For seven generations the Gonet family has tended vineyards in the Champagne region and nurtured a cellar founded in 1783 that lies beneath the family home. Located in the Mesnil-sur-Oger, the Gonet wines stand out among their peers with a minimum of 3 years on the lees, well beyond the aging requirement of 15 months for Champagne. The average age of the family estate vines is between 30 and 40 years, with one historical parcel planted in 1929, at the village entrance of Le Mesnil. One third of all of the Gonet family vineyards lie within this coveted land of Le Mesnil, classified as Grand Cru. The Gonet family continues to strive for improvement in both the vineyards and in the winery with a passionate focus towards sustainability. They are a part of a new group of certified producers under the HVE (High Environmental Value certification, or ‘Haute Valeur Environmentale’ in French). This new certification requires 3 tiers of progress be achieved before becoming certified, with the focus on renewing biodiversity in the vineyards. This practice is part of the new ‘TER’ cuvées from the Gonet family.
- TER Blanc de Blanc Brut NV 100% Chardonnay
- TER Noir Brut NV 1/3 Chardonnay, 1/3 Pinot Noir, 1/3 Pinot Meunier
- 3210 Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut NV 100% Chardonnay
- Grand Cru Millesime 100% Chardonnay
- Belemnita 100% Chardonnay
Pierre Cellier
In 1977, following a request from a loyal customer, Philippe Gonet created the Pierre Cellier brand, naming it after his eldest son and his wife’s family name. The request was for a younger, more vivid wine than the current Gonet releases. It wasn’t until Pierre and his sister, Chantal, took over the business that this special brand was made available to other customers, starting gradually in 2001. The main difference between the two, family estate labels is the aging on lees in bottle. The Gonet wines see a minimum of three years on the lees before disgorgement, whereas the Pierre Cellier wines will spend a minimum of two years on the lees. The shorter amount of time on the lees generally allows for a fruitier, more ‘crowd pleasing’ style, yet it is still longer than the standard requirement in Champagne of 15 months.
- Brut NV
- Brut Rosé NV