Presentation
Based in Sillery one of the few Grand Cru villages in Champagne Champagne François Secondé is a family-run estate that continues a longstanding tradition of excellence. Specializing in Pinot Noir, the emblematic grape of the Montagne de Reims, the domaine crafts elegant and powerful cuvées that showcase this prestigious terroir. The vineyards are cultivated with a sustainable philosophy, emphasizing soil care and optimal grape maturity. Manual harvesting ensures that only the finest clusters are selected, preserving the purity of the fruit. In the cellar, vinification is carried out in stainless steel to retain freshness and vibrancy, while extended lees aging brings aromatic complexity and refined texture. The resulting wines exhibit ripe red fruit aromas, delicate spice, and a long, mineral-driven finish a true expression of Sillery’s noble character.
Location
The Blanc de Blancs Sillery cuvée from François Secondé is crafted exclusively from parcels located in the Grand Cru village of Sillery, at the foot of the Montagne de Reims. While Sillery is traditionally famed for Pinot Noir, its chalk-rich soils offer exceptional conditions for growing Chardonnay. The vines are planted mid-slope, with ideal east and southeast exposure, benefiting from early sun and cool nights that preserve natural acidity. This location enables the production of a Chardonnay with great freshness, minerality, and precision—an elegant expression of this singular Grand Cru terroir.
Terroir
Sillery’s soil consists of deep Campanian chalk, known for its excellent drainage and mineral richness. This chalk allows for deep root penetration, ensuring consistent water access and natural regulation of vine growth. It imparts tension, salinity, and linear structure to the wine. Here, Chardonnay develops with striking clarity, blending floral brightness with textural finesse. The terroir gives the wine a crystalline structure, chalky backbone, and vibrant energy—characteristics that evolve beautifully with age. It’s a terroir of elegance, purity, and sharp definition.
In the vineyard
The Chardonnay vines in Sillery are farmed using sustainable, low-intervention practices. Soils are mechanically worked without herbicides, and controlled grass cover supports biodiversity. Vineyard management is mostly manual, with close monitoring of vine growth stages to ensure optimal maturity. Inputs are minimal and tailored to each vintage’s needs. The goal is to harvest healthy, expressive fruit that reflects the Grand Cru terroir without correction. This approach supports both environmental balance and high-quality, terroir-driven winemaking.
Harvest
Harvesting is done entirely by hand, with strict selection in the vineyard. Chardonnay grapes are picked at optimal ripeness to retain freshness and aromatics. Grapes are collected in small crates to prevent crushing, then gently pressed using slow, fractional pressing to extract only the purest juice. First-press juices are isolated and used exclusively for this cuvée. This precise approach from harvest to press ensures a clean, vibrant base wine that captures the terroir’s essence and supports a pure Blanc de Blancs style.
Winemaking
The Sillery Blanc de Blancs is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with slow fermentations to preserve delicate floral and citrus notes. No fining is performed, and the wine is aged on fine lees for several months without bâtonnage, maintaining precision and energy.
Ageing
After bottling, it undergoes at least 30 months of lees ageing, developing fine bubbles and added complexity. The Brut dosage (around 5 g/L) is carefully calibrated to maintain balance while highlighting the wine’s mineral tension. No oak is used, preserving the purity of fruit and terroir expression.
Varietal
Chardonnay : 100%
Specifications
Age of vines : 63 years old
Serving
Serve at 10–12°C.
Ageing potential
5 to 10 years
Tasting
The Blanc de Blancs Sillery reveals a crisp, mineral-driven expression of Grand Cru Chardonnay. The nose opens with notes of preserved lemon, green apple, white flowers, and wet chalk. With aeration, subtle hints of fresh hazelnut and citrus zest emerge. On the palate, the attack is bright, the mousse fine, and the chalky tension defines the structure. The mouthfeel is linear and elegant, with a long, saline, citrus-laced finish. A vibrant, refined Champagne with strong identity—precise, pure, and full of character.
Visual appearance
Bright, pale yellow with fine, lively bubbles
At nose
Floral (acacia, honeysuckle), candied fruit, fresh and expressive.
Food pairings
This Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs is ideal for refined and creative food pairings. It pairs beautifully with langoustine carpaccio drizzled with almond oil and lime zest—its delicacy echoing the wine’s mineral tension. It also complements poached Bresse chicken served with a light ginger and preserved lemon cream, balancing finesse and roundness. On the sweet side, it finds harmony with roasted pineapple salad infused with vanilla and topped with coconut flakes, enhancing the wine’s fruity brightness and saline finish. A Champagne of precision, made for elegant dishes and nuanced, vibrant pairings.
