Domaine Bauchet — Premier Cru from Grauves

Domaine Bauchet — Premier Cru from Grauves

Domaine Bauchet is a Récoltant-Manipulant from Grauves in the Côte des Blancs, run by the 5th generation. The maison farms parcels in two Premier Cru sites: Grauves in the Côte des Blancs and Bisseuil in the Montagne de Reims. The style is defined by Chardonnay clarity, long lees aging and deliberately late disgorgement — ripeness and texture are at the center.

Vignoble & Terroir

The vines are planted in Grauves (Côte des Blancs) and Bisseuil (Montagne de Reims), both classified as Premier Cru. The focus is on Chardonnay, complemented by Pinot Noir from Bisseuil. Grauves brings mineral clarity and freshness, Bisseuil contributes structure and red fruit.

Winemaking

Bauchet works with stainless steel — aging in inox emphasizes precision and fruit, as documented with Contraste. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to preserve freshness and tension. Dosage ranges between 5.5 g/l (Contraste) and 8 g/l (Signature Brut) — everything in the Extra Brut to Brut range. Characteristic is the long lees aging with at least 36 months for the entry-level cuvée, up to 60 months for the millésimes. Disgorgement is deliberately late to develop depth and creamy texture. Wood plays no dominant role; with Mémoire 2018 it's explicitly noted: aging without dominant wood, slightly oxidative hints from maturity, no aggressive wood note.

The Cuvées in Detail

Signature Brut Premier Cru

The maison style in a bottle. 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 25% reserve wines from previous years, 36 months lees aging. Chardonnay clarity with creamy depth: pear, green apple, citrus, mirabelle, stone fruit, fine brioche note. Elegant and precise, without intrusive sweetness.

80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir · 8 g/l · 36 months · Premier Cru Grauves (Côte des Blancs) & Bisseuil (Montagne de Reims)

Contraste

100% Pinot Noir — from Premier Cru sites in Grauves and Bisseuil, where you wouldn't automatically expect it. Aging in stainless steel, without malolactic, 24 months lees aging. Red apples, mirabelle, brioche, toasted aromas, nutty spice. Creamy, lively, precise with cool tension. The name says it all: a counterpoint to the Chardonnay signature.

100% Pinot Noir · 5.5 g/l · 24 months · Premier Cru Grauves & Bisseuil

Saint-Nicaise

Blanc de Blancs, vintage 2015. A warm year that makes the Chardonnay broader and more textured. 60 months lees aging. Peach, pear, citrus, brioche, vanilla. Round and soft with golden warmth — surprisingly, the fullness recalls Pinot Noir, even though there's not a drop of it. A cuvée that shows how much breadth Chardonnay can develop in warm years.

100% Chardonnay · 7 g/l · 60 months · Premier Cru Grauves & Bisseuil

Mémoire

Vintage 2018, another warm year. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, at least 5 years lees aging. Fuller, rounder, harmonious champagne with brioche, pastry, nuts, honey. Slightly oxidative hints from maturity, no aggressive wood note — the texture comes from time on the lees, not from barrel. A champagne that rewards patience.

75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir · 7 g/l · 60 months · Premier Cru Grauves & Bisseuil

My Tastings

• Signature Brut Premier Cru · 10.29.2025
• Contraste · 11.17.2025
• Saint-Nicaise 2015 · 12.14.2025
• Mémoire 2018 · 01.06.2026

Facts

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