Michel Rutat Champagne — Organic winegrowers from Vertus, Côte des Blancs
Based in Vertus, a Premier Cru in the Côte des Blancs, the Michel Rutat estate has been cultivating a seven-hectare vineyard, passed down from generation to generation, since 1960. Chardonnay reigns supreme on chalky soils of remarkable minerality, complemented by a touch of Pinot Noir which lends structure to certain cuvées. Now run by Flavien and Baptiste Rutat, the fourth generation, the estate embodies a vision of artisanal champagne guided by purity: old vines over sixty years old, partial ageing in oak barrels and winemaking without dosage, revealing a terroir that the great houses could never replicate. The Organic Farming certification obtained in 2019 crowns a conversion process that began even before the handover — proof that here, environmental commitment is a conviction passed down from father to son, not a marketing ploy.
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Michel Rutat’s wines — Pure terroir, no dosage, old vines
The Lignum cuvée is the estate’s signature oaked wine: aged for five to six months in oak barrels and disgorged without dosage, it offers an enveloping texture and a briny finish characteristic of Vertus Chardonnays. Pair it with pan-fried scallops in brown butter, a lobster risotto or a 24-month-matured Comté. The Les Grillettes single-vineyard cuvée, awarded three stars in the 2016 Guide Hachette, is aged exclusively in stainless steel: crystal-clear liveliness, mineral tension, a chalky finish — it comes into its own with fine de claire oysters, sea bass tartare or scallop carpaccio. The ‘Bonjour Tout Le Monde’ cuvée is the estate’s champagne for sharing: lively, direct, ideal as an aperitif with smoked salmon canapés or cheese gougères.
Serve these champagnes at between 8 and 10 °C in a tulip or white wine glass, which releases the aromas better than a traditional flute. La Lignum and Les Grillettes have significant ageing potential — three to six years after disgorgement, in a cool cellar away from light. Bonjour Tout Le Monde is best enjoyed within two to three years to preserve its freshness.
The entire Michel Rutat range is available on Pépites en Champagne — with protective packaging, careful delivery and express shipping to France and Europe.
Michel Rutat — Four generations of winegrowers with deep roots in Vertus
It was in 1960 that Michel Rutat laid the foundations for the estate in Vertus, a Premier Cru commune in the Côte des Blancs. Seven hectares of family-owned vineyards, chalky soils shaped by millennia of marine sedimentation, and Chardonnay as the guiding principle: an identity built up patiently, passed down through each generation with the same high standards. Flavien and Baptiste Rutat now represent the fourth generation at the helm of the estate.
The estate’s organic farming practices — certified in 2019 — are the legacy of an approach that began even before the handover of the estate. In the cellar, old vines over sixty years old yield concentrated musts: partial ageing in oak barrels for the Lignum cuvée, winemaking without dosage to preserve the terroir’s authenticity – a rigour that sets Michel Rutat apart from industrial négociant champagnes.
Your questions about Michel Rutat champagnes
What sets the Vertus terroir apart from the major Champagne appellations such as Épernay or Reims?
Vertus is a Premier Cru from the Côte des Blancs, planted almost exclusively with Chardonnay on Cretaceous chalk of rare purity. Unlike Épernay — a hub of the wine trade dominated by the great houses — or the powerful Pinot Noirs of the Montagne de Reims, Vertus produces champagnes with a finely chiselled mineral edge and a characteristic lemony freshness. Michel Rutat expresses this terroir without artifice, in brut nature style and from old vines that enhance its precision.
What food and wine pairings go well with Michel Rutat champagnes?
Lignum, aged in oak barrels, pairs well with pan-fried scallops, a seafood risotto or a mature Comté — its rounded, oaky character complements rich, umami flavours. Les Grillettes, with its sharper, more mineral character, brings out the best in oysters, fish tartare or sashimi. The Bonjour Tout Le Monde cuvée is ideal as an aperitif with fresh cheeses, light charcuterie or smoked salmon canapés. As brut nature wines, all these cuvées pair well with dishes that are not overly sweet and feature briny or creamy flavours.
How should Michel Rutat champagnes be served and stored?
Serve at between 8 and 10 °C in a tulip-shaped glass or a white wine glass — the traditional flute glass stifles the aromas and does not do justice to cuvées without dosage. Store bottles lying flat, at between 10 and 12 °C, away from light and vibrations. La Lignum and Les Grillettes can be cellared for three to six years after disgorgement; Bonjour Tout Le Monde is best enjoyed within two to three years to preserve its liveliness.
Where can I buy Michel Rutat champagne online?
Discover the full Michel Rutat range at Pépites en Champagne — an artisanal selection, expert advice and express delivery throughout France and Europe.
What is the difference between Michel Rutat’s Lignum and Les Grillettes?
Lignum is aged for five to six months in oak barrels and then disgorged without dosage: it has a creamy texture, notes of toasted hazelnut and a salty finish. Les Grillettes is a single-plot wine vinified exclusively in stainless steel, without any time in wood: lighter and more crisp, it delivers the chalky minerality of Vertus in its raw form. The latter was awarded three stars in the 2016 Guide Hachette — a rare honour for an artisan winemaker. The choice depends on your taste: richness and depth for Lignum, purity and freshness for Les Grillettes.
Is Michel Rutat’s organic certification a genuine commitment or merely a label?
Michel Rutat’s transition to organic farming began even before the estate was handed over to Flavien and Baptiste — it was Michel Rutat himself who initiated this process, which was certified AB in 2019. Here, there is no opportunistic conversion dictated by the market: seven hectares cultivated without synthetic pesticides, with the care reserved for old vines over sixty years old. It is precisely this kind of deep-rooted commitment, anchored in the family’s history, that distinguishes true artisan winegrowers from those with mere labels for show.
About
Champagne Michel Rutat — the essentials
- Founded in
- 1960
- Founder
- Michel Rutat
- House / owner
- Flavien et Baptiste Rutat (4e génération)
- Location
- Vertus, Champagne
- Vineyard
- 7 ha
- Grape varieties
- Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
- Cellar master
- Flavien Rutat et Baptiste Rutat
- Distinctions
- AB Agriculture Biologique (certifié 2019)
- Cuvées
- Bonjour Tout Le Monde
