Etienne Doue Cuvee Il Etait Une Fois Extra Brut Champagne

Château Etienne Doué is situated in the village of Montgueux within the Aube sub-region of Champagne, France. This rare terroir, hailed as the ‘Montrachet of Champagne,’ boasts pure chalky soils and flint layers, endowing the grapes with pronounced mineral character. The estate was formally established as an independent family winery in 1972 when Etienne Doué took over from his father. It has since been passed to his son Romain Doué, maintaining its pure family-run model.Cultivating just 6 hectares of vineyards, the estate produces approximately 45,000 bottles annually, positioning it as a small-scale boutique producer. All wines are classified as Récoltant-Manipulant (RM), crafted exclusively from 100% estate-grown grapes with no external sourcing. The estate adheres to grass-covered cultivation, hand-picking, and traditional Coquard vertical presses, extracting only the first-press juice to ensure supreme quality. It holds HVE Level 3 High Environmental Value certification, with some vineyards currently transitioning towards organic cultivation.

The cuvées are predominantly crafted from Chardonnay, accounting for a substantial 95% of the blend, complemented by a small proportion of Pinot Noir for the Rosé. Fermentation combines stainless steel tanks with seasoned oak barrels, followed by a minimum of 36 months of secondary ageing in the bottle. Dosage is meticulously controlled within the Extra Brut range, showcasing the purity and structure of Montgueux's terroir. Representative cuvées such as Cuvée Il Était Une Fois embody this very dedication.Montgueux spans a mere 200 hectares, with Etienne Doué occupying less than 3% of this area. Despite its extremely limited production, it offers exceptional value for money. From its fairy-tale-inspired name ‘Once Upon a Time’ to its generational legacy, the estate exemplifies an unwavering commitment to tradition and quality.