Domaine Alexandre Bonnet

Domaine Alexandre Bonnet — Kimmeridgian Terroir and 23 Contrées in Les Riceys

Domaine Alexandre Bonnet is a Récoltant-Manipulant from Les Riceys in the Côte des Bar, founded in 1970 by Serge Bonnet together with Alain and René. Today Arnaud Fabre leads the team. The Maison cultivates 23 Contrées (individual vineyards) in Les Riceys – all on the same geological foundation as the Grands Crus of Chablis: Kimmeridgian limestone from the Upper Jurassic.

The family's winemaking lineage reaches back to 1934, when Lucien Noble, the maternal great-grandfather, cultivated the first vines. Les Riceys itself is a historic region at the intersection between Burgundy and Champagne: in the year 830 the region belonged to Burgundy, became champenois in 1200, burgundian again in 1420, and definitively joined France in 1477. The three districts Ricey-Bas, Ricey-Haute-Rive, and Ricey-Haut were merged into the commune of Les Riceys in 1790. Only in 1927 were the white wines from the Aube officially integrated into the Champagne appellation.

History

In the year 1104, Guillaume II, Comte de Nevers, grants the Tronchois vineyard in Les Riceys to the Abbey of Molesmes – founded in 1073. Winemaking here thus has an almost thousand-year continuity. The modern era of the Domaine begins in 1970 with its founding by Serge Bonnet. In 1985 Alain Pailley becomes oenologist and Chef de Cave – in the same year the Domaine produces Rosé des Riceys for the first time, and almost annually since. Around 2000 Didier Mêlé takes over the role of Chef de Culture.

The house philosophy rests on respect for nature, patience, and humility. Since the beginning, the Domaine has foregone herbicides and insecticides. Orchards at the vineyard edges, flowering strips for bees, wild orchids, and the preservation of historic Cadoles (stone huts) shape the landscape. Vinification is done parcelle par parcelle – each of the 23 Contrées is developed separately to preserve their respective identity. Assemblage is done with older reserve wines according to origin and vintage; the work is intuitive and sensory-oriented.

Vignoble & Soil

All vineyard plots are located in Les Riceys, distributed across 23 Contrées. The soil signature is Kimmeridgian limestone – identical to the terroir of the Chablis Grands Crus. Above this lie marl-limestone soils (calcaire marneux, argilo-calcaire), often on steep slopes with strong drainage. Some Contrées like La Forêt reach slopes up to 45 percent and are south-facing; others like Hardy face north, Les Vignes Blanches face east.

The relief is complex, the soils vary from parcel to parcel minimally, but significantly enough to justify separate wines for each. The region lies at the northern edge of Champagne, climatically between continental and oceanic influence. Biodiversity is actively promoted: orchards, flowering strips, wild flora and avifauna are part of the managed ecosystem.

Viticulture & Sustainability

The Domaine works without herbicides and insecticides. Orchards and flowering strips for bees (jachères mellifères) frame the vineyards. The old Cadoles – stone huts made from dry stone walls – are preserved and renovated, wild orchids and diverse birdlife are encouraged. The approach is less certification-driven than values-oriented: respect, patience, humility.

The 23 Contrées differ in orientation, age of the vines, and microclimate. Some parcels bear 50-year-old vine stocks, others are younger. The Domaine has revived historic grape varieties like Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, Arbane, and Pinot Gris and vinifies – alongside the main varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – all seven traditional Champagne grape varieties in the cuvée Les Contrées 7 Cépages.

Vinification

Vinification follows Burgundian principles: parcelle par parcelle. Each of the 23 Contrées is developed separately to preserve its identity. Assemblage is done with older reserve wines – organized by origin and vintage. The approach is intuitive, sensory-oriented, not intellectual: "mobilisant l'esprit plutôt que l'intellect, les sens plutôt que la raison". The dosage ranges from Brut Nature to Extra Brut (0–10 g/l), the focus lies on clear terroir expression and millésime character.

Some cuvées – such as La Forêt – are vinified without added sulfur. The Maison produces alongside Champagne also Rosé des Riceys (almost annually since 1985) and Coteaux Champenois in red and white – still wines that continue the heritage of the long still wine tradition in Les Riceys.

The Cuvées in Detail

Blanc de Noirs

The emblematic wine of the Domaine: 100% Pinot Noir from various Contrées, assemblage of multiple vintages. The style combines precision with hedonistic complexity and a saline, long-lasting minerality.

100% Pinot Noir · Assemblage of various vintages · Various Contrées in Les Riceys

Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut

Clear, tension-rich Blanc de Noirs based on 2021, dégorgement 07.10.2025. Limestone-marked minerality, ripe red berries, apple peel, almost saline texture. Straightforward with beautiful length – the Kimmeridgian soils are palpable.

100% Pinot Noir · 6 g/l · Base 2021 · Les Riceys, Kimmeridge limestone soils

Rosé

Charismatic Rosé d'assemblage, 100% Pinot Noir, showing the more generous, seductive side of the variety. The Kimmeridgian terroir also provides the mineral framework here.

100% Pinot Noir · Rosé d'assemblage · Kimmeridgian terroir

Blanc de Blancs

Assemblage of Chardonnay and revived Pinot Blanc. Complex perfume with long, saline finish – a rare type in the Côte des Bar that documents the work with historic grape varieties.

Chardonnay & Pinot Blanc · Blanc de Blancs

Les Vignes Blanches

Blanc de Noirs Millésimé 2019/2020 from the Contrée Les Vignes Blanches, east-facing. Seductive exotic and spicy complexity, powerful, energetic palate with saline vitality.

100% Pinot Noir · Millésimé 2019/2020 · Contrée Les Vignes Blanches, East

Hardy

Blanc de Noirs Millésimé 2019/2020 from the north-facing Contrée Hardy. Chiseled, bright wine with citrus and floral aromas, intense and vibrant structure – cooler location, more precise expression.

100% Pinot Noir · Millésimé 2019/2020 · Contrée Hardy, North

Les Contrées Rosé de Macération

Rosé Millésimé 2019/2020 from maceration, 100% Pinot Noir from a steep south-facing Contrée with 50-year-old vines. Intense, racy – a sublimated Pinot Noir.

100% Pinot Noir · Rosé de Macération · Millésimé 2019/2020 · South-facing, 50-year-old vines

Les Contrées 7 Cépages

Unique cuvée in Champagne: all seven historic grape varieties (Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier, Arbane, Pinot Gris) in one Millésimé 2019/2020. A kaleidoscope of textures and aromas – intense, racy, surprising.

7 grape varieties (PN, M, CH, PB, PM, A, PG) · Millésimé 2019/2020

La Forêt

Blanc de Noirs Millésimé 2020/2021 from the most solar Contrée of the Domaine: La Forêt, south-facing, up to 45% slope. Extremely powerful wines, vinified as Blanc, without added sulfur.

100% Pinot Noir · Millésimé 2020/2021 · Contrée La Forêt, South, up to 45% slope · Sans soufre ajouté

Rosé des Riceys La Forêt

Singular, confidential Rosé des Riceys AOC 2021/2022 from maceration, also from the Contrée La Forêt. Powerful and simultaneously fine – great gastronomic Pinot Noir.

100% Pinot Noir · Rosé des Riceys AOC · Millésimé 2021/2022 · Contrée La Forêt

Coteaux Champenois Rouge

Northern Pinot Noir 2021/2022 as still wine: fresh, fine, racy. Heritage of the long tradition of still wines in Les Riceys.

100% Pinot Noir · Coteaux Champenois AOC · 2021/2022 · Les Riceys

Coteaux Champenois Blanc

Exclusive, essential white wine 2022 based on Pinot Noir (assemblage), expressing the pure, mineral substance of the terroir.

Assemblage based on Pinot Noir · Coteaux Champenois AOC · 2022 · Les Riceys

My Tastings

• Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut (2021) · 30.12.2025

Facts

Category	Récoltant-Manipulant (RM)
Founded	1970 (Serge Bonnet with Alain and René)
Current Management	Arnaud Fabre
Location	Les Riceys, Aube (10), Côte des Bar
Vineyard Area	23 Contrées in Les Riceys
Soil	Kimmeridgian limestone (Upper Jurassic), marl-limestone soils
Approach	No herbicides/insecticides, biodiversity, parcellaire vinification
Dosage	0–10 g/l (Extra Brut, Brut Nature)
Specialty	7-grape variety cuvée, Rosé des Riceys since 1985, Coteaux Champenois
Website	alexandrebonnet.com
Instagram	@domainealexandrebonnet
Address	138, rue Général de Gaulle, 10340 Les Riceys
Phone	+33 3 25 29 30 93
E-Mail	info@alexandrebonnet.com

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Sources for this portrait: Maison website, own tastings, CRM data and cross-checks. Fields without sufficient verification remain open.