Hidden Gems of Champagne: House Du Champagne's Artisanal Treasures

Two bottles on the table, two stories from vignerons who still keep most of the work in their own hands. House Du Champagne sent them over to review honestly, so here we go.

House Du Champagne is a Dutch retailer focused on small Champagne producers. No grandes marques, just houses where the cellar master also walks the vineyard.

How it started

In January 2015, founder Robert opened a welcome bottle from an unknown small producer at an Airbnb in Champagne. That moment turned into a mission. Bring distinctive grower Champagne to the Netherlands, at accessible prices.

Since 2023 the company has been under new ownership. Gerben, Joost, Kiki, and Martine run things now. The premise still holds.

Curation over volume

The portfolio comes directly from small vignerons. Quality over quantity, with room for terroir to come through. Wines are blind-tasted before they enter the selection. The team knows the producers well, which helps if you’re picking a bottle from houses you don’t know yet.

The two bottles

Henri Chauvet, a house since 1890

Four generations of family in Rilly-la-Montagne, just south of Reims. Damien Chauvet and his wife Mathilde run the house today. Fully vertically integrated: vineyard to label, all in-house.

Brut Réserve, technical:

Composition: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir

Aging: minimum 3 years on lees

Dosage: 7 g/l (Brut)

Alcohol: 12.5%

Price: € 31.50

Region: Montagne de Reims

Tasting notes. Pale gold in the glass, fine persistent bead. Nose of toasted brioche, then layers of green apple, white flowers, and citrus. The palate opens with bright freshness, follows with brioche and autolytic depth from bottle aging. A chalky mineral finish that speaks straight to terroir.

The equal split between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir works. Chardonnay brings finesse, Pinot Noir builds structure. Three years on lees develop the brioche without weighing the wine down. At this price, this is serious grower Champagne.

Drink with: 8–10 °C, oysters, aged Comté, or pan-seared scallops with lemon butter.

Ployez-Jacquemart, craft in Ludes

Established in Ludes in 1930, in the heart of Montagne de Reims. Laurence Ployez is the third generation. Classically precise, with a romantic edge.

The Extra Brut Passion, introduced in 2004, combines traditional and modern techniques in a way you don’t see often.

Extra Brut Passion, technical:

Composition: 45% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier

Notable: 25% oak-aged base wines blended with the current vintage

Aging: sur pointe with manual rotation

Dosage: 4 g/l (Extra Brut)

Price: € 44.75

Region: Montagne de Reims

Tasting notes. Deep gold in the glass, bubbles rising unhurried. Nose of toasted almond, honey-glazed pastry, ripe yellow fruit. The palate is a study in contrasts: full and creamy, yet almost ethereal in finesse. Baked apple, brioche, subtle honey sweetness, closing with mineral drive that prevents heaviness. Tight acidity holds it all together.

What makes this cuvée distinct is the combination of 25% oak-aged base wines plus sur-pointe aging. The method takes serious manual work and produces a wine that’s both complex and lively. The low dosage lets the base wines speak.

Drink with: 10–12 °C, slightly warmer than you’d expect, to get the full complexity. Works on its own but shines with food. Wild mushroom risotto, aged Gouda, or poultry with truffle.

Recent

The 2023 ownership change has given House Du Champagne fresh energy. The new team holds the founding line: making distinctive Champagne accessible to Dutch drinkers. The portfolio keeps growing, carefully.

Closing

Two carefully chosen vignerons, two clearly different styles, both worth your time. House Du Champagne aims for “a bottle of Champagne in every fridge”, and after these bottles I get the conviction. Drink them not just on special occasions, drink them when you want to open something good. Thanks for the bottles.

More on House Du Champagne: houseduchampagne.nl