[free] Vinexpo Wine Paris - under the radar

A bonus quick, free guide to less-famous Champagne names at Wine Paris

As I have a lot of wine trade signed up to Six Atmospheres I thought it might be handy to put out a quick guide as to what to go and taste if Champagne is on your agenda at the (frankly enormous) WineParis Expo in February. I’m actually not going this year, but it’s the most impressive list of Champagne producers I’ve seen yet at any trade fair so there’s certainly some good work to be done for anyone hunting for bubbles.

Plenty of the large Maisons and co-ops are present, but there’s a HUGE list of independent producers, too. The nature of these trade shows is that these are many, many frankly second-tier smaller producers. There are also quite a few that even someone who spends many weeks in Champagne a year has never heard of! Here’s a selection of what I do know from the indies, though, organised by location for your convenience:

All the Champagne is in hall 7.3.

Marie Doyard of André Jacquart at Wine Paris 2024

Jean Josselin C 240

A producer to watch in the Côte des Bar.

Geoffroy J 253

Not really under-the-rader, but the wines are great! Plenty of lees ageing, no malo, super ripe Cumières fruit.

Talenteuse Champagne group - taste Gounel Lassalle, Goutorbe-Bouillot and Petit & Bajan K 220

Lamiable L 225, R 070

Quite serious, meaty Pinot here, unusually from Tours sur Marne. Deserves a little more attention.

Charpentier L 009

(Not J. Charpentier). Biodynamic and rather impressive, fruit-forward and approachable champagnes from the Western end of the Marne Valley. Decent size, too.

Champagne Terroirs group - taste Alexis Leconte, François Secondé, Fabien Bergeronneau L 025

Some good fruit on show here from around the Montagne de Reims and Marne valley.

Barnaut L 225

Barnaut remains rather old-fashioned, but the wines do tend to hit home at fair prices. Bold, accesible Pinot style.

Legras & Haas L 225

Very good Blanc de Blancs producer, especially at the higher end. Jérôme is a great person to chat to, too.

Ernest Remy L 225

Underrated producer in Mailly - North-facing Grand Cru Pinot Noir dominant.

Lancelot L 235

Also, or formerly, known as Lancelot-Pienne in Cramant. Fine family producer, look for blanc de blancs in mid-range particular.

Jeaunaux-Robin L 280

Really fun and friendly Meunier-heavy wines from the Petit Morin.

Mandois N 008

I haven’t always got on with these quite fruity, easy champagnes from the Coteaux Sud D’Épernay, but the last showing was improved.

Taisne Riocour N 057

Plenty of promise from this new producer with fine vineyards in Les Riceys, Aube. Immediate, fruity and enjoyable style, well made.

Dumenil N 048

Quite characterful, creamy Pinot dominant wines here - a little leftfield in some ways but good fun.

Veuve Fourny N 278

Really, really good producer in Vertus, Côte des Blancs. The wines have impressed lately, and the prices are fair. Go taste them!

Henriet-Bazin P 177

Some creamy, interesting and slightly quirky wines from the Eastern Montagne de Reims. Nice Chardonnay.

Gamet P 261

Friendly, juicy and youthful champagnes from Mardeuil, just outside Épernay.

Louis Brochet P 225

Quite a serious style here, from the Petite Montagne. Pinot, savour, food-friendly - good stuff.

Domaine Alexandre Bonnet P 113

The star of Les Riceys in the Aube. Top wines. They have a good négoce operation, too.

Allouchery-Perserval R 056

Intense, juicy, spicy and fine Pinot heavy wines from the Petite Montagne.

André Jacquart R 059

Again not really under-the-radar, but Marie Doyard’s beautifully oak-lined Chardonnays from Le Mesnil and Vertus are a serious pleasure.

Pierre Legras R 074

Just lovely creamy Chardonnays from Chouilly, Côte des Blancs. Really good, and fairly priced.

A Bergère S 042

A producer to watch in the Petit Morin. Beautiful Chardonnay potential here. Production is ramping up here but the quality is there.

Also, if you’re looking for decent co-operatives that are a little under the radar, check our Paul Goerg and Le Brun de Neuville from Vertus and the Sézanne. Both Chardonnay led. Le Brun de Neuville do some pretty creative winemaking, whilst Goerg is straight-up and reliable.