Champagne Delamotte | Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Champagne Delamotte is not only one of the oldest champagne houses, but also, arguably, one of the most refined in style and pedigree. Established in 1760 in the prestigious village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne Delamotte is Chardonnay’s most dedicated advocate.
Indeed, most of Delamotte’s vineyards are planted with Chardonnay, all of which enjoy the exalted grand cru status common to the very best Champagnes. The Blanc de Blancs cuvées (non-vintage and vintage) are the stars of the show, both tantalisingly rich yet delicate. This is hardly surprising, considering Delamotte’s status as sister house of the legendary Salon Champagne, perhaps the world’s finest and rarest Blanc de Blancs Champagne, produced only in exceptional vintages.
Since its foundation in 1760, Champagne Delamotte has remained largely in family ownership, an important factor that has enabled Delamotte to retain its small-scale ethos and ‘terroir’ focus. Now part of the larger Laurent-Perrier Champagne house, along with sister-house Champagne Salon, Champagne Delamotte is run separately by a small, dynamic team headed by Didier Depond, whose passion, energy and vision have proved pivotal to the success of both Delamotte and Salon in recent years.
Michel Fauconnet is chef de cave, and makes the blends not only at Champagne Delamotte but Salon too. He has worked at Delamotte and Salon for over 25 years, 20 years of which were spent under the tutelage of longstanding oenologist Alain Terrier.
Champagne Delamotte’s growers are key to the operation. While Delamotte owns some vineyards, it also sources grapes from grand cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs. Most of these family growers have worked with Delamotte for generations and have long experience of producing their grapes to Delamotte’s exacting standards. This offers Delamotte enormous benefits in terms of quality, style and consistency.
