The Art of Champagne in Autumn

Autumn is the season of deep colours and the first evenings warmed by the glow of the fireplace. It’s the moment when life slows down, flavours grow richer, and aromas become more intense. In this intimate, enveloping atmosphere, Champagne reveals a new and surprising side to its personality: more mature, more complex, more contemplative.

If in summer it wins us over with freshness and lightness, in autumn Champagne becomes a true companion — enhancing sensations, embracing contrasts, and narrating the quiet beauty of passing time. Between golden reflections and earthy notes, Champagne becomes story, ritual, and poetry.

To celebrate its versatility and the magic of this season, we’ve chosen three remarkable Cuvées — three interpretations of elegance, strength, and depth, each perfectly attuned to the autumnal spirit.

THREE CUVÉES FOR AUTUMN

1. Clos Sainte Hélène 2016 Extra Brut Parcellaire – Sanchez-Le Guédard

A pure Pinot Noir from a single parcel in Cumières Premier Cru, reflecting the maturity and intensity of autumn with its full aromas and seasonal nuances.

From the concentrated and expressive 2016 vintage, this organic Cuvée reveals an elegant, enveloping structure balanced by a subtle freshness that shapes its character.

Entirely vinified in stainless steel and bottled as Extra-Brut, it achieves a perfect balance between fullness and vitality, energy and harmony. Aromas of dried fruit, candied citrus, and sweet spice lead to a palate that opens with tension and breadth before finishing clear and persistent.

The ideal Champagne for early autumn evenings — enjoyed by the fire or paired with rich, aromatic dishes: citrus turbot, herb-roasted capon, or fresh tagliolini with truffle.
A glass that moves in rhythm with the slower pace of the season, turning each moment into an experience of true elegance.

2. Rosé de Saignée Extra-Brut – Grongnet

A Rosé of rare intensity and precision, crafted using the saignée method — a brief maceration between juice and skins to extract colour and structure. This Champagne, a perfect balance of Pinot Noir and Meunier from the 2022 harvest, is vinified without malolactic fermentation to preserve its freshness and aromatic tension.

Its deep ruby colour announces a sensual bouquet of ripe cherry, pomegranate, and wild berries. The palate is dense and velvety, where fruit power meets tactile finesse. The finish, dry and crystalline, holds a brightness reminiscent of the first autumn days — clear, golden, and warmed by light.

A Cuvée that speaks of passion and warmth, perfect with dishes of character: Florentine steak, duck à l’orange, or umami-rich Asian recipes. A Champagne that lights up autumn with vibrancy and emotion.

3. Blanc de Blancs Millésime 2019 Grand Cru – Hervy-Quenardel

A Blanc de Blancs of remarkable elegance, pure expression of Chardonnay from the Grand Cru vineyards of Verzenay, at the heart of the Montagne de Reims. Vinified mainly in stainless steel, with 32% aged in oak barrels, it combines the mineral precision of Chardonnay with the depth and roundness imparted by wood.

The result is perfect balance — between tension and creaminess, between energy and depth. Aromas of citrus and white flowers lead to a silky texture and a long, refined finish, with a saline hint that invites another sip.

This Champagne embodies the autumn light — clear, golden, embracing. It pairs beautifully with refined dishes such as sea bass in salt crust, tagliolini with white truffle, or pumpkin and ginger velouté. A wine that invites you to slow down and savour the moment, like a walk among the vines at dusk.

Conclusion

Autumn is a time for depth, listening, and slowing down. From the quiet strength of Clos Sainte Hélène 2016 to the ruby energy of Grongnet’s Rosé de Saignée, and the crystalline purity of Blanc de Blancs 2019, each Champagne reveals a different face of the season. An invitation to rediscover the pleasure of time expanding, of bubbles caressing the palate, and of aromas lingering in memory.

In autumn, Champagne becomes an art of living — a way to celebrate the beauty of all that matures slowly.