Champagne Lacourte Godbillon - Mid-Slopes - Premier Cru
Champagne Lacourte Godbillon stands out as one of the most precise signatures of the Petite Montagne de Reims, with a historical anchoring in the Premier Cru village of Écueil. A family estate for several generations, it is now driven by a new dynamic that places careful viticulture, parcel work, and a fine reading of the soils at the heart of the approach. The vines, mostly planted with Pinot Noir on slopes of chalk mixed with clays and sands, benefit from a ventilated microclimate that guarantees balanced maturities. The choice of life-respecting practices, measured yields, and manual harvesting allows obtaining grapes of great purity. In this spirit, each cuvée becomes the interpreter of a relief, an exposure, a slope. Mid-Slopes fits precisely into this philosophy of “terroir champagne,” focusing on the middle band of the slopes, where the vine naturally finds the best compromise between maturity and freshness.
Champagne Lacourte Godbillon Mid Slopes Premier Cru comes from vines planted on the mid-slopes of Écueil, particularly high-quality areas where the chalk ensures drainage and tension, while the fine clays retain just enough water to support the ripening of the berries. The grapes are hand-harvested at perfect maturity, then gently pressed to preserve the finesse of the juices. Vinification is done in vats and small containers, with precise work on the lees to bring richness and complexity without ever weighing down the structure. A portion of reserve wines may be included in the blend to reinforce style consistency and aromatic depth. Mid Slopes thus positions itself as a characterful cuvée that embraces the generosity of Pinot Noir while relying on the chalky uprightness of the terroir. The deliberately moderate dosage places the wine in a taut, gourmand but always very clear register.
On tasting, Mid Slopes Premier Cru shows a bright pale gold robe, animated by a fine and regular bubble. The nose opens with aromas of white and yellow fruits, apple, pear, and mirabelle plum, enhanced by notes of ripe lemon, white flowers, and a chalky minerality that emerges in the background. On the palate, the attack is lively and precise, then the mid-palate gains breadth, supported by the flesh of Pinot Noir and a slightly creamy texture brought by aging on lees. The balance between salivating freshness and measured roundness gives a profile that is both gastronomic and very digestible. The finish is long, taut, marked by citrus fruits, a touch of fresh almond, and a subtle salinity that leaves the palate clean and calls for the next sip. At the table, Mid Slopes ideally accompanies a scallop carpaccio, sea bream ceviche, grilled fish, herb-roasted poultry, sushi, or a slightly aged fresh goat cheese.
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
