Champagne Delamotte
Phonetic Guide
The sixth oldest Champagne house, sister to the legendary Salon, crafting Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from the Côte des Blancs since 1760.
Delamotte is the sixth oldest Champagne house, founded in 1760, producing Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from the Côte des Blancs. Operating as the sister house to Champagne Salon under the Laurent-Perrier group, Delamotte receives first pick of grapes Salon does not use for its vintage wines.
- Founded in 1760 by François Delamotte in Reims, making it the sixth oldest Champagne house
- Relocated to Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in 1927 by Marie-Louise de Nonancourt
- Joined the Laurent-Perrier group in 1988 and operates as sister house to Champagne Salon
- Functions as the second label of Salon, receiving first pick of grapes Salon does not use
- Specializes in Blanc de Blancs Champagne from Grand Cru Chardonnay grown on chalky Côte des Blancs soils
- Managed by President Didier Depond since 1997, with winemaking supervised by Michel Fauconnet
- Described by Robert Parker as 'one of the best buys in exquisitely crafted Champagne'
History and Heritage
Champagne Delamotte was founded in 1760 by François Delamotte, a vineyard owner working out of Reims. This makes it the sixth oldest Champagne house still in operation today. In 1927, Marie-Louise de Nonancourt transferred the house to Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the most prized Grand Cru villages in the entire Champagne region. The move placed Delamotte at the heart of Côte des Blancs Chardonnay country, a positioning that continues to define its wines.
- Founded 1760 in Reims by François Delamotte
- Relocated to Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in 1927 by Marie-Louise de Nonancourt
- Sixth oldest Champagne house in existence
- Now part of the Laurent-Perrier group since 1988
Relationship with Salon
Delamotte operates as the sister house to Champagne Salon, the single-vineyard, single-vintage, single-grape prestige house based in the same village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Within the Laurent-Perrier group structure, Delamotte functions as Salon's second label. It receives the first pick of grapes that Salon determines it will not use for its own highly selective vintage productions. This arrangement gives Delamotte access to exceptional raw material in years when Salon declassifies or simply does not produce a vintage, while also allowing Delamotte to craft its own non-vintage blended wines year-round.
- Sister house to Champagne Salon under Laurent-Perrier group ownership
- Receives first pick of grapes Salon does not use for its vintage wines
- Produces non-vintage blended wines while Salon focuses exclusively on vintage
- Both houses share the same base in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs
Viticulture and Winemaking
Delamotte draws its character from Grand Cru Chardonnay grown on the chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs, the sub-region renowned for producing Champagne's finest Blanc de Blancs wines. The house works with both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir across its range, though Blanc de Blancs remains its signature style. Didier Depond has served as President since 1997, with winemaking supervised by Michel Fauconnet. The result is a portfolio spanning non-vintage Brut, Blanc de Blancs, Rosé, and Vintage Champagne.
- Grand Cru Chardonnay from chalky Côte des Blancs soils forms the backbone of production
- Range includes Blanc de Blancs, Brut, Rosé, and Vintage styles
- Didier Depond has served as President since 1997
- Winemaking supervised by Michel Fauconnet
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Look it up →Reputation and Recognition
Delamotte occupies a unique position in the Champagne market, offering consumers access to Grand Cru Côte des Blancs quality at a price point well below the prestige cuvée tier. Robert Parker described the house as 'one of the best buys in exquisitely crafted Champagne,' a reputation built on the consistent quality enabled by its privileged access to Salon-quality fruit. For wine lovers seeking serious Blanc de Blancs from one of Champagne's historic addresses, Delamotte delivers substance and pedigree without the premium attached to the Salon name itself.
- Described by Robert Parker as 'one of the best buys in exquisitely crafted Champagne'
- Offers Grand Cru Côte des Blancs quality at accessible price points relative to prestige peers
- Benefits from access to fruit from the same pool as the highly allocated Salon wines
- One of Champagne's oldest continuously operating houses with over 260 years of history
Delamotte's Blanc de Blancs leads with crisp green apple, lemon curd, and white peach, underpinned by the chalky minerality characteristic of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru Chardonnay. The palate is precise and fine-boned with lifted citrus acidity and a long, saline finish. Vintage releases develop additional complexity with notes of toasted brioche and almond.
- Delamotte Brut NV$40-50Entry-level NV Brut from a Grand Cru Côte des Blancs house, offering serious pedigree at an accessible price.Find →
- Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV$45-55Signature Blanc de Blancs from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru Chardonnay; Robert Parker's top-value Champagne pick.Find →
- Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage$70-90Vintage Blanc de Blancs from Grand Cru Chardonnay, crafted from the same fruit pool as Champagne Salon.Find →
- Delamotte Rosé NV$50-65Rosé Champagne from a house with 260-plus years of history and access to Grand Cru Côte des Blancs fruit.Find →
- Founded 1760 in Reims; sixth oldest Champagne house; relocated to Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in 1927
- Sister house to Salon under Laurent-Perrier group ownership since 1988; functions as Salon's second label
- Receives first pick of Grand Cru Chardonnay grapes that Salon elects not to use for vintage production
- Produces non-vintage blended wines (NV Brut, NV Blanc de Blancs) alongside Rosé and Vintage cuvées
- Grapes sourced from Grand Cru sites on chalky Côte des Blancs soils; Blanc de Blancs is the house signature