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Changes are afoot at this
House, with Philippe Charlemagne handing over the reigns to
his two daughters, Maree and Justine, Maree with a
background in viticulture and winemaking, Justine with a
commercial background. The daughters will be taking a
measured approach to changes over the coming years, and
given the extended lees ageing most of the wines receive,
we’re unlikely to see the results of these changes for some
time. But it is fair to say there is a new energy in the
house and we are very excited to continue our partnership
with the family.
But first, a little history. The House was founded by Guy
Charlemagne himself in 1892, based in the Grand Cru village
of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Champagne Guy Charlemagne has
remained a family affair, with several generations
inheriting Guy’s passion for the terroirs of the Côte des
Blancs. The Côte des Blancs terroir is at the heart of
Champagne Guy Charlemagne’s identity. The vineyards cover
almost 18 hectares, mainly located in villages classified
as Grand Cru, including Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger and
Cramant. The chalky terroir of Côte des Blancs is
particularly well-suited to the cultivation of the
Chardonnay grape variety (around 87% of the House’s harvest
is Chardonnay), enabling the production of Champagnes of great
elegance and characteristic freshness. They are a mainstay
in our cellars and we can’t recommend them highly enough,
especially at the price.
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