C.H. Piconnet

The History of Champagne C.H. Piconnet

The house's story begins with grandfather Charles, whose initials, alongside Hubert's, give Domaine C.H. Piconnet its name. Charles cleared and planted the slopes of Neuville-sur-Seine, starting with land then considered worthless. His son Hubert joined him and carried on the work. For more than twenty years, father and son did everything themselves, from setting posts to planting vines, while delivering their grapes to the village cooperative.

The turning point came with Charles's grandson Clément, who studied in Avize and then at the Changins engineering school in Switzerland, and his wife Agathe, a winemaker's daughter and enologist who trained in Dijon and Reims. Together, they decided to vinify their own grapes and established the estate in 2014, building a light-filled, modern winery. After fifteen months of work and aging, they released their first cuvées in 2017, marking the birth of a grower champagne in its own right.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Champagne C.H. Piconnet

The estate covers approximately seven hectares of vineyards on the finest terroirs of Neuville-sur-Seine, in the heart of the Côte des Bar. This southern part of Champagne, close to Burgundy, has Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils particularly well suited to pinot noir, the predominant grape on the slopes of the Aube, complemented here by chardonnay and pinot blanc.

Work in the vineyard is the house's true hallmark, with a level of care rarely seen in the region. No herbicides are used, and the estate has begun converting to organic farming. Clément Piconnet practices very short pruning, careful trellising and leaf removal on the east-facing side, a technique he brought back from Switzerland and Burgundy. Removing much of the foliage on that side gives the grapes morning sun while protecting them from the intense afternoon heat. Each plot and each grape variety is harvested separately to select only the finest grapes.

Winemaking at Champagne C.H. Piconnet

In the winery, winemaking is kept simple and respectful of the fruit. Grapes destined for white wines are pressed directly, while those for red wines are destemmed and then macerated. Each lot is kept separate and handled according to its qualities. All wines are vinified and aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks to preserve their purity, freshness and aromatic precision.

The wines rest after harvest, then the blends are made in spring before bottling in April. For tirage, Clément Piconnet adds around 21 to 22 grams of sugar rather than the 24 grams customary in Champagne, to produce exceptionally fine, gentle bubbles. Dosage is deliberately kept low, with some cuvées made as brut nature, allowing the terroir to speak for itself.

The Cuvées of Champagne C.H. Piconnet

Blanc de Noirs is the house's signature cuvée, made from 100% pinot noir, the prized grape of Burgundy that has historically predominated on the estate's slopes. Continuing a tradition of the Aube, this champagne captures the landscape and atmosphere of the Côte des Bar valleys in a vinous, fruity and precise style.

The 3 Cépages cuvée is the estate's defining blend, bringing together around 40% pinot noir, 35% pinot blanc and 25% chardonnay. Often offered as brut nature, it pays tribute to generations of family winemakers and the vineyard's traditional grape varieties: pinot noir provides the backbone, pinot blanc tells the family's story, and chardonnay brings lightness and refinement. The nose is fruity, with mirabelle plum and floral notes; the palate is fine and chalky.

The Rosé is a rare, enticing blend of around 85% chardonnay and 15% pinot noir vinified as a red wine, with a slightly higher dosage to enhance its roundness. Aromatic and surprising, this highly sought-after micro-cuvée reflects the house's desire to remain true to itself while embracing originality.

Les Vignes de Charles is a cuvée honoring Charles, the founding grandfather. It comprises around 45% pinot noir, 30% pinot blanc and 25% chardonnay, with a dosage of approximately 9 grams per liter. More generous and rounded, it celebrates the family's heritage and the historic plots cleared by Charles.

Pinot Blanc highlights a rare, little-known grape variety in Champagne, vinified here on its own. This distinctive cuvée charms with its freshness, floral and fruity notes, and delicacy, reflecting the estate's commitment to the diversity of the Aube's grape varieties.

Les Parcellaires La Charre is a 100% pinot noir blanc de noirs from a single plot, revealing the finest, most precise expression of its particular terroir. It is a distinctive cuvée for enthusiasts seeking a true sense of place.

Les Val Mantra is a blanc de blancs made exclusively from chardonnay, with a lighter, tauter, more mineral profile. This cuvée shows the estate's ability to express the finesse of chardonnay on the soils of the Côte des Bar.

La Bretonne rounds out the house's single-vineyard range with a small-production cuvée from a particular named site. Made with the same focus on precision and showcasing a distinctive terroir, it is one to discover as vintages and estate availability allow.