Champagne Locret-Lachaud
Champagne house in Hautvillers, Vallée de la Marne.
- Village
- Hautvillers (Premier Cru)
- Region
- Vallée de la Marne
- Type of house
- RM · Récoltant Manipulant
- Cuvées in the guide
- 5
Champagne Locret-Lachaud is an independent wine house located in Hautvillers, the "cradle of Champagne" where Dom Pérignon worked, at 40 rue Saint-Vincent. The Locret family has been involved in winegrowing in this UNESCO-recognised landscape since the 17th century (mentions from 1620, active since 1750). In 1920 Gaston Locret and his wife Marie-Louise Lachaud began the commercial sale of their champagnes under the current brand name, after earlier generations as suppliers to houses. Today the estate is run by the 8th and 9th generation: Philippe and his daughter Charlotte Locret (who has been in charge since 2000).
The estate is a Récoltant-Manipulant (grower-producer) with its own vineyard of approximately 7 to 10 hectares around Hautvillers. The grapes are harvested by hand and processed using artisanal methods. The historic cellar, beneath the 19th-century house, is used for riddling, depositing and labelling. In 1992 a modern storage cellar was built to accommodate the growing production. The house is known for its High Environmental Value (HVE) certification and biodynamic/organic approach (listed as "Raisonné" and "HVE").
The champagnes are made from the three classic Champagne grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. The wines are characterised by good freshness and fruitiness, with sometimes a touch of citrus or red fruit. Some specific cuvées are:
- Cuvée Traditionnelle Brut 1er Cru: A blend of the three grape varieties, often with a percentage of reserve wines, fresh and suitable as an aperitif.
- Cuvée Prestige Abbatiale 1er Cru: A higher-quality cuvée, often a mix of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a mineral and complex profile.
- Cuvée Spéciale Rosé: A rosé champagne, made from a blend in which part of the Pinot Noir is added as red wine for colour and fruitiness.
Visitors can visit the estate for wine tastings and to buy bottles directly from the producer.
Cuvées by Locret-Lachaud
Where it is sold
Shops and wholesalers carrying Locret-Lachaud: Ton Overmars.
All producers in the interactive guide · All Champagne houses