August 2026

Meet Champagne Durdon Bouval

It's very normal for vineyards to be handed down from one generation to the next, but this never happens overnight. The older generation is still immersed in the business, getting the next generation ready to take the reigns. That's exactly what's happening at Champagne Durdon Bouval, where Ludo and Sandie are working closely with their son, Antoine, to take the family estate.

We first met Durdon-Bouval at a wine fair in Reims, their bottles stopped us in our tracks but due to the crazy nature of the event it was a quick, 'wow, *handshake,* let's buy some wine.' Over the last few years we have gotten to know the family, making trips to their estate in Vincelles to meet with Sandie and Ludo, their daughter Sipriane, son and winemaker Antoine and more recently their grandbabies. What started as one thing has quickly become family. Their generous and warm nature is reflected in their Champagnes and we are so excited to share them with you.

The vineyards cover an area of approximately 8 hectors stretching from Verneuil to Mont Saint-Père via Passy-sur-Marne and Barzy-sur-Marne and the entire estate has been certified organic since 2013. A significant portion of the vineyard, 6.06 hectares, is cultivated according to biodynamic principles and has held the Demeter label since the 2023 harvest. Why does this matter? These practices also promote deep root development and a better expression of the terroir.

Something you'll notice with grower champagne is that the terroir and environment are at top of mind in each decision that is made in the vineyard and the cellar, and that is no different with Champagne Durdon Bouval. During winemaking, intervention is minimal with no chaptalization, no cold stabilization, and no sulfites. This allows Antoine to preserve the purity of the grapes and express the generations of know how in farming and winemaking directly in to your glass.

Read more about Champagne Durdon Bouval on Cage Imports.

The Wines

Be sure to grab a few extra bottles in our Shop.

Le Macrons is 100% Chardonnay from a vineyard of the same name in village if Barzy-sur-Marne inthe heart of the Marne Valley. The vineyard was planted in 1971 and has always been organically farmed and up until 2023 had been blended in to larger blends. Why we love it: This is the first year that the wine has been made in to a standalone cuvee. It is a lean and precise take on the terroir. Its laser like focus does not keep the palate from being broad and generous. There is no fining, no filtration and no dosage. It is a truly pure expression. Only 48 bottles came to the United States.   The vibe: A peaceful moment in your happy place. It may be one of the few wines we would recommend to enjoy on its own, with out food or distraction to really let it takeoff the moment.

Meet Villa Bon Accueil

Now this is something we're particularly proud of, we'd like to introduce you to our newest female winemaker in her first release ever: Deborah Bonvalet. We have known Deborah for a while (her partner is Geoff Delouvin, another producer we work with), and she is always a light during our visits. 

 

To our surprise she had been hiding a secret, she is an amazing winemaker. She identified a few spectacular plots from the family holdings in Vandierès and decided to make single plot, single vintage, single varietal wines. A few months back we sat drinking bottles from her lineup. We were poolside, with wonderful weather and company, but none of that mattered as the flavors that jumped out of the glass reigned supreme. The production is minuscule and demand is high so we were really only able to get our hands on a few bottles. 

 

The plots will stay the same year to year, and the ambition of the project is grand. To allow Mother Nature and Deborah and Geoff’s vision to show through in a project of passion. This is the beginning of a relationship that we will all be really happy to be a part of for a long time.

The Wine

These are precise wines and we encourage to get get another bottle from Villa Bon Accueil in our Shop.

Les Amoureuses is made from a single plot of Chardonnay from a mid-slope plot hanging just above the Marne River in the village of Vandierès. This plot has iron rich top soils over limestone that would support the villages famous Meunier. Why we love it: The decision to plant a white grape in these soils has yielded one of the most delicious wines we have ever experienced from the village, which is saying a lot because there are some real rockstars in these parts.   The vibe: Date night at home with a French lemon tart.