The Trilogie comes from one big foudre, a couple demi-muid (600 liter barrels) and a very small stainless steel tank. It is 1/3 each Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, with the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wood fermented and the Meunier done in tank. All of Vivien Lamoureux's 30 acres are in the village of Les Riceys, in the southern part of the Aube department, just 3 miles from the border with Burgundy. Here the soil is Kimmeridgian clay, almost identical to Chablis and the climate is much more continental than in the Marne department. The colder winters and hotter summers make Pinot Noir the grape of choice here spring frost is too much of a threat for Chardonnay in most places, and plenty of summer sun gets the late ripening (at least here in Champagne!) Pinot Noir nicely mature. There is almost no Meunier planted here, but Vivien has a small plot for this special wine. For me, the most interesting thing about this wine is the very, very long ageing on the lees, over 10 years! - Gary Westby