Coquillette

Champagne Saint-Charmant Christian Coquillette Épernay, Champagne, France and Stéphane Coquillette Chouilly, Champagne, France Champagne Coquillette is situated in Chouilly, a village classified as Grand Cru in the Côte des Blancs. Stéphane Coquillette is a fourth generation winemaker in Champagne. His grandparents (Pierre and Héléne Coquillette) established the marque Champagne Saint-Chamant in 1930. In 1950, Stéphane's father Christian took over the estate, which he still runs today. When Stéphane came of age, Christian sent him off on his own, thus Stéphane created and runs his own estate, Champagne Coquillette. The majority of the grapes come from Chouilly (Grand Cru), Cuis (Premier Cru 99%) for Chardonnay, d’Aÿ (Grand Cru) and Mareuil/Aÿ (Premier Cru 99%) for the Pinot Noir grapes. The vineyards are planted on limestone soil, growing on 10 inches of arable earth and directly on the "roche mere" or mother rock made of chalk descending for tens of meters. This mother rock acts as a huge sponge, soaking up the water when there is abundant rain and returning it in the drought periods. The characteristic of the sub-soil adds to the expression of aromas from the fruit and creates a refined wine. The vineyards are worked in part by plough and then the ground is covered with bark in order to stop erosion and prevent weeds from sprouting. Herbicides are avoided at all costs. Everything is done by hand, such as trellising and pruning, which avoids disease and allows for a healthy crop. There are four wine presses of 75 and 150 hectolitres. The juice is then stored in their new winery built in 2001. More than ten different parcels contribute to the cuvées of Champagne Coquillette, among them "Le Chemin d’Avize," "Les Clés," "Les Carelles," "La Mutry," "Les Sorsous," "La Pouplot."