Champagne Gounel - Lassalle — Single-Vineyard Brut Nature, Premier Cru Montagne de Reims
In the heart of the Montagne de Reims, Champagne Gounel - Lassalle embodies the spirit of a fourth-generation grower-producer: non-dosage champagnes, crafted with precision at the plot level and a true reflection of the terroir. Since breaking away from the cooperative in 2018 and building their own cellar, Arnaud and Sophie Gounel have been crafting each cuvée from their 2.87 hectares of Premiers Crus in Chigny-les-Roses and Ludes — 29 plots whose soil mapping was entrusted to geologist Geoffrey Orban. The style is taut, briny and of rare purity: predominantly Meunier (58–63 per cent of the vineyard), hand-harvested, and aged in oak barrels with gold leaf inserts. The estate is certified HVE and Viticulture Durable en Champagne, and is in the process of converting to organic farming.
Buy Gounel - Lassalle champagnes online
The Gounel–Lassalle vintages — Six Premier Cru ‘brut nature’ single-vineyard wines
The range comprises two blends — Esprit Voyageur and Terre d’ancêtres — and six Premier Cru brut nature single-vineyard cuvées: Le Haut Belai (Pinot Noir & Chardonnay), Dessus la Ville and Les Noues (Meunier, vines planted in 1968), Les Ruelles (centuries-old Chardonnay), Les Agneaux and Les Amis Les Champs. A Ratafia Champenois Lounge completes the range. Notes of apricot, blackcurrant and hazelnut, fine bubbles, a briny finish: perfect with oysters, lobster and fine fish.
Served between 8 and 10 °C in a tulip-shaped glass, these champagnes fully reveal their aromatic complexity. The absence of dosage and the rigour of the ageing process give them the potential for a further 3 to 5 years’ ageing in a cool cellar. The Meunier cuvées also pair well with washed-rind cheeses and roast poultry in sauce.
Discover the full Gounel – Lassalle range on Pépites en Champagne: an artisanal selection, expert advice and careful delivery within 24 to 48 hours in France and across Europe. Each cuvée is selected directly from the estate in Chigny-les-Roses.
Gounel - Lassalle — Four generations, 29 Premier Cru plots
The estate traces its origins back to 1870, when the Gounel family planted their first vines in the Premiers Crus terroirs of the Montagne de Reims. Now in its fourth generation, Arnaud Gounel cultivates 2.87 hectares spread across 29 family-owned plots in the villages of Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne. Meunier dominates the vineyard mix — the primary expression of the terroir — complemented by Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on soils meticulously mapped by geologist Geoffrey Orban.
In 2016, Sophie joined Arnaud to form a fully-fledged harvesting and winemaking partnership. The break with the cooperative in 2018 and the construction of a dedicated cellar marked a defining turning point for the estate. Since then, ageing in oak barrels lined with gold leaf — creating a perfectly airtight seal — has defined the signature of each cuvée and its ability to age with precision.
Your questions about Gounel - Lassalle champagnes
What is the difference between ‘L’Esprit Voyageur’ and the single-vineyard wines from Gounel-Lassalle?
L’Esprit Voyageur is a blend of several plots and grape varieties, designed to offer consistency and accessibility. The single-plot cuvées — Dessus la Ville, Les Noues, Les Ruelles… — express just a single lieu-dit and a single grape variety, without any blending, and vary according to the vintage. They reveal the geological identity of a unique plot, based on the soil mapping carried out by the geologist Geoffrey Orban.
What food and wine pairings are best with Gounel–Lassalle champagnes?
The Meunier wines (Dessus la Ville, Les Noues, Les Agneaux) pair well with roasted white meats, wild mushrooms or washed-rind cheeses. Les Ruelles (a centuries-old Chardonnay) shines with oysters, scallops and fine fish. Le Haut Belai (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay) pairs well with truffled poultry. As an aperitif, all the brut nature wines are the natural choice.
How should Gounel–Lassalle champagnes be served and stored?
Serve at between 8 and 10 °C in a tulip-shaped glass to bring out the full range of aromas. Brut nature wines without dosage improve with cellaring: they have a further ageing potential of 3 to 5 years at 12 °C, away from light and vibrations. Avoid storing in a domestic fridge for more than a few days to prevent the aromas from being altered.
Where can I buy Gounel - Lassalle champagne online?
Discover the full Gounel – Lassalle range at Pépites en Champagne — a selection of artisan products, expert advice and express delivery throughout France and Europe.
Why does Gounel-Lassalle vinify each plot separately?
Arnaud Gounel called on the geologist Geoffrey Orban to map the soils of the family’s 29 plots in detail. Each vineyard site — whether clay-limestone, chalk or sand — is vinified separately to preserve its unique identity. It is this scientific rigour, rare in Champagne, that makes each single-vineyard wine a true portrait of both the geological and oenological characteristics of the site.
How much do Gounel–Lassalle champagnes cost?
The ‘Esprit Voyageur’ and ‘Terre d’ancêtres’ blends form the entry-level range. The single-vineyard cuvées — ‘Dessus la Ville’, ‘Les Noues’, ‘Les Ruelles’, ‘Le Haut Belai’… — are positioned at the top of the range, reflecting the rarity of each lieu-dit (ranging from just 17 to 75 ares). Please refer to the individual cuvée details on Pépites en Champagne for the exact price.
About
Champagne Gounel – Lassalle — the essentials
- House / owner
- Gounel-Lassalle (Arnaud Gounel & Sophie)
- Location
- Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes, Rilly-la-Montagne, Barzy-sur-Marne — Montagne de Reims
- Grape varieties
- Chardonnay, Meunier, Pinot Noir
- Cellar master
- Arnaud Gounel
- Distinctions
- HVE, VDC, En conversion vers AB
- Cuvées
- Esprit Voyageur, Terre d'ancêtres, Le Haut Belai, Dessus la Ville, Les Noues, Les Ruelles
