Montgueux lies in between Côte de Sezanne and Côte des Bar. It is the only village in the Troyes region authorised to produce champagne. In the past, this chalky outcrop surrounded by plains was known as the “Montrachet" of the Champagne region. It has to be said that the Chardonnay expresses itself beautifully here and as in Montrachet, the grapes have to be very ripe. Emmanuel Lassaigne has skilfully continued the work of his father Jacques. Every cuvée shows that although it is off the beaten track, the village of Montgueux is well worth a detour. Domaine Jacques Lassaigne owns 5.7 hectares of vineyard. His son, Emanuel Lassaigne now manages the domain. These champagnes are full of character and fully express the terroir. Jacques Lassaigne is a firm believer in respecting nature and tends to each vineyard parcel meticulously. Chemical fertilisers and sulphites are avoided completely.

This cuvée stems from the Montgueux area, an under-the-radar terroir at the gates of Troyes in the Aube region, resting on Cretaceous chalk similar to that of the Côte des Blancs. This deep chalk ensures excellent drainage, thermal regulation and mineral supply, giving the wines tension, saline finesse and a long, vibrant finish. In the winery, the grapes are pressed in whole clusters. Fermentation occurs naturally with native yeasts in seasoned casks. The white base wine is blended with a small proportion of Pinot Noir vinified as a red, using the traditional blending method, to bring colour, fruit and structure. The wine is aged on fine lees for ten months without stirring, followed by a second fermentation in bottle.
The wine displays a delicate pinkish hue with fine, enlivened by delicate persistent bubbles. The nose is complex and refined, combining wild raspberry, redcurrant, grapefruit and brioche aromas, with a subtle hint of dried rose. On the palate, a striking mineral tension drives a lively attack lifted by a precise bead, revealing flavours of fresh strawberries and citrus.