The 2013 vintage created by Hugues Godmé is an ode to patience and precision. Produced from Grand Cru terroirs in the Montagne de Reims, this cuvée embodies the perfect balance between northern freshness and full maturity. The estate's first officially certified organic vintage, this bottle marks a milestone in the history of the House.
This characterful champagne, named "Les Bouquets," stands out for its complexity and purity. Produced without any dosage and benefiting from exceptional prolonged aging, it offers a transparent interpretation of its year of birth. It is a great wine of time, tailor-made for gastronomy, which will appeal to lovers of fresh, fruity, and intensely mineral champagnes.
The production of the 2013 Hugues Godmé Vintage Champagne
The blend of this vintage reflects the typical characteristics of the great terroirs of the Montagne de Reims, combining the finesse of white grapes with the structure of black grapes:
- 60% Chardonnay: Brings elegance, liveliness, and airy floral notes.
- 40% Pinot Noir: Gives the wine its structure, vinosity, and depth.
This majority blend of Chardonnay on a terroir historically marked by Pinot Noir creates a unique signature, combining tension and substance.
The terroir
The grapes come exclusively from the terroirs of Verzy and Verzenay, two iconic villages classified as Grand Cru on the northern slope of the Montagne de Reims. These crus are renowned for their ability to produce racy, straightforward wines.
The clay-limestone soil plays a decisive role in the wine's profile. The chalk ensures drainage and mineral finesse, while the clay brings body and power. Organic (and biodynamic, certified Biodyvin the following year) viticulture allows the roots to dig deep into this complex substrate to extract a distinctive salinity.
Vinification
The vinification process is designed to respect the integrity of the fruit while adding complexity. Around 40% of the wines are vinified in oak barrels, a controlled proportion that allows the wine to oxygenate and develop patina without being overly influenced by the wood. The rest is vinified in vats to preserve its pure tension.
True to his non-interventionist philosophy, Hugues Godmé does not practice fining or filtration. Time is then the main craftsman of the cuvée: the bottles have rested in the cellar for over 100 months (more than 8 years). This aging on lees is considerable and rare. When disgorging, the choice of Brut Nature (undosed) allows the true character of the vintage to be expressed without embellishment.
The 2013 vintage
2013 was a winemaker's year, marked by an atypical growing cycle. After a long winter and a gloomy spring that delayed flowering, the summer turned out to be "fantastic," offering generous sunshine that allowed for beautiful concentration and optimal ripeness of the berries. The late harvest (late September to early October) took place in beneficial autumnal coolness.
This particular climate gave rise to a vintage described as fresh and fruity. For Hugues Godmé, 2013 is symbolic: it marks the culmination of the conversion to organic farming, offering healthy, vibrant grapes with a natural acidity that is perfect for long aging.
Tasting notes
Color
The color is a luminous gold, crossed by a fine and dynamic effervescence. The long rest on lees has given the wine a deep brilliance and beautiful visual density.
Nose
The nose is an invitation to indulgence and freshness. Aromas of ripe white fruit and candied citrus are immediately apparent, underscored by a touch of brioche and sweet spices from the oak aging. The chalky minerality becomes more pronounced with aeration.
Palate
On the palate, the attack is lively and precise, typical of the vintage. The wine then reveals a concentrated and textured body. There is a remarkable balance between the straightforwardness of the non-dosé and the aromatic richness of the fruit. The finish is long, carried by a saline tension and great purity.
Food pairing
- Gougères with 24-month Comté cheese
- Gravlax salmon toast
- Reims ham
- Roasted John Dory fillet
- Risotto with scallops
- Free-range chicken with cream sauce
- Lightly sweetened mirabelle plum tart
- Pineapple carpaccio
- Breton apple shortbread
Storage and serving tips
How to store this champagne
The 2013 vintage is a wine built to last. Its natural acidity and long aging on slats ensure its stability. It should be stored horizontally, away from light (crucial for unfiltered and natural wines), in a cool (10-12°C) and humid cellar. It is a lively cuvée that requires stability.
Ageing potential
Having already aged for more than 8 years in the cellar before being released, it is ready to drink but still has a bright future ahead of it.
- Ideal drinking window: 2025–2032, to enjoy its balance between freshness and tertiary complexity.
- Long aging: Until 2038 for lovers of more evolved wines, with notes of wax and dried fruit.
How to serve Hugues Godmé 2013 Vintage
To appreciate the richness of this Grand Cru, serve it between 46°F and 48°F. A temperature that is too cool would mask the finesse of the Chardonnay and the vinosity of the Pinot Noir. The use of a large white wine glass is highly recommended to allow the wine to express itself and reveal its subtle woody nuances.
Anecdote about this cuvée
The 2013 vintage is of historic importance for Hugues Godmé: it is the estate's first certified organic (AB) harvest. This certification is the culmination of years of effort and transition towards a more respectful approach to viticulture, both for the soil and for living organisms. Tasting this bottle is like tasting the official birth certificate of the estate's organic approach, in a year that rewarded this risk-taking with exceptional quality.
