The winery was founded by the Diebolt and Vallois families. The Diebolt family settled in Cramant in the late 19th century, while the Vallois family's viticultural history dates back to the 15th century. In 1978, Jacques Diebolt and Nadia Vallois officially established Diebolt-Vallois and began building their own cellars and winemaking facilities. Now in its third generation, it has become one of the most respected boutique family wineries in the Champagne region.
Region
Diebolt-Vallois is located in Côte des Blancs, the heart of Champagne's most prestigious Chardonnay appellation. Its cellars are situated in Cramant, a renowned Grand Cru village, considered one of the holy grails of Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
The winery owns approximately 11 to 14 hectares of vineyards, with core plots located in top Côte des Blancs villages such as Cramant, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cuis, with Chardonnay being the most prominent.
Winemaking
Prestige is Diebolt-Vallois's most representative work and the starting point for countless Champagne enthusiasts to get to know this prestigious Côte des Blancs estate. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes sourced from Grand Cru villages such as Cramant, Chouilly, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, it fully showcases the purity and vibrancy of the chalky terroir of Côte des Blancs. Unlike typical NV Champagnes, the soul of Prestige comes from the estate's reserve base wine system since 2009. Each year, a portion of this reserve is continuously blended into the new vintage, giving the wine both the vitality of young Chardonnay and the complexity accumulated over more than ten years. After approximately four years of lees aging, it is bottled with a low sugar content of only about 4g/L, presenting a near-Extra Brut-like precision.
Diebolt-Vallois has long been considered a Blanc de Blancs specialist. Its style differs from many major Champagne brands, eschewing heavy oak or ornate styles in favor of emphasizing the purest fruitiness, chalky minerality, and refined balance of Chardonnay.
In the eyes of many Champagne enthusiasts, Diebolt-Vallois, along with Pierre Péters, Agrapart, and Larmandier-Bernier, is one of the most collectible Grower Champagne estates in the Côte des Blancs.
【Vinous 93】
A smooth creaminess on the shy nose is elusive but intriguing. The palate is creamy, with the finest mousse, superb freshness and a straight, upright backbone. This wine makes you sit up and take note of its poise and elegance. I love the luminous freshness, the immediacy and the fresh-faced character. All of it results in brightness and elegance.
【Decanter 92】
A dictionary-definition, crisp and invigorating blend of Côte des Blancs villages that treads a fine line between snappy, juicy pear and grapefruit peel fruitiness and a more serious side that features sea salt minerality and crusty bread, all presented with a measured, approachable concentration and full mousse. A model entry-level cuvée.
