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 4 hectares of vineyard (complemented by grapes bought from 1.5-2 hectares). 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.

The village of Montgueux, south of Troyes and home to Domaine Jacques Lassaigne, is something of an exception, with a terroir of remarkable quality reminiscent of Chablis, marked by a characteristic chalky tension. The Chardonnay vines behind this wine were planted in 1968 on a hilltop facing due south. In the winery, each parcel is vinified separately to preserve its character. The must then ferment in casks using native yeasts. The wine is then carefully matured in old vats and a 500-litre barrique for 22 months, before being bottled without fining or filtration. 
In the glass, the pale yellow hue is graced with golden glints. The highly refined bouquet combines notes of lemon zest, white flowers, fresh almond and wet chalk. The palate is pure, lively and linear, opening with a crisp attack that reveals a crystalline, finely chiselled substance.