Jacques Lassaigne has 4.7 hectares of vineyards in the chardonnay heavens of Montgueux. Recent research has suggested that his vineyards are on the very hill where the battle of the Catalaunian Plains took place where Aetius and Theodoric defeated Attila the Hun. The hills face southeast to drink up the day’s sun. This is in the northernmost reaches of Aube, in the Cote des bars. Montgueux’s terroir is almost identical to le Mesnil’s further north, sharing the same long vein of limestone, but the hills of Montgueux are warmer, the grapes never having trouble reaching ripeness. Jacques son, Emmanuel Lassaigne, runs the winery now and was one of the first growers to embrace regenerative organic farming in the region, and the first to vinify his Champagnes from individual parcels. All fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeast and minimal sulfur is added just at bottling. Disgorgement is still carried out by hand. Lassaigne is famous for experimental cuvées which he produces each growing season, many of which don’t come to full fruition for as long as 10 years. His neighbors now look on his hard-won success with respect, but his boldness, now seen as inspirational, was at first seen as baffling.

This bottling is produced from several parcels in Montgueux, and all the vins clairs are now fermented and matured in barrel.