At the very western end of Champagne, almost exactly halfway between Reims and Paris, lie the small villages of Bonneil and Azy sur Marne. The vineyards of these two villages stretch out like a natural amphitheatre, have an ideal exposure to the south and become unusually steep for Champagne towards the top. This is where Alexandre Grimée owns just one hectare of vines, which were planted by his grandparents in 1973. Alexandre followed in their footsteps in 2014 when he decided to become a winemaker.

Alexandre describes himself as a ‘craftsman of life on one hectare’, which summarises his approach: he cultivates the land entirely on his own, with respect and humility for the living soil. He is not inactive in the cellar, but accompanies his wines with restraint so that each vintage can find its expression in the bottle. As a consequence of this work, the domaine has been certified organic since 2023.

Alexandre only grows Meunier in his vineyards, which he ferments spontaneously and vinifies in stainless steel to preserve the freshness and characteristics of the grape variety. He blocks the malolactic fermentation, resulting in exciting, powerful champagnes, balanced between the flavour of the Meunier and a refreshing minerality.

Facts: R.M., Azy sur Marne, Vallée de la Marne, 1 hectare