Olivier Horiot

Olivier Horiot took over from his father Serge in 1999 and works around nine hectares with his wife Marie in Les Riceys, Côte des Bar - the southernmost village in Champagne, on Kimmeridgian chalk (the same geological layer as Chablis and Sancerre). Biodyvin-certified biodynamic.

Horiot occupies a unique position: he produces both Champagne and Rosé des Riceys - one of France's rarest still wine appellations, made only in exceptional years from Pinot Noir by semi-carbonic maceration. Most Champagne producers in the Aube don't bother with the still-wine appellation. Horiot does.

The Champagnes:

• Sève - Blanc de Noirs, single parcel, single variety, single vintage. Zero dosage, zero sulphur. The purest expression.
• Métisse - 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Blanc (an unusual blend for Champagne)
• 5 Sens - five grape varieties from five terroirs: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, and Arbane
• Arbane - a mono-varietal bottling of the near-extinct Champagne variety. Very few producers work with Arbane at all; even fewer bottle it alone.

The Rosé des Riceys: En Valingrain and En Barmont - two distinct parcels, semi-carbonic maceration. All wines are nature or extra brut, unfined, unfiltered.

Part of the Côte des Bar natural cohort alongside Charles Dufour, Cédric Bouchard, and Marie Courtin.