What is the history of the Delamotte Champagne House?
The house’s history began in the mid-18th century in Reims, before taking root permanently among the grand cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs. Over the generations, the Delamotte family has preserved its pioneering and independent spirit. A major turning point occurred at the end of the 20th century, in 1988, when the house joined forces with the prestigious Salon House within the Laurent-Perrier family group, then led by Bernard de Nonancourt. From this union emerged a center of excellence unique in Champagne. Today, passionately led by Didier Depond, Maison Delamotte continues to uphold its historic legacy: a connoisseur’s elixir, exclusive and deeply rooted in French and international haute cuisine.
What is the terroir of Maison Delamotte?
The Delamotte vineyards thrive in the most coveted terroirs of the Côte des Blancs. It is here, in villages classified as 100% Grand Cru—such as Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, and Cramant—that Chardonnay finds its purest expression. The soil, composed of a layer of pure, outcropping chalk, acts as an exceptional thermal and hydrological regulator. It gives the vines an inimitable identity. Although Chardonnay is the king of grape varieties and the soul of the house, Delamotte also relies on great Pinot Noirs from the Montagne de Reims (notably from Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Tours-sur-Marne) to bring structure and complexity to its non-vintage blends.
Maison Delamotte: Exceptional Expertise
The secret of the Delamotte style lies in a philosophy of minimalist winemaking and absolute rigor. Unlike many houses, Delamotte favors extended aging in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks rather than in barrels, in order to preserve the fruit’s original freshness and the chalk’s saline expression intact. The wines then undergo extended aging on racks in the house’s chalk cellars: between 3 and 5 years for non-vintage bruts, and up to more than 8 years for the rare vintages of Blanc de Blancs Millésimé. Each bottle is the result of a rigorous selection of the first press juices, ensuring remarkable aging potential.
The Delamotte Style
Whichever Delamotte cuvée you choose to taste, the wines share an unchanging guiding principle: integrity, crystalline freshness, and great aromatic complexity.
- Delamotte Brut: A champagne for pleasure and fine dining, with great roundness, carried by a perfect balance between Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
- Delamotte Blanc de Blancs: The house’s definitive signature. Non-vintage, it reveals itself as taut and mineral, with notes of brioche and citrus, of absolute purity.
- Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Millésimé: A masterpiece of complexity produced only in exceptional vintages. It expresses controlled power, a silky texture, and an unforgettable saline finish, worthy of the world’s greatest wines.
Choosing a Delamotte Champagne means embracing a lifestyle defined by discretion, elegance, and authenticity.
