September 16, 2025
A trip to the Champagne region wouldn’t be complete without a visit to some grower champagne houses. Here are some of our recommendations. Nicolas Maillart Les Coupes Franc de Pied Blanc de Noirs 2012
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Nicolas Maillart is a family run business, it is now the turn of the ninth generation to take the reins, in the form of Nicolas, who returned in 2003 after completing his studies in engineering and oenology. Nicolas is building on an almost three hundred year-old tradition and maintaining the house philosophy of bringing out the full potential of the Champagne terroirs in the wines. The Maison only have vines in the Premier and Grand Cru villages of the Montagne de Reims, mostly planted halfway up the hillside, ideally located for producing excellent quality wines. In keeping with the region’s typicity, their vineyards contain a high proportion of Pinot Noir vines (75%) together with Chardonnay. Maillart is one of the first Champagne estates labelled both HEV, High Environmental Value and Sustainable Viticulture. These awards recognise their environmental and economic performance taking account of biodiversity, pest strategy and water management.
Nicolas Maillart sorts his wines according to the type of soil and age of the vines. The wines ferment in oak barrels and don't undergo malolactic fermentation. This natural approach is the key in the cellar as well; the wines are fermented using wild yeasts and are neither filtered nor cold-stabilised.
The Champagne Franc de Pied 2012 by Nicolas Maillart is from a south facing vineyard of Pinot Noir, the vines being un-grafted, now something incredibly rare and it is only the sandy soils that keep the Phylloxera at bay. The vines were planted from "massal selection" in 1973 in the Lieu-Dit (vineyard) Les-Coupes in the village of Ecueil, classified as Premier Cru. The grapes are harvested and pressed and the juice is vinified in wooden vats and frequently undergoes stirring/battonage before being rested at least 3 months on lees before bottling in April following the harvest.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Premier Cru | Lieu-Dit (Vineyard) Les-Coupes
Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir from un-grafted vines planted in 1973
Fermentation: 100% barrel fermented and no malolactic fermentation
Lees Ageing: 7 years
Disgorged: June 2020
No Dosage
Production: 3651 bottles
Drink: Now to 2030
Tasting Note: A very clear, fresh, precise and delicate fruit on the nose. Highly finessed, very elegant and terribly salty Pinot Noir with a very long, complex yet pure, tensioned and very long finish. This is well structured and persistent.
Nicolas Maillart sorts his wines according to the type of soil and age of the vines. The wines ferment in oak barrels and don't undergo malolactic fermentation. This natural approach is the key in the cellar as well; the wines are fermented using wild yeasts and are neither filtered nor cold-stabilised.
The Champagne Franc de Pied 2012 by Nicolas Maillart is from a south facing vineyard of Pinot Noir, the vines being un-grafted, now something incredibly rare and it is only the sandy soils that keep the Phylloxera at bay. The vines were planted from "massal selection" in 1973 in the Lieu-Dit (vineyard) Les-Coupes in the village of Ecueil, classified as Premier Cru. The grapes are harvested and pressed and the juice is vinified in wooden vats and frequently undergoes stirring/battonage before being rested at least 3 months on lees before bottling in April following the harvest.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Premier Cru | Lieu-Dit (Vineyard) Les-Coupes
Grape Varieties: 100% Pinot Noir from un-grafted vines planted in 1973
Fermentation: 100% barrel fermented and no malolactic fermentation
Lees Ageing: 7 years
Disgorged: June 2020
No Dosage
Production: 3651 bottles
Drink: Now to 2030
Tasting Note: A very clear, fresh, precise and delicate fruit on the nose. Highly finessed, very elegant and terribly salty Pinot Noir with a very long, complex yet pure, tensioned and very long finish. This is well structured and persistent.
