Grapes: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Meunier

Thibault Legrand joined his parents in their Vallée de la Marne Rive Droite vineyards in 2007, continuing to sell fruit to the local coop as his father and grandfather had done. Thibault believes geology plays the greatest role in determining a wine’s identity. Deeply inspired by his father’s life’s work and passion for digging caves in search of fossilized shells from 45 million years ago, Thibault chose to vinify and bottle his wines according to different geological strata from the Lutetian period.

After bottling, all Legrand Latour Champagnes are aged on the cork for 30-40 months in the family caves, which maintain perfect humidity and temperature. Because the exchange of energy between a wine and its environment is foundational to Thibault’s philosophy, he chooses to do all riddling and disgorging by hand (à la volée). 

Eocene includes all geologic periods that formed the land 34-56 million years ago. From vineyards grown in clay-loamy, sandy, and green-clay soils in the village of Verneuil, this 50/50 blend of Chardonnay and Meunier is fine-tuned and energetic with lovely weight and length.