A winemaker in Champagne who says he doesn't want to make champagne? That's Billy Doussot, winemaker at Domaine Doussot-Bourdot. The champagnes from the 2021 vintage are the first that he is bringing onto the market. Although his family has been growing grapes for some time, the grapes have been sold so far. Billy cultivates 8.5 hectares, of which 1 hectare is Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, in Loches sur Ources and Essoyes, which is located on the Aube near Burgundy.

And of course he produces champagne. However, he does not want to hide behind the image associated with it, but rather to produce authentic (sparkling) wines from Champagne, i.e. to bring the terroir of his vineyards to the bottle. To this end, he relies on natural cultivation of his vineyards, uses compost and seeds and does not use artificial sprays. Billy allows the grapes to fully ripen in order to produce aromatic and balanced Brut Nature champagnes. The base wines for this mature for 10 months in small oak barrels and are neither fined nor filtered. 

This results in powerful champagnes with juicy and ripe fruit, and the wood maturation is also noticeable with a fine creaminess. Already complex, yet wonderfully accessible champagnes that have a long life ahead of them. 

Facts: R.M., Loches-sur-Ource, Côte des Bar, 8.5 hectares