Champagne Christophe Dechannes — An artisan winegrower at the heart of Les Riceys

Nestled in the heart of the village of Les Riceys, in the heart of the Côte des Bar, the Christophe Dechannes estate embodies the very essence of the Champagne ‘récoltant-manipulant’. Across 9 hectares of clay-limestone and Kimmeridgian soils — the same subsoil that gives the great Chablis wines their minerality — Christophe and Christine Dechannes cultivate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with the rigour of independent winegrowers. Their champagnes display a distinct fruitiness and a vinous character that stand in stark contrast to the standardised blends of the major négociants: notes of red fruit and brioche, with a lingering mineral freshness. Les Riceys offers a uniqueness found nowhere else in France: three AOCs within the same commune — Champagne, Coteaux Champenois and Rosé des Riceys, an extremely rare and little-known appellation. It is in this exceptional setting that the Dechannes family expresses, cuvée after cuvée, an unyielding terroir identity.

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The Christophe Dechannes vintages — Terroir and character in a bottle

The range is centred around four complementary cuvées. The Tradition Brut (100 per cent Pinot Noir, 60 per cent reserve in the solera system) offers a rounded, vinous character, perfect as an aperitif or with hard cheeses. Our ‘Deux Vallons’, a Blanc de Blancs made from 100% Chardonnay grown on Kimmeridgian soils, is superb with oysters and shellfish. The Cuvée Spéciale (70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay) pairs beautifully with roast poultry and fish in a creamy sauce. The Brut Rosé, made from 100% Pinot Noir, bursting with red fruit and liveliness, perfectly complements smoked salmon and fruity desserts.

Served between 8 and 10 °C in a tulip-shaped glass to reveal their aromatic complexity, these cuvées can easily be cellared for 3 to 5 years in a cool, dark cellar, away from vibrations and light. The Cuvée Spéciale, with its greater structure, offers superior ageing potential, rewarding the patience of the discerning connoisseur.

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Christophe Dechannes — Three generations of winegrowers in Les Riceys

It was in 1973 that Roland Dechannes produced the first bottles from the family estate, laying the foundations for a Champagne venture rooted in the clay-limestone terroirs of Les Riceys. Today, his son Christophe and his wife Christine carry on this legacy with their children Roland and Laura, forming a three-generation line of winemakers dedicated to crafting artisanal Champagne, far removed from the industrial model of the major Champagne houses.

In the cellar, Christophe Dechannes employs meticulous winemaking techniques: ageing in stainless-steel tanks to preserve the purity of the primary aromas, and the incorporation of a perpetual solera system comprising 60 per cent reserve wines into the Cuvée Tradition. The grapes are still harvested by hand, a fundamental step in selecting grapes plot by plot and ensuring the consistency expected of an authentic ‘récoltant-manipulant’.

Your questions about Christophe Dechannes champagnes

Which Christophe Dechannes wine should you choose for a particular occasion?

Whether for an aperitif or a reception, the Tradition Brut stands out for its rounded, vinous character, made from 100 per cent Pinot Noir. The Brut Rosé is ideal for brunches and dessert courses. Our Deux Vallons is ideal for gourmet dinners and seafood dishes. The more complex Cuvée Spéciale is best reserved for elaborate meals and connoisseurs of full-bodied champagnes.

What food and wine pairings go well with Christophe Dechannes champagne?

The Tradition Brut (Pinot Noir) pairs well with cold meats, poultry and hard cheeses. Our ‘Deux Vallons’, Blanc de Blancs, is the perfect accompaniment to oysters, shellfish and sashimi. The Brut Rosé goes well with smoked salmon, strawberries and light desserts. The Cuvée Spéciale is at its best with poultry in sauce or a veal fillet.

How should Christophe Dechannes champagne be served and stored?

Serve at between 8 and 10 °C in a tulip glass or flute to bring out the aromatic complexity. In a cool, dark cellar (10 to 14 °C), brut champagnes can be kept for 3 to 5 years; the Cuvée Spéciale has the potential to develop further. Avoid vibrations and direct light, which can damage the bubbles and aromas.

Where can I buy Christophe Dechannes champagne online?

Discover the full Christophe Dechannes range at Pépites en Champagne — an artisan selection, expert advice and express delivery throughout France and Europe.

What distinguishes a champagne from a ‘récoltant-manipulant’ such as Christophe Dechannes from a champagne produced by a négociant?

A ‘récoltant-manipulant’ (RM) cultivates their own vines and vinifies their own grapes. Christophe Dechannes thus controls the entire process, from the terroir of Les Riceys to the finished bottle. This approach guarantees full traceability and a true expression of the clay-limestone soil, which is impossible to replicate by blending grapes purchased from other producers.

Why do champagnes from Les Riceys have such a distinctive character?

Les Riceys is the only commune in France to have three AOCs within its boundaries: Champagne, Coteaux Champenois and Rosé des Riceys, a little-known appellation with extremely limited yields. Its Kimmeridgian clay-limestone soils impart to the Pinot Noir grapes a mineral tension and aromatic depth that are quite distinct from the wines of the Montagne de Reims or the Côte des Blancs.

About

Champagne Christophe Dechannes — the essentials

Founded in: 1973
Founder: Roland Dechannes
House / owner: Christophe et Christine Dechannes (enfants : Roland et Laura)
Location: Champagne
Vineyard: 9 ha
Grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Cellar master: Christophe Dechannes
Distinctions: R.M. (Récoltant-Manipulant)
Cuvées: Tradition Brut, Nos Deux Vallons, Brut Rosé, Cuvée Spéciale

Champagne Christophe Dechannes — An artisan winegrower at the heart of Les Riceys

Buy Christophe Dechannes champagnes online

The Christophe Dechannes vintages — Terroir and character in a bottle

Christophe Dechannes — Three generations of winegrowers in Les Riceys

Your questions about Christophe Dechannes champagnes

Champagne Christophe Dechannes — the essentials

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