Emmanuel Lassaigne has led his family’s estate since 1999, continuing a legacy rooted in Montgueux, in the Aube region of Champagne. This petite domaine comprises 4.7 hectares—3.5 hectares owned and the remainder leased. Montgueux is distinguished by its chalk-rich soils, a continuation of the famed Côte des Blancs vein. While the Aube is typically associated with Meunier, the Lassaigne estate is dedicated exclusively to Chardonnay.

Each parcel is vinified separately, with wines disgorged by hand and bottled without dosage. “Le Cotet” is a non-vintage cuvée crafted from 40-year-old vines planted on a single, steep, chalky plot of the same name. True to Emmanuel’s philosophy, only indigenous yeasts are used. The grapes undergo malolactic fermentation and are aged in a mix of new and seasoned barrels for 12 to 24 months prior to secondary fermentation.