Who makes it
Stéphane Coquillette is a fourth generation independent grower in Chouilly. His children Diane and Louis are preparing to assume leadership responsibilities. The vineyards are farmed with organic practices and chemical herbicides are avoided entirely. The estate holds Haute Valeur Environnementale certification, while its organic farming is not formally certified as organic.
Stéphane developed a fresher, drier style than his father's, using low dosage and a delicate approach to Champagne.
Where it grows
Chouilly is the home village of the grower. Les Clés shifts the named vineyard source to Aÿ, putting a second Champagne village on the range alongside the family base. A village name on a cuvée identifies the place connected to the grapes, so the two bottles present different geographic addresses.
What they make
The range contains L'Entrecoeur and Les Clés. Les Clés is a Blanc de Noirs made from 100% Pinot Noir from Aÿ. In this style, the dark skinned grape supplies the wine beneath the bubbles, giving the cuvée its grape and village definition. L'Entrecoeur is the other named cuvée in the range.
Les Clés shows red fruit aromas, fine bubbles and a long finish. The Blanc de Noirs format places the fruit at the centre of the sparkling texture, while the finish carries the wine beyond the first sip.