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 Intégral Zéro Dosage Champagne from François Secondé is made exclusively from parcels located in Sillery, one of Champagne’s few Grand Cru-rated villages. Nestled at the foot of the Montagne de Reims, the vineyards benefit from ideal east and southeast exposures, on well-ventilated mid-slopes protected from climatic extremes. These parcels offer great varietal balance and precision, where Pinot Noir and Chardonnay express their full potential. This carefully selected location allows for a pure, unaltered expression of terroir—essential for a non-dosé Champagne that relies entirely on the quality of its origin.
Terroir
The grapes grow on deep chalk soils, mixed with surface marl and silt—classic features of the Sillery Grand Cru terroir. Chalk acts as a natural sponge, regulating moisture and temperature, offering balanced vine nutrition. It also brings marked minerality and freshness—key elements for a zero-dosage wine. Pinot Noir thrives here with structure and depth, while Chardonnay brings tension and brightness. This demanding yet expressive terroir is perfectly suited to a pure, clean style like Intégral, showcasing clarity, energy, and terroir-driven precision.
In the vineyard
The vineyard is managed under sustainable viticulture, with full respect for nature and soil life. Soils are worked mechanically without herbicides or synthetic chemicals. Natural grassing promotes microbial life and biodiversity. Vineyard work follows a gentle, minimal-intervention approach, with careful pruning, canopy management, and observation of plant cycles. Each parcel is monitored individually to ensure healthy, ripe, and expressive grapes. The goal: to produce fruit of such purity and balance that the finished wine requires no dosage, no correction—just truth in the glass.
Harvest
Grapes for this cuvée are harvested entirely by hand, with careful timing to achieve perfect ripeness. Harvesting is done in small crates to avoid damage, and sorting is carried out directly in the vineyard. Only the finest, healthiest grapes are selected—essential for a non-dosage Champagne where nothing can be hidden. Pressing is gentle and done in fractions to retain only the best juice. From vine to press, the process is guided by precision and respect for the fruit’s natural balance and expression of the Grand Cru terroir.
Winemaking
Intégral Zéro Dosage is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with separate vinification by parcel and grape variety to preserve identity. No chaptalization or fining is performed.
Ageing
Ageing on fine lees for several months enhances the wine’s structure and complexity. After bottling, the second fermentation is followed by more than 36 months of lees ageing. No sugar is added at disgorgement. This zero-dosage method reveals the wine’s raw elegance, highlighting the precision of the vineyard work and the purity of the Sillery Grand Cru terroir.
Varietals
Pinot Noir : 67%
Chardonnay : 33%
Specifications
Age of vines : 40 years old
Serving
Serve at 10–12°C.
Ageing potential
10 to 15 years
Tasting
This Champagne delivers a taut, vibrant and crystalline expression of Sillery. The nose opens with fresh citrus, green apple, chalk, and white flowers. With aeration, it reveals notes of raw almond, white pepper, and lemon zest. On the palate, the attack is sharp, the mousse fine, and the structure linear and mineral. The finish is long, saline, and remarkably clean. This is a Champagne of energy and truth—raw yet elegant—showcasing the terroir in its purest form. A wine for purists who seek precision, tension, and authenticity.
Visual appearance
Pale gold with a fine bead.
At nose
Mineral purity with floral hints and nuances of baked goods.
On the palate
Dry and precise, showcasing the natural freshness and complexity of the terroir. Elegant and uncompromising.
Food pairings
With its razor-sharp freshness and unmasked purity, this Champagne shines with clean, product-focused dishes. It elevates sea bass tartare with lime and olive oil, enhancing both citrus and saline notes. It also pairs beautifully with steamed cod and crunchy vegetables, where its tension complements the delicacy of the dish. For dessert, it surprises with pink grapefruit and basil granita—light, zesty, and refreshing. This is a Champagne built for modern gastronomy: minimal, textural, and laser-focused on freshness and product integrity.
