France · Côte de Sézanne

Champagne Léguillette-Romelot

Charly-sur-Marne Champagne house working Pinot Meunier and heritage varieties, including Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbanne.

The producer

Champagne Léguillette-Romelot is a family-led house in Charly-sur-Marne with roots stretching to the Romelot family's first vines in 1705. The modern house dates to 1968 and manages approximately 20 acres. Its Clos du Mont Dorin parcel focuses on Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbanne, three nearly abandoned Champagne varieties. Hand harvesting, careful canopy management and low intervention viticulture accompany a range that includes the 2018 Cépages d'Autrefois.

Known for

Heritage grape Champagne cuvées

Notable facts

From the atlas

Champagne Léguillette-Romelot

A family-led Champagne house in Charly-sur-Marne, built around heritage grape varieties, hand harvesting and vintage cuvées.

At A Glance

FieldDetail
RegionChampagne
LocationCharly-sur-Marne
Main grapesPinot Meunier and heritage Champagne varieties
Signature wineCépages d'Autrefois Millésime
Defining featureClos du Mont Dorin heritage parcel

The Producer

At Clos du Mont Dorin, Champagne Léguillette-Romelot works a dedicated parcel for heritage Champagne grapes alongside the classic varieties used in its cuvées. The family-led house is based in Charly-sur-Marne, manages approximately 20 acres and produces roughly 40,000 bottles annually.

Hand harvesting, careful canopy management and low intervention viticulture are standard. The estate holds Haute Valeur Environnementale certification and the Vignobles & Découvertes label.

Place

Charly-sur-Marne is the house's home in the Marne Valley. The family history reaches back to the Aisne valley, where the Romelot family planted its first vines. From this village address, the producer makes cuvées using Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Petit Meslier, Chardonnay and Arbanne.

Soil And Site

The estate's ground is clay limestone. Clay can hold moisture, while limestone can drain excess water through the soil. Together, those materials can give vines access to water without leaving the root zone saturated.

Story

The Romelot family, farmers in the Aisne valley, planted its first vines in 1705. The Léguillette family farmed the area for centuries, and the estate officially launched in 1963. The modern Champagne Léguillette-Romelot house dates to 1968.

The house dedicates one hectare at Clos du Mont Dorin to Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Arbanne, three Champagne varieties nearly abandoned by modern Champagne winemaking. The parcel gives those grapes a defined place within the estate's vineyard holdings.

Vineyards And Cellar

The vines average 40 years of age. Hand harvesting protects bunch quality at the point of picking, while canopy management controls the leaves and fruit around each bunch. Low intervention viticulture keeps the farming approach simple and direct.

For Cépages d'Autrefois, fermentation uses native yeast in stainless steel. The cuvée ages 36 months on lees with dosage of approximately 6 g/L. Lees are spent yeast cells, and extended contact can add texture and savoury depth to sparkling wine. Dosage is the small addition made after disgorgement, and the level here remains low.

Wines

The range includes Cépages d'Autrefois Millésime, Notes Noires, Symphonie Millésime Brut, Orchestrale Extra Brut, Nuances Rosé Brut, Festival Brut and Notes Blanches Blanc de Blancs. Symphonie Millésime Brut carries the 2016 vintage.

The 2018 Cépages d'Autrefois blends 59% Pinot Meunier, 18% Pinot Blanc, 15% Pinot Noir, 5% Petit Meslier, 2% Chardonnay and 1% Arbanne. Orchestrale Extra Brut uses 55% Meunier, 37% Pinot Blanc, 3% Petit Meslier, 3% Pinot Noir, 1% Arbanne and 1% Chardonnay.

Notes Noires is a Blanc de Noirs made from 70% Meunier and 30% Pinot Noir. Blanc de Noirs means a white sparkling wine made from black grapes, while Blanc de Blancs refers to white grapes. The range therefore moves between heritage varieties, classic Champagne grapes, rosé, Brut and lower dosage Extra Brut formats.

In The Glass

Cépages d'Autrefois shows a saline and lightly iodized character, vibrant citrus acidity and fine, persistent bubbles. The finish stays bright and lightly mineral.

Orchestrale Extra Brut opens with lively roasted hazelnut and yellow fruit. The attack is frank, the flavour fruity and generous, and the sugar and acidity balance spare.

Notes Noires begins with buttery aromas, followed by intense yellow fruit and hints of cacao. The mouthfeel is voluptuous, with the fruit remaining broad and aromatically intense.

A Bottle To Understand It

Choose Cépages d'Autrefois Millésime. It is a cuvée, led by Pinot Meunier and made with both classic and heritage Champagne grape varieties in one vintage bottling. Orchestrale Extra Brut and Notes Noires each present a more specific category, while Cépages d'Autrefois puts the house's heritage grape focus beside the familiar Champagne varieties.

Final Word

Champagne Léguillette-Romelot brings a family farming history, a Charly-sur-Marne address and heritage grape varieties into a range of sparkling wines. Clos du Mont Dorin names the dedicated parcel, while Cépages d'Autrefois places those older varieties in the range.

Sources

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