Benoît Lahaye
The name of Benoît Lahaye is among the leading biodynamic vignerons of Champagne, known for the genuine and identity-driven style of his sparkling wines. We are in the territory of Bouzy, within the Montagne de Reims area, home to the best Pinot Noir in all of Champagne. The Récoltant Manipulant Benoît Lahaye began his adventure in the champenoise world in 1993, after taking over the family vineyards and starting a gradual conversion to organic farming and then to biodynamics. Benoît, a descendant of a family of winemakers active since 1930, is supported by his wife Valérie and their children, in a family framework that has only one goal in mind: to produce the highest quality while respecting the health of the environment and the identity of the territory.
Benoît Lahaye's vineyard property extends over just 5 hectares, mainly located between the Grand Cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay, with about 90% of the vineyards reserved for Pinot Noir, complemented by Chardonnay for the remaining part. The vines have an average age of 40 years, and in 2003 the producer obtained the organic certification, with the biodynamic one arriving instead in 2010. For soil cultivation, Benoît relies on the help of his beloved horse Tamise, which allows him to stir the soil without compacting it. In the cellar, old barriques and oak barrels are used, and even terracotta amphorae, while the fermentations are strictly entrusted to indigenous yeasts, with the complete carrying out of malolactic fermentation as well. Often the vigneron does not even add sulfur to his wines and after the long aging period on the lees, the sparkling wines are not dosed or are dosed very low, thus respecting the identity of the terroir as much as possible.
The Champagnes signed by Benoît Lahaye have a rich, refined, and vibrant style, with a quality that places the vigneron in the Olympus of Champagne, a reference point for small producers of the Montagne de Reims. These Champagnes are particularly appreciated by purists, who will find in the glass all the minerality of the Montagne de Reims.
The name of Benoît Lahaye is among the leading biodynamic vignerons of Champagne, known for the genuine and identity-driven style of his sparkling wines. We are in the territory of Bouzy, within the Montagne de Reims area, home to the best Pinot Noir in all of Champagne. The Récoltant Manipulant Benoît Lahaye began his adventure in the champenoise world in 1993, after taking over the family vineyards and starting a gradual conversion to organic farming and then to biodynamics. Benoît, a descendant of a family of winemakers active since 1930, is supported by his wife Valérie and their children, in a family framework that has only one goal in mind: to produce the highest quality while respecting the health of the environment and the identity of the territory.
Benoît Lahaye's vineyard property extends over just 5 hectares, mainly located between the Grand Cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay, with about 90% of the vineyards reserved for Pinot Noir, complemented by Chardonnay for the remaining part. The vines have an average age of 40 years, and in 2003 the producer obtained the organic certification, with the biodynamic one arriving instead in 2010. For soil cultivation, Benoît relies on the help of his beloved horse Tamise, which allows him to stir the soil without compacting it. In the cellar, old barriques and oak barrels are used, and even terracotta amphorae, while the fermentations are strictly entrusted to indigenous yeasts, with the complete carrying out of malolactic fermentation as well. Often the vigneron does not even add sulfur to his wines and after the long aging period on the lees, the sparkling wines are not dosed or are dosed very low, thus respecting the identity of the terroir as much as possible.
The Champagnes signed by Benoît Lahaye have a rich, refined, and vibrant style, with a quality that places the vigneron in the Olympus of Champagne, a reference point for small producers of the Montagne de Reims. These Champagnes are particularly appreciated by purists, who will find in the glass all the minerality of the Montagne de Reims.
