Hugues & Lucile Godmé: The Biodynamic Soul of the North
Champagne Hugues et Lucile Godmé represents the harmonious meeting of experience and new energy in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. Based in the illustrious Grand Cru village of Verzenay, this father-daughter team is crafting some of the most meticulously farmed, transparent, and vinous Champagnes in the region.
The Team: A Generational Alliance
For decades, Hugues Godmé has been a quiet but influential force in the northern Montagne de Reims. Formerly part of the estate Godmé Père et Fils, Hugues struck out on his own in 2014 to pursue a purer, more uncompromising vision of viticulture.
He is now joined by his daughter, Lucile Godmé, whose arrival marks a new chapter for the domaine. Together, they combine Hugues’ 40 years of intuitive farming experience with Lucile’s fresh perspective and technical precision.
The Terroir: The Strength of the Mountain
The estate covers approximately 7.5 hectares spread across 40 distinct plots. Their holdings are enviable, located primarily in the northern sector of the Montagne de Reims:
Grand Crus: Verzenay, Verzy, and Beaumont-sur-Vesle.
Premier Crus: Villers-Marmery and Villedommange.
This terroir is famous for its chalky subsoils and north-facing slopes, which produce Pinot Noir of immense structure and tension, and Chardonnay that is mineral and cutting.
Philosophy: Pioneers of Biodynamics
Hugues Godmé was one of the early believers in organic farming in a region that was historically resistant to it.
Certification: The estate is certified Organic and Biodynamic (Demeter).
Approach: They view the vineyard as a living ecosystem. By eschewing synthetic chemicals and using biodynamic preparations, they encourage deep root growth, allowing the vines to absorb the true mineral imprint of the chalk.
Winemaking: Patience and Texture
The Godmé style is defined by a desire to create "wines with bubbles" rather than just Champagne.
Fermentation: A significant portion of the wines are fermented and aged in oak barrels, adding texture, breath, and micro-oxygenation without overpowering the fruit.
Natural Yeasts: Fermentation is spontaneous, relying on indigenous yeasts to capture the specific identity of each vintage.
Aging: The wines undergo extended aging on the lees (often far longer than the legal minimum), resulting in a fine, creamy mousse and savory complexity.
Dosage: Dosage is kept very low (often Extra Brut or Brut Nature) to maintain the purity and transparency of the terroir.
The Style
A bottle of Hugues et Lucile Godmé is characterized by tension, salinity, and substance. These are gastronomic wines—rich with the red-fruit power of Verzenay Pinot Noir, yet lifted by the electric acidity typical of the northern Montagne. They are wines of deep soul and serious intent.