Champagne Michel Gonet
Champagne house in Avize, Côte des Blancs.
- Village
- Avize (Grand Cru)
- Region
- Côte des Blancs
- Cuvées in the guide
- 11
Michel Gonet is a champagne house in Avize (Côte des Blancs) with a history going back to 1802, when Charles Gonet founded the family business. The current house name comes from Michel Gonet, who founded a house of his own in 1973 and modernised the cellars. The estate is known for its finesse and elegance, with a strong focus on Chardonnay.
Vineyards and Terroir
- Area: It owns approximately 40 hectares of vineyard (some sources mention 36 ha).
- Locations: The vineyards lie in Grand Cru areas such as Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, as well as in Vindey (Sézannais) and Montgueux.
- Grape varieties: The vineyard consists of approximately 90-100% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir.
- Terroir: The soil is predominantly chalky, which provides minerality and freshness; the coteaux are south-facing and protected from northerly winds.
Winemaking
- Producer: The house is a récoltant-manipulant (vigneron indépendant), which means that all wines are made from its own grapes.
- Harvest and Pressing: The harvest is by hand; each plot is pressed separately and the juices are separated by degree of extraction.
- Vinification: Fermentation takes place in thermoregulated stainless steel cuves.
- Ageing and Dosage: The champagnes age for at least 3 years. Before disgorgement a liqueur of young Chardonnay is used to guarantee freshness. Michel Gonet uses a light dosage to preserve the terroir characteristics.
- Sustainability: The vines are grown using sustainable farming, with the use of lighter bottles and recycled packaging material.
Champagnes
The house produces various cuvées that emphasise the purity of Chardonnay:
- Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru: A 100% Chardonnay, often from old vines in Grand Cru villages.
- Cuvée Authentique: A prestigious cuvée, for example from the 2004 vintage, made from old Chardonnay vines.
- Blanc de Noirs: For example the "Le Varlan" cuvée, made from 100% Pinot Noir.
- Ratafia: A traditional sweet drink made from the most powerful pressing juices, used as an aperitif or in culinary applications.
Visitors can visit, by appointment, the cellars in Avize (196 Avenue Jean Jaurès) and the tasting room in Épernay (Avenue de Champagne) for tours and tastings.
Cuvées by Michel Gonet
Importers
Michel Gonet is imported by: Best of Wines.
Where it is sold
Shops and wholesalers carrying Michel Gonet: Best of Wines, Utregs Wijnhuis.
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