallée de la Marne. Production around 50,000 bottles per year.
The cuvées carry virtue-themed names. The original 'Sagesse' was renamed to Reliance after another producer claimed the Sagesse name. Current lineup: Reliance (Brut Nature), Fluence (Brut Nature), Tolérance (Rosé Extra-Brut), Quintessence (Extra-Brut), Sérénité (Brut Nature, vintage), Harmonie (Extra-Brut, vintage Blanc de Noirs), Pacifiance (Brut Nature, solera based on Quintessence), plus the still Confiance Coteaux Champenois Blanc and Rouge.
The motto on the bottle is 'Les Champagnes pour la vie' - Champagnes for life - which captures the project's tone: low-intervention, virtue-named, made for the long game rather than for the moment.
