Antoine Bouvet “Les Coutures” Champagne

The wine

Les Coutures is a single plot in Avenay Val d’Or — one of Antoine Bouvet’s three villages — where Chardonnay and Meunier vines planted in 1957 produce fruit of exceptional concentration and depth. At over 65 years old these are among the oldest vines in the Bouvet holdings and the source of what has consistently been the rarest and most age-worthy wine in every allocation it has appeared in.

The blend — 60% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier — is unusual for Champagne where the two grapes are rarely combined as equals. The Chardonnay from Les Coutures brings mineral precision and length. The Meunier brings aromatic complexity and a particular roundness that the more commonly celebrated Pinot Noir doesn’t produce in the same way. Together they produce something that doesn’t fit neatly into any standard Champagne category — not a Blanc de Blancs, not a Blanc de Noirs, not a conventional assemblage.

Extended lees ageing in old oak throughout — the same approach Antoine applies to every wine he makes. No stainless steel, no additions, every bottle hand-labelled.

Les Coutures has appeared in limited quantities in previous Bouvet allocations and has not been included in every shipment. When it does appear the allocation is very small. It is the wine previous buyers most frequently ask about when a new release is announced.

This vintage is no longer available. The Antoine Bouvet winemaker page has information on current and upcoming releases including the late November 2026 allocation.