Champagne Sophie Launois

Sophie was living in Milan when she inherited a few plots from her uncle. She first told her mother to sell the plots but was persuaded to try life as a vigneron. That is exactly what she is today and we  value talking about vine growing with Sophie.

The terroir of Oger

Oger has two neighbors: Avize to the north and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger to the south. Here the bedrock is pure cretaceous chalk facing east in the amphitheater of Oger which yields some of the ripest grapes in Côte des Blancs. Apart from a gentle minerality the flowery elegance is a signature of Oger.

In the vineyard

Sophie has vines in the plot called Le Moulin which is very close to the border of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and on level with Chétillons on the Mesnil-side. The plot was planted with Chardonnay in 1947 by her grandfather. She cultivates her vineyards without the use of chemicals and with great care. She is passionate about training her vines and believes Taille Chablis is a very elegant method of training - elegance is key when it comes to Sophie.

In the cellar

When we first visited Sophie she rented space in a cellar for her few barrels of wine but today she has a beautiful cuverie of her own. She brings her grapes to a friend who helps her press the grapes which is done with the utmost care as part of her style. Her wines are fermented by natural yeast in old wooden barrels and they stay in the barrel that are topped-up regularly to avoid excessive oxidation. The wine stays sur lattes with cork and agraffe - the time sur lattes varies according to her taste from vintage to vintage. 

The wines of Sophie

Sophie's wine is as stated all about elegance, a great example of Ogers weightless charm. The wine is feather-light, and has a soft mousse. It is so silky and delicate that it seems to float effortlessly on the palate, like a snowflake carried on a gentle breeze… We are personally very fond of her wines!

A new chapter will soon begin with a small plot in Le Breuil which is on the left bank of the river Marne meaning south of the river or Rive Gauche as it is often referred to in Champagne. More specifically, it is in the Vallée du Surmelin. We have so far only experienced vins clair, but it has created high expectations!