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Champagne Delamotte is the fifth-oldest Champagne house in the region, founded in 1760, and located in the heart of the Côte des Blancs in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Sister house and contiguous to Champagne Salon, Delamotte produces no more than 50,000 cases annually, ensuring that the vineyards dominate the expression of Delamotte’s wines, defining the house’s elegant, mineral style. Through hard work in the vineyards and long aging in the cellars, Champagne Delamotte has come to be recognized as one of the leading Champagne producers in the Côte des Blancs.
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Winemaker Michel Fauconnet
Champagne Salon and Champagne Delamotte wines are made separately at each house in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger by chef de caves Michel Fauconnet, who succeeded veteran winemaker Alain Terrier in early 2004. Fauconnet was assistant chef de caves under Terrier for 20 years, and Terrier remains in charge of overall grape supplies for the entire Laurent-Perrier group.
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Winemaking
Using modern press and vinification techniques combined with traditional Champagne methods, Champagne Delamotte’s winemaking is a simple translation of high-quality fruit and long-aged wines. Delamotte’s grapes are hand-harvested and hand-sorted by people who have been working with the company for years. In order to produce the highest-quality must, Delamotte presses its grapes using the Wilmes compressed air system. Unlike Salon, malolactic fermentation does occur with Delamotte wines. Delamotte disgorges every three to four months.
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The Wines
Vintage Blanc de Blancs
• 100% Chardonnay
• All grapes from grand cru vineyards located primarily in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Oger
• Gently aged sur lie for an average of seven years
• An attractive pale yellow color with a strong and fine bead
• Gingerbread, flowers, stone fruits (peach and apricot)
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Non-Vintage Brut
• 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier
• All Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes come from grand cru vineyards. The Chardonnay is sourced from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize and Oger. The Pinot Noir comes from vineyards on the side of the Marne river in Bouzy, Tours-sur-Marne and Ambonnay.
• Pinot Meunier from Vallée de la Marne
• Inherits wine produced but not used by Salon. In years when a Salon vintage is not declared, this amounts to the entire harvest
• Aged for a three years sur lie (legal minimum for Brut Champagne is 15 months)
• Powerful but not aggressive with a pleasant refreshing taste, well-rounded and smooth with a distinct, fruity finish
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Non-Vintage Rosé
• Blend of 80% Pinot Noir from Ambonnay, Bouzy and Tours sur Marne and 20% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
• All grapes come from grand cru vineyards
• Inherits wine produced but not used by Salon. In years when a Salon vintage is not declared, this amounts to the entire harvest
• Produced using the traditional saignée method, extracting color and complexity from the skins during fermentation. This method is rarely used because it is a difficult one, however, it brings elegance and structure to the wine.
• Nice pale rose color with tiny bubbles
• Strong red fruit aromas and flavors, vivacious, supple, round with a hint of acidity
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