February 2026

The Famille is growing! Our friends Geoff and Deborah of Famille Delouvin just welcomed their first baby and to celebrate her arrival want to share some of our favorite wines of theirs with you.

Famille Delouvin is the creation of Geoffrey Delouvin. He is the 11th generation (yes, you read that right) of his family to grow grapes in the picturesque village of Vandieres along the River Marne in Champagne. When we first toured the vines of the village a few years back we were stunned to see a full amphitheater of vines sloping up 200 meters all facing back down on the river. The village features a multitude of exposures, soils and grape varieties all warmed by the sun and the reflection from the river. It is like heaven for the grapes and with eleven generations of know how Geoff knows exactly what he is doing. 

One of the really wild things is the fact that all 7 hectares of vines are in just one village. We have asked around and no one else we know of has every plot in the same village. Every grower always has one or two plots in neighboring villages either from inheritance, marriage or some other fun historical reason. The Famille Delouvin has somehow managed to keep all their holdings just up the hill from their house and this has allowed them an amazing amount of control and precision in their wines. 

Geoff, aided by his generational knowledge and prime vineyard locations, has pushed the boundaries of wine making in the region. He has allowed for riper grapes at harvest for deeper more concentrated flavors while his meticulous farming allows him to keep a firm structure in his wines. In the cellar he uses stainless steel and old oak to fine tune his flavors while still allowing nature to make decisions. He neither starts nor blocks malolactic fermentation allowing each year to finish fermenting naturally. 

For more information on Famille Delouvin, visit Cage Imports.

The Wines

These wines are some of our favorite year in and year out. And while Geoff makes a number of different wines (8 to 10 depending on the year), each one we pop open always seems to be better than the last. We will let you be the judge. This month we feature two wines from Geoff you probably haven't tasted before and you will be glad you did. Be sure to grab a get a few extra bottles in our Shop!

Sauvage captures the true essence of the terroir. This 100% Meunier champagne grows in micro-parcles of clay, sand and pure chalk.  Having blocked malolactic fermentation entirely, you get a tart and sharp wine that requires years of patience to soften naturally. Geoff buried the bottles chalk cellars, leaving them for four years allowing the wine to completely transform.  Why we love it: This isn't a polite champagne and it shouldn't be. This is bone dry with orchard fruits and a sharp mineral finish.  The vibe: Salami forward charcuterie board or try pigs in a blanket (just skip the ketchup).

Fauve was created when Geoff decided to do what his ancestors did not: make a wine where Chardonnay was the star, using just a splash of old-vine Meunier to anchor it to Vandières. Created from 75% Chardonnay and 25% Meunier from grapes grown in the best hillside plots in Vandieres. The wine undergoes no malolactic fermentation and is aged for at least 72 months! Why we love it: The name translates to wild animal and reflects untamed-ness in the wine. Its zero-dosage with an intense chalky minerality. The vibe: Whipped ricotta toast or brie and green apple slices