GASTON CHIQUET

Gaston Chiquet Champagne

The Gaston Chiquet company is located in Dizy, a small town east of the Vallée de la Marne, the home of the Pinot Meunieur selected. Nicolas Chiquet planted his first vineyard in 1746, 8 winemakers have followed since then. In the early 1920s, the brothers Fernard and Gaston decided to set up their own company: the desire to manage their grapes, working them with the Champenoise method and marketing the wines was a sign of audacity and courage for that time. In 1935 the two brothers split, Gaston set up his own company and together with his son Claude, they decided to extend the property by purchasing land in the municipalities of Ay and Hautuillers. Today the company, led by the heirs Antoine and Nicolas Chiquet who have been able to carry out the activity in compliance with the ancient rules and biodiversity of the area, has 23 hectares where the media ethnicity is 27 years old. The mainly cultivated vines are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunieur according to the particularities of each terroir. Chardonnay is present around 40% and is grown on the terroirs of Dizy, Hautvillers and Aÿ. It is said that Gaston Chiquet is a real precursor of the grape variety. After knowing how to select the vines of Chardonnay for his terroirs of the Vallée de la Marne, he was the first to face the cuvée called Blanc de Blancs d’Aÿ. In short, a white grape variety on a terroir historically reserved for Pinots Noirs. Pinot Noir is grown on about 20%, while Pinot Meunier is about 40% and is the traditional grape variety of the Vallée de la Marne territories. As a récoltant-manipulant, the company takes care of carefully following all the working phases: the collection of properties, the harvest, the vinification and the control of its wines. After a soft pressing of the grapes, the flower must is separated and the vinification takes place in small stainless steel vats according to the different parcels, vinified separately. The permanence on the yeasts is variable, from a minimum period of 2 to 10 years. Gaston Chiquet's wines are rich in natural aromas from the specifics of the terroir and are provided by a great balance, given by the particular composition of the pH with the soil where there is a combination of mineral salts, acids and glycerin. They are quality Champagne that has chosen harmonious elegance.