Guillaume Sergent
| Vigneron | Guillaume Sergent |
| Location | Vrigny (Marne) |
| Size of Domaine | 1.5 ha |
| Terroir | Continental climate with oceanic influence. Sand and clay-limestone over chalk bedrock. Gentle slope. 80-120m altitude. |
| Viticulture | Certified organic (Ecocert) |
| View Guillaume Sergent wines ↓ |
Few people have heard of Guillaume Sergent today, but this is a name that is likely to be much better known in the near future.
Sergent’s family has been growing vines in the area around Vrigny since at least the mid-nineteenth century, and Guillaume, a trained oenologist, took over the family estate in 2008, dividing it with his brother (who sells his grapes to Moët & Chandon). He farms a total of just 1.5ha, spread over eight parcels in the villages of Vrigny and Coulommes. In this area, the soils are notably sandy: the lower slopes of Vrigny, where Egly-Ouriet’s meunier vines are planted, lie mostly on limestone and chalk, but the higher slopes near the forest (facing east/north-east) are built on deep sand, and this is where most of Guillaume’s vineyards are located.
Guillaume’s views on viticulture are decidedly contemporary, without being dogmatic. He used to say, "I’m not organic, I’m not biodynamic, I’m not raisonnée", but finally applied for organic certification in 2019. He follows the lunar calendar for many vineyard operations, most of his parcels are planted with natural cover crops for maximum biodiversity, plant-based tisanes as well as bouillie bordelaise are used against mildew, and he explains, "I just try to work the vines as best as I can, with respect for the plant and respect for the soil."
As he has no facilities or cellars of his own, Guillaume continues to press his wines at the Vrigny co-operative, using one of the co-op’s pneumatic presses. The wine is fermented and aged in 400ltr barrels that are four to six years of age which after some experiments he prefers to 228ltr barriques. "In the 400ltr barrels, the wine is fresher and more upright, with more pronounced minerality", he says. Guillaume is very sensitive to the imprint of oak on the juice – he only waits for the malos to be completed before bottling off (January to April). He considers that a prolonged oak ageing is not necessary for wines made on sandy soil, "élevage in barrel is for Burgundians, not Champenois", he says jokingly, "I think that in this terroir, my wine is a little swallowed up if there's too much wood. It's easily overwhelmed."
The still wines ferment with indigenous yeasts, and they are bottled off without any filtering, fining or cold stabilisation. SO2 is relatively low, as he typically adds it once at pressing. He looks for around 5 bar of pressure using a 'liqueur de tirage' at 21-22g/l for the secondary fermentation. The champagnes spend a minimum of 15 months ageing in bottle and he doses at 2.5g/l using MCR.
Guillaume Sergent Wines
PRÉS DE DIEU (2022)
1er Cru
100% Chardonnay
100% Chardonnay (12.5% alc.)
Prés de Dieu is sourced from two parcels that are harvested and pressed together: Les Prés in Vrigny 1er Cru, an east-facing vineyard on sandy soils, and Les Vignes Dieu, a south-facing parcel in Coulommes 1er Cru on a chalkier terroir. The still wine was vinified in 3-7yo 228ltr barrels and 500ltr demi-muids with malos completed. The fragrant floral fruitiness typical of sandy soils is gracefully balanced and intensely site-expressive, and even in its youth, it demonstrated a fine complexity and detail. This is an exciting wine that has benefited from further bottle ageing. Disgorged 07/25 - Dosage 2.5g/l.
BOSSA NOVA
Vrigny 1er Cru
50% Pinot Noir, 50% Pinot Meunier
50% Pinot Noir, 50% Pinot Meunier (12.5% alc.)
The Bossa Nova cuvée (previously named Chemin des Chappes) is a blend of three plots in Vrigny, planted by massal selection in 1972 and 1982: the NE-facing Le Grand Chemin planted on sand, the west-facing Les Chappes on shallow chalky soil, and Les Prières on deeper clay. The still wine was vinified in 3-8yo 228-500ltr barrels and the champagne aged for 15 months 'sur lattes'. The diversity of soils and exposures makes for a complete champagne that punches well above its weight (given the price). Full and silky, sustained by refreshing acidity, this is highly drinkable and represents outstanding value – the perfect apéritif. This bottling is based on the 2023 vintage, with some reserve wines. It was disgorged in 07/25 with a dosage of 2.5g/l.
PATAPHYSIQUE 2019
Vrigny 1er Cru
100% Pinot Meunier
100% Pinot Meunier (12% alc.)
Pataphysics is a mock philosophy invented in France in the late 19th century. Known as the 'science of exceptions and imaginary solutions', it explores phenomena beyond metaphysics, using satirical logic to parody science and academic rigour. In the 1950s, Pataphysicians (including famous French poet Boris Vian) made a habit of setting up camp in Vrigny to escape Paris for the summer. This cuvée is made from 1954 and 1972 vines that caused Guillaume many sleepless nights – "they were extremely difficult to work and unhappy vines; the wines were disappointing until the day I decided to throw out the rulebook and let go completely, working by intuition, guided by the plant!" he explains. Deep sand (from the Thanetian and Ypresian ages) is reputedly the ideal terroir for old-vine pinot meunier (sometimes ungrafted). The champagne was bottled with a low 18g/l sugar for the secondary fermentation – only four to five bars of pressure to suit the wine’s vinous quality. Dense, powerful, concentrated, it has an incredible energy; it is electric and simply outstanding. Disgorged 07/25 – Non Dosé.