WINERY SUMMARY

In the premier cru vineyards of Rilly-la-Montagne, Vilmart & Cie stands as Champagne's most distinctive grower-producer, where Laurent Champs crafts oak-driven masterpieces from 11 meticulously tended hectares on the northern slopes of Montagne de Reims. This family estate represents the pinnacle of artisanal champagne production, where tradition meets innovation in every bottle.

Founded in 1890, Vilmart & Cie has remained steadfastly committed to estate-grown excellence across five generations. Under Laurent Champs' visionary leadership, the house has pioneered a unique winemaking philosophy that embraces oak fermentation—a rarity in Champagne that creates wines of extraordinary depth and complexity. Unlike neighboring producers focused on Pinot Noir, Vilmart's vineyards comprise 60% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir, and 4% Meunier, reflecting Champs' belief in Chardonnay's potential on these chalky soils. The estate's entire 11-hectare holding lies within an 800-meter radius, ensuring unprecedented attention to detail and terroir expression.

Vilmart's flagship wines showcase this distinctive approach brilliantly. The Coeur de Cuvée, crafted from 65-year-old ungrafted vines in the prized Blanches Voies vineyard, represents ultra-premium champagne at its finest. The Grand Cellier d'Or, aged extensively in oak barrels, demonstrates how traditional Burgundian techniques can elevate champagne to investment-grade status. These limited-production cuvées command respect from collectors worldwide, with critics consistently rating them among Champagne's elite. The house's commitment to low yields, hand-harvesting, and extended lees aging creates wines of remarkable longevity and complexity that justify their premium positioning.

Visiting Vilmart & Cie offers an intimate glimpse into artisanal champagne production rarely available elsewhere. The historic cellars beneath Rilly-la-Montagne provide the perfect setting for private tastings, where guests can experience the full range of Vilmart's oak-influenced style. Laurent Champs personally conducts exclusive tours by appointment, sharing insights into his revolutionary approach to champagne winemaking. The experience includes tastings directly from barrel and access to library vintages unavailable elsewhere. These highly sought-after visits must be arranged well in advance, as Vilmart maintains strict limits on visitor numbers to preserve the intimate, artisanal atmosphere.

For discerning collectors seeking champagne's cutting edge, Vilmart & Cie represents an essential discovery. Contact The En Primeur Club to secure allocation access to these coveted releases and arrange exclusive cellar visits with Laurent Champs himself.