Spanning over 150 years and four generations, the Gounel-Lassalle journey is a compelling story of patience, conviction, and devotion to the land. Each generation brought exactly what was needed in its time, laying the groundwork for a domaine that today produces wines of clarity, depth, and soulful precision. By the 1950s, the family had taken root in Chigny-les-Roses, where Arnaud’s grandmother Hélène joined the local cooperative. Though the estate’s vineyard holdings and production remained modest, Gounel-Lassalle wines began to find their way to discerning tables across France. In 1972, Arnaud’s father Pierre assumed stewardship of the domaine, gradually expanding both its vineyard footprint and output while continuing to work within the cooperative model.

When Arnaud stepped into the role in 2002, he inherited not only a heritage of craftsmanship but also a profound sense of responsibility to honor and evolve his family’s legacy. As he walked among the old vines and reflected on over a century of perseverance, he felt a calling to liberate the family’s wines from the cooperative format and allow them to express their true identity. That vision came to fruition in 2018, when Gounel-Lassalle completed its first harvest as a Récoltant-Manipulant. The wines now feel wholly at home – as if they have arrived precisely where they were always meant to be, in their own time and on their own terms.

This “Le Haut Belai” Premier Cru Brut Nature takes its name from the sound of bleating sheep that once grazed this beautiful plot. The blend of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay pours a pale straw hue with a delicate mousse, as aromas of salted pomelo and ocean spray, interspersed with spring grass, fill the air. The style is lightly oxidative, yet hyper fresh with flavors of salted Japanese plums, preserved lemons, raw Marcona almonds, and Rainier cherries. The attack is linear and precise, and then the wine expands seamlessly into a creamy, almost orangesicle-like finish. Extraordinarily refreshing, and exceptionally unique! You’ll be wise – and long pleased – to scoop up as much as possible!