Benard-Pitois - Mareuil-sur-Ay

Yes another Mareuil-sur-Ay producer, and why not, this little village is a sweet spot for excellent value authentic Champagnes from nearly Grand Cru vineyards – 99%. Laurent Benard has 10 ha of vineyards (3ha of which he sells to Bollinger and Pol Roger) spreading across prestigious Cote des Blancs Grand Crus and also Marne Valley 1er Crus, consisting of Chardonnay 16%, Pinot Meunier 17% and Pinot Noir 67%. Vineyards in Mareuil-sur-Ay, Mutigny, Avenay Val d'Or, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Bergeres les Vertus, with Reconstituted Grape Must (RCGM) being used for the ‘liqueur de dosage’ in favour of sugar. . Use of sympathetic oak fermentation and maturation for the Chardonnay components of the various cuvees.

A prestigious array of vineyards allows Laurent to produce an impressive range of terroir focused wines with only a hint of subtle oak allowed to add complexity and elegance. He vinifies his different vineyard parcels in small tanks which gives him better control of selecting his final blends. After many experiments he only uses reconstituted grape must for dosage. And he is easy to locate – being just outside of the village on the bypass road to Bouzy. They are a very friendly family – always eager to look after passing guests.