Champagne Dosnon

There are around 2,000 growers in the Champagne region who make their own Champagne.

The Aube’s Champagne vineyards are located in five valleys. The closest to Troyes is the Sarce valley. The vineyards start in the village of Avirey Lingey. It’s here that Champagne Dosnon is based.

Davy Dosnon had spent a year in Burgundy learning wine making. He returned to take charge of his grandfather’s 1 ha of vines. The produce was originally just sold to the big houses. Davy began to make his own Champagne in his spare time and because people liked it they told him he should start his own house.

Champagne Dosnon was started in 2004. Davy’s partner is Nicolas Laugerotte. He owns 2.15 ha in Avirey Lingey, Polisot and Urville that give him 16,000 kg of grapes. He also buys 30,000 kg of grapes from growers in the Côte des Bars. He works with mainly pinot noir and chardonnay. Davy uses no chemicals as he wants the vines roots to go deep into the subsoil that’s the same as the vineyards of Chablis. This keeps the minerality in the grapes.

The juice is transferred directly after pressing to 228 l Burgundy oak barrels. The house has 200 of them which are stored in buildings above ground.  It’s here the two fermentations take place. Vintage Champagnes can stay in the barrels for up to 9 years. Annual production is 40,000 bottles.

Some wine critics have complained that the labels of non-vintage Champagnes give sparse information about the contents of the bottles. Champagne Dosnon gives the date of disgorgement because the longer the Champagne ages after this process the better the taste. The house will only sell Champagne two months after disgorgement.  It also gives information about dosage to let people know about the level of sweetness.

The house already sells to 17 countries with the main markets being France and England. It has become very popular in Japan. They want to expand their market to include Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Thailand and the Philippines.

Champagne Dosnon doesn’t offer cellar visits and tastings. If you want further information please contact: n.laugerotte@Champagne-dosnon-lepage.com

Written by Jon Catt