Champagne Lacourte Godbillon - Vintage 2019 - Premier Cru
The Champagne Lacourte Godbillon Vintage 2019 Premier Cru is the most accomplished expression of the estate's work on the slopes of Écueil, in the heart of the Petite Montagne de Reims. This family house, passed down from generation to generation, has gradually refocused its philosophy on respecting the soils, reducing inputs, and meticulously enhancing each plot. The vines take root in a mosaic of exposed chalk, fine clays, and sands that give the wines both depth and a salivating tension. Pinot Noir finds here a privileged playground, capable of combining breadth and freshness without losing finesse. Vineyard management, controlled yields, and manual harvesting aim to collect perfectly ripe but never heavy grapes. In this context, the 2019 vintage stands out as an ideal setting to create a champagne of character, precision, and brightness.
The Champagne Lacourte Godbillon Vintage 2019 Premier Cru comes from a blend dominated by Pinot Noir complemented by Chardonnay, both harvested from Premier Cru classified plots around Écueil. The grapes are gently pressed to extract clear and fine juices, then vinified in tanks and small containers to preserve both purity and complexity. Fermentations are carried out with great attention to the natural rhythm of the wines, seeking balance rather than a display of power. An extended aging on lees before the secondary fermentation enriches the texture, adds body, and refines the bubbles without ever weighing down the profile. The tirage is followed by a long rest in the cellar, allowing the wine to tighten, gain depth, and gradually soften its effervescence. The dosage remains deliberately moderate to let the chalky uprightness of the terroir and the dynamism of the 2019 vintage express themselves.
On tasting, the 2019 Vintage Premier Cru presents itself in a bright pale gold robe animated by fine and regular bubbles. The nose reveals a precise bouquet of ripe lemon, fresh apple, and pear, enhanced by notes of white flowers, delicate hazelnut, and a clear chalky minerality. On the palate, the attack is lively and straight, driven by a salivating tension that immediately highlights the energy of Pinot Noir on chalk. The mid-palate gains breadth with a texture both dense and slender, where Chardonnay brings finesse, length, and a touch of citrus. The finish is long, slightly saline, marked by the return of citrus fruits, a hint of almond, and an impression of great purity. At the table, this champagne wonderfully accompanies scallop carpaccio, citrus sea bream tartare, roasted noble fish, creamy free-range poultry, or well-aged Comté served at the right temperature.
Grape varieties: Majority Pinot Noir, complemented by Chardonnay
