Champagne Guy de Chassey

Champagne Guy de Chassey

Champagne Guy de Chassey: Grand Cru Louvois in its seventh generation

Champagne Guy de Chassey is a Récoltant-Manipulant from Louvois in the Montagne de Reims, one of only 17 Grand-Cru villages in all of Champagne. The house is currently run in its seventh generation by Marie Odile de Chassey and her daughter Ingrid, a female generational transition that continues a long tradition. Until the third generation, the family operated under the name Lucien Beaufort, before the current name was introduced.

History

The history of Louvois goes back far: around 1100, the castle of Louvois was built, giving the village its name. In the 13th century, Gaucher de Châtillon became the first Seigneur de Louvois. Around 1600, Michel le Tellier, father of the famous Louvois, minister under Louis XIV, bought the ruined castle and had it restored. A century later, the estate passed to the Dames de France, and Marie-Antoinette stayed there regularly.

The French Revolution in 1789 severely damaged the castle, with only parts remaining. At the same time, the family began working as vignerons, initially in the first two generations as grape suppliers. From the third generation, around 1850, the family began manipulating their own bottles under the name Lucien Beaufort.

The transition to the current name Guy de Chassey occurred in a later generation, though the exact year is not verified. Today, Marie Odile de Chassey and her daughter Ingrid run the Maison, a female generational transition that continues the tradition across seven generations.

Vignoble & Terroir

The house manages 9.5 hectares across three villages: Louvois and Bouzy, both Grand Cru, plus Tauxières-Mutry (Premier Cru at 99%). The grape variety distribution is clear: 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay, no Meunier.

The soils are argilo-calcaire, a clay-limestone mixture, with south and southeast exposure that brings warmth and ripeness, while the limestone provides tension and minerality. The old vines for the Cuvée Antide and the Pinot-Noir parcels in Bouzy define the house signature: powerful and structured, but always carried by natural acidity.

Viticulture & Sustainability

Guy de Chassey works according to Viticulture raisonnée, an approach that emphasizes conscious management of soil, water, air, and fauna. Part of the vineyards is grassed, another part is plowed to promote biodiversity and soil health. The house is HVE-certified (Haute Valeur Environnementale), the highest French environmental level in viticulture, with correspondingly high standards for plant protection, fertilization, and water management.

Vinification

Pressing is done in a wooden vertical press, a gentle, traditional method of must extraction. Alcoholic fermentation takes place in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks at around 18°C to preserve fruit and precision.

Malolactic fermentation is deliberately blocked to maintain freshness, aging potential, and the natural acidity of the grapes. Individual cuvées like the Antide age in oak barrels, where the wood is finely integrated and never dominant. Remuage is done completely by hand. The house philosophy remains the same across seven generations: precision, freshness, and preservation of fruitiness.

The Cuvées in Detail

Brut Cuvée de Buretel

Amber-colored robe, white flowers, spices, citrus fruits, and white fruits in syrup. The Pinot Noir provides power, the Chardonnay finesse. Multiple awards, including 2** in Guide Hachette 2023 and Bronze Medal at Decanter 2018.

70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay


Sec

Amber-colored robe, similar aromatic profile to the Buretel cuvée, white flowers, spices, citrus fruits, but with higher dosage. Balance between power and finesse, well-suited for dessert pairing.

70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay


Brut Rosé

Rosé with salmon reflections, initially fine and subtle, then rich and complex. Red and black fruits shape the aromatics. The Pinot Noir comes from old vines in Bouzy Grand Cru, with part vinified as red wine and assembled. Silver Medal Mondial de Bruxelles 2023, 92 points Wine Spectator.

70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay · Bouzy Grand Cru


Rosé Dry

Higher-dosed rosé version with fruity bouquet, red fruits, fresh and gourmand. Perfect for desserts. Pinot Noir from old vines in Bouzy Grand Cru.

70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay · Bouzy Grand Cru


Blanc de Noirs

Pure Pinot Noir in golden robe, white fruits at full ripeness with candied citrus. Beautiful tension, mandarin and lemon marmalade, mineral finish. Extra Brut dosage. Grande Médaille d'Or Mondial de Bruxelles 2023, 2** Guide Hachette 2022.

100% Pinot Noir · Extra Brut


Brut Millésime 2015

Golden yellow robe, fine mousse. Fine and delicate bouquet: yellow candied fruits, sweet flowers, spice notes. On the palate, wine-like, summer fruit marmalade, nectarine, apricot, with toasted notes. Selected in Guide Veron 2023.

50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay · 2015


Brut Cuvée Réservée Nicolas d'Olivet 2020

Beautiful golden robe, mineral, chalk and flint, then linden, black pepper, mirabelle, almond. Lively palate, beautiful acidity, pear marmalade, grape, apple. Structured with mineral finish. Grande Médaille d'Or Mondial de Bruxelles 2023.

60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay · 2020 · Grand Cru Louvois


Brut Cuvée Antide

Vinified and aged in oak barrels, exclusively old vines. Light gold, woody dimension with red fruits, fruit paste. Fleshy attack, fine bubbles, very fresh and long. The fruit remains very present, the wood is well integrated. Gold Medal Mondial de Bruxelles 2022, Coup de Cœur Guide Veron 2020.

50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay · Oak barrel aging · old vines


Cuvée Euphrasie

Multi-vintage assemblage: 85% Chardonnay from 2012, 15% Pinot Noir from 2011. Bottled March 5, 2015, 10 years on lees. Subtly floral, mandarin, meringue, praline, candied citrus notes. On the palate generous, candied lemon, kiwi, fine flowers. Balance between freshness and roundness. Stainless steel, no MLF, manual riddling.

85% Chardonnay (2012), 15% Pinot Noir (2011) · 6.5 g/l · 120 months aging · Premier Cru Tauxières-Mutry

My Tastings

  • Cuvée Euphrasie, 2026-01-03
  • Nicolas d'Olivet 2019, 2025-12-13
  • Cuvée Euphrasie, 2025-11-23

The Euphrasie is a remarkable cuvée: 10 years on lees, no MLF, manual riddling. You feel the maturity on the nose, mandarin, meringue, candied citrus notes, but the palate stays fresh and precise. The balance between generosity and tension works very well.

Nicolas d'Olivet 2019 is a mineral statement from Louvois Grand Cru. Clear, precise, linden flower, mirabelle, subtle spice. On the palate lively acidity, yellow fruits, fine marmalade. The blocked MLF and avoidance of wood let the minerality of the terroir shine through clearly.

Facts

Criterion Value
Official Name Champagne Guy de Chassey
Former Name Lucien Beaufort (from third generation)
Category RM (Récoltant Manipulant)
Address 1 Place de la Demi Lune, 51150 Louvois
Region Montagne de Reims
Cru Status Grand Cru (Louvois)
Management Marie Odile de Chassey, Ingrid (7th generation)
Vineyard Area 9.5 ha
Villages Louvois (GC), Bouzy (GC), Tauxières-Mutry (PC 99%)
Cépages 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
Soil Argilo-calcaire, south and southeast exposure
Approach Viticulture raisonnée, HVE-certified
MLF blocked
Vinification Stainless steel tanks (18°C), partly oak barrels (Antide)
Dosage approx. 6.5-8 g/l (based on tasted cuvées)
Website champagne-guy-de-chassey.com
Instagram @champagneguydechassey
Phone +33 3 26 57 04 45

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

Cuvées

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