Jean Servagnat

The returnee

After studying economics and spending years in Paris and London, Jean Servagnat was drawn back to Champagne. He completed an oenology degree in Avize, the school where the tastings for the Guide Hachette are held every year. In 2015 he bottled his first Champagne of his own. Today he farms 3.5 hectares biodynamically in Coulommes-la-Montagne, Premier Cru, in the heart of the Petite Montagne de Reims.

Meunier country

The microclimate of the Petite Montagne, cool, damp and harsh, is made for Pinot Meunier. The variety that elsewhere is regarded as a stopgap plays the lead role here. Les Meuniers Insoumis, the "rebellious Meuniers", show its potential: 100% Meunier, Brut Nature, without any sugar, full of character and individuality. Nearby, in Villers-aux-Nœuds, Solemme works with a similar philosophy.

Handcrafted in tiny quantities

The grapes are picked by hand, fermentation runs spontaneously with wild yeasts, and the wines are aged in wood and steel. No filtration, minimal sulphur. Galipes de Coulommes, named after the limestone soils, combines 68% Meunier with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from 25-year-old vines. It is a Champagne that shows what is possible when someone works with conviction and without compromise.