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 cuvée “Les Petites Vignes” is sourced from a carefully selected plot located in the village of Puisieulx, a Grand Cru site neighboring Sillery, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. Though lesser-known, Puisieulx is celebrated for its outstanding Pinot Noir. The “Les Petites Vignes” parcel sits mid-slope with gentle eastern exposure, enjoying ideal morning sunlight and excellent drainage. Its small size and isolation allow for precise, hands-on vineyard management year after year. This cuvée is a tribute to the purest expression of this place, capturing the elegance and minerality of this hidden Grand Cru terroir.
Terroir
The soil in Puisieulx is predominantly Campanian chalk, layered with fine silts and traces of marl. This composition allows for excellent water retention, natural thermal regulation, and a refined mineral structure. Pinot Noir thrives here, revealing rare finesse—combining aromatic intensity, freshness, and vertical structure. The terroir imparts linear tension, salinity, and a persistent mineral finish. It leaves a clear, subtle signature on the wine, fully captured in this precise and limited-production cuvée.
In the vineyard
Vineyard work follows sustainable, low-impact practices. No herbicides are used, soils are plowed mechanically, and grassing is controlled to support microbial life and biodiversity. All work is done manually and tailored to each vintage’s needs. Particular care is given to canopy balance, yield control, and ripeness. This artisanal approach—on a true micro-parcel—ensures healthy, concentrated grapes that are ideal for crafting a wine of exceptional precision and terroir expression.
Harvest
Harvest is done entirely by hand, with careful sorting in the vineyard. Pinot Noir is picked at optimal ripeness, when sugar, acidity, and phenolic balance align. Grapes are collected in small crates to avoid crushing, then gently pressed to extract only the purest juice. Fractional pressing allows the finest juice to be vinified separately, preserving delicacy and terroir expression. This meticulous harvest process captures the essence of “Les Petites Vignes” and ensures a Champagne that faithfully reflects its Grand Cru origin.
Winemaking
“Les Petites Vignes” is vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, with no fining, and a slow fermentation to preserve freshness and purity. The wine is aged on fine lees for several months to build texture and complexity.
Ageing
After bottling, secondary fermentation is followed by over 36 months of lees ageing. No oak is used to retain the wine’s clarity and mineral edge. The Brut dosage is light and measured (around 5 g/L), used only to support the wine’s natural balance and structure without altering its tension.
Varietals
Pinot Noir : 50%
Chardonnay : 50%
Specifications
Age of vines : 56 years old
Serving
Serve at 10–12°C (50–54°F).
Ageing potential
5 to 10 years
Tasting
“Les Petites Vignes” Blanc de Noirs offers an elegant, mineral expression of Grand Cru Pinot Noir. The nose is clean and precise, with notes of fresh red berries (raspberry, redcurrant), acacia blossom, and flinty minerality. On the palate, the attack is lively, the mousse fine, with chalky tension and a linear, almost crystalline mouthfeel. The finish is long, slightly saline, with a touch of noble bitterness and balance. This is a subtle yet assertive Champagne—perfect for those who seek purity, precision, and the true voice of terroir.
At nose
Ripe fruit, subtle vanilla, and hints of chalky minerality.
On the palate
Refined and mineral-driven, with layered complexity and elegant texture.
Food pairings
This cuvée pairs beautifully with refined and product-driven cuisine. It shines alongside a scallop carpaccio with lime and hazelnut oil, where its tension complements the delicacy of the dish. It also works perfectly with rosé veal and celeriac purée, echoing the wine’s depth and finesse. For dessert, it surprises with a rhubarb tart and almond cream, where freshness and structure meet. A gastronomic Champagne for precise, elegant pairings—equally at home with sea, land, or delicately sweet dishes.
Classic food and wine pairings
French cuisine
