ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Loriot-Pagel
Nurtured by a family history that began in 1838, Jean-Philippe Loriot never imagined being anything other than a winegrower. He grew up amongst the vines between Festigny, the birthplace of the Loriots, and Avize, on his mother’s side of the family.
His father and grandfather tended their vines and wines with a passion and dedication inherited from their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents. Jean-Philippe joined his parents working on the estate, taking over in 2013. Determined to protect and build on his heritage, he created a 100% Pinot Meunier vintage cuvee, a nod to the Festigny vineyards. In 2017, his sister Alice joined him, leaving her career in banking to return to her roots and write the next chapter in the family’s 180-year history. She works hand in hand with her brother during harvest and she handles all business matters for the family, including sales, and marketing.
The terroirs of Loriot-Pagel are spread across 9 hectares of vineyards, covering 4 traditional Crus from the Marne Valley (Festigny, Mareuil-le-Port, Nesle-le-Repons, and Le Breuil) and 3 Grands Crus from the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Cramant, and Oger). The grape varieties cultivated are selected based on the soil, exposure, climate, and the unique qualities of each variety. The estate is HEV certified.
Loriot-Pagel is a member of the Club Trésors de Champagne.
In 1971 an elite group of 12 growers banded together to highlight the superior quality of the best grower-champagnes, a new concept at the time in a market controlled by the Grandes Marques. Today the group has expanded to 25 growers but the rules for entry are as stringent as ever, starting with the requirement that 100% of a domaine’s production be made from estate-grown fruit. The artisan winegrowers in the Club embody the excellence and diversity of the Champagne vineyards, spread across the finest crus and most iconic terroirs.
The Spécial Club cuvée is Le Club’s ultimate prestige cuvée, expressing the unique terroir of each winegrower. To earn this label, each member produces their most promising vintage according to a strict set of specifications, including two blind tastings – a guarantee of craftsmanship, authenticity, and quality. This ultimate cuvée is only achieved once every few years and is presented in a dedicated bottle base on an 18th century design.
