Origin and History
Champagne R.H. Coutier is based in Ambonnay in the Montagne de Reims in the Champagne in France. Ambonnay is classified as Grand Cru; documented cuvées from the house carry the designation Champagne Grand Cru. The Coutier family has been based in Ambonnay since 1619 and has been producing Champagne for five generations.
Vineyards and Farming
The estate farms about 9 to 9.3 hectares in around 40 parcels. The vineyard plots, which are predominantly oriented to the south and south-east, are located on mainly chalky soils with clay components. The exposures create a warmer local growing climate than is typical for northern France. The share of Chardonnay makes up about one third of the vineyard area; the rest of the vines are planted predominantly with Pinot Noir.
In 1948, Henri Coutier planted Chardonnay in Ambonnay, when the village was associated primarily with Pinot Noir. The switch to organic viticulture began in 2020; the first certified organic harvest is documented for 2023.
Cuvées and Style
The documented style combines the fullness described for Pinot Noir from Ambonnay with the freshness and linearity of Chardonnay. The range includes single-varietal wines made from Pinot Noir or Chardonnay as well as cuvées from both grape varieties. The non-vintage cuvée tradition is a Grand Cru made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; one documented composition consists of 80 per cent Pinot Noir and 20 per cent Chardonnay. There is also a Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru made from 100 per cent Chardonnay, as well as a Rosé Grand Cru with a documented composition of 85 per cent Chardonnay and 15 per cent Pinot Noir.
Single Vineyard La Pierre aux Larrons
La Pierre aux Larrons comes from a parcel planted in 1948 and is produced from 100 per cent Chardonnay. The single-vineyard bottling matures for one year in oak barrels before bottling.
