Champagne P. Lancelot-Royer 'Cuvée des Chevaliers' Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV

Lancelot-Royer is a tiny, grower-producer rooted in Cramant, one of the Côte des Blancs’ benchmark Grand Cru villages for Chardonnay. The domaine focuses on estate fruit and a distinctly hands-on, artisan approach—old-school enough to include an upright wooden press and hand riddling, with an emphasis on letting Cramant’s chalk speak clearly rather than dressing it up.

‘Cuvée des Chevaliers’ is a good snapshot of their house style and sourcing: Grand Cru Chardonnay grown on classic Kimmeridgian chalk soils in the Côtes des Blancs, specifically in Cramant (where the Champagne house is located), Avize, Chouilly and Oger. It’s fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, and then given extended bottle aging (about four years) before release. The blend typically incorporates around 30% reserve wine, and in this Brut Nature version there’s no added dosage—which is exactly why it feels so clean and mineral while still having that layered, leesy texture.