These days, Stéphane focuses on a limited number of cuvees, from vines tended personally by himself and the family. Definitely not a big house, and not just a grower, but a tiny grower, so much so that it seems Champagne runs through his blood. And it shows in every cuvee he crafts. Stéphane was guided by his father from an early age to develop a love and respect for Champagne’s traditions, and was led to open his own grower house at the tender age of 25. His answer to his father’s stewardship was Champagne Stéphane Coquillette. 

Stéphane decided to take a different approach to winemaking, however, going against traditional methods of roundness and richness, by creating leaner, drier wines, and only from Grand and Premier Cru villages: Ay, Mareuil-sur-Ay, Chouilly, and Cuis. He rigorously practices organic viticulture, as his unyielding belief that the health of the vines results in fresh, vibrant wines is the core of his winemaking philosophy.

Les Cles is a Blanc de Noirs cuvee made of only Pinot Noir whose vines were planted in 1960 in Ay, a warmer area near the Marne river. With a nose of arboreal brush, game fowl, tomato, and cherries, the palate follows with ripe cherries, wild strawberries, plums, and mushrooms. There is a lot of fruit here, as well as great acid structure. The stainless steel fermentation and elevage preserve the wine’s freshness, though it does still manage to have a bit of roundness! It is delightful all around, with a classy and elegant style, and a bright future to come! Any avid Champagne lover will be thrilled to give this a try!