Collection: Alexandre Bonnet

Champagne from Les Riceys – pinot noir and terroir in Côte des Bar

Domaine Alexandre Bonnet is located in the village of Les Riceys in the southernmost part of Champagne, in the Côte des Bar area. Here, both the climate, soil, and style differ significantly from the northern part of Champagne, resulting in wines with greater depth, structure, and a distinct sense of origin.

The estate has become a reference point for terroir-driven Champagne from Côte des Bar - with a particular focus on pinot noir and the steep slopes around Les Riceys.

History and estate

Domaine Alexandre Bonnet was founded in the 1930s and remains family-owned. For generations, the work has been concentrated on one thing: to express the unique terroir around Les Riceys as precisely as possible.

Instead of blending grapes from large parts of Champagne, Alexandre Bonnet consistently works with its own vineyards and plots around the village - a choice that gives the wines a clear identity and coherence.

Les Riceys and Côte des Bar

Les Riceys is the most recognized cru in Côte des Bar and one of the most distinctive areas in all of Champagne. The soil is dominated by Kimmeridgian chalk and clay – the same geology found in Chablis - providing ideal conditions for pinot noir with both structure and finesse.

The climate is slightly warmer and more continental than further north in Champagne, contributing to grapes with greater ripeness and depth without losing freshness.

Grapes, style, and vinification

Domaine Alexandre Bonnet primarily works with pinot noir, supplemented by smaller amounts of chardonnay. The focus is on plots and exposure, and the wines are vinified with great precision to preserve both freshness, structure, and terroir.

The house produces both classic champagnes - including brut and rosé - as well as wines under the Coteaux Champenois appellation, where especially pinot noir from Les Riceys has a long and respected tradition.

The style is characterized by purity, depth, and a distinct minerality, with the wines appearing more vinous and structured than many classic northern champagnes.

Terroir over categories

In Côte des Bar, they do not work with Grand Cru or Premier Cru classifications, as known from the northern part of Champagne. Instead, the focus is directed towards villages, plots, and soil.

This is precisely why Domaine Alexandre Bonnet has become a symbol of terroir thinking in Champagne - wines that are primarily about place, not hierarchies.

Domaine Alexandre Bonnet at Copenhagen Wine

For us, Domaine Alexandre Bonnet is an obvious choice for champagne lovers seeking more depth, structure, and terroir in the glass. It is Champagne with a clear imprint of pinot noir and Les Riceys - wines that work just as well at the table as for celebration.

A house that shows how exciting and nuanced Champagne can be when the focus shifts from volume to origin.