Geoffrey Delouvin - Semper Fidelis XVIII
Geoffrey Delouvin - Semper Fidelis XVIII
Golden Meunier with rich apple fruit and the depth of a perpetual reserve
- Rich
- Textured
- Fresh
- Layered
- Type
- Champagne
- Grapes
- Pinot Meunier (100%)
- Place
- Champagne, France
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How it tastes
In the glass
Rich, golden Meunier Champagne with ripe apple fruit, savoury depth and fine bubbles.
Profile
Nose
Candied apple, quince and a delicate nutty character, with hints of orange peel and fresh saline notes.
Palate
Generous orchard fruit opens into cooked apple and toffee, carried by a delicate mousse and a firm, textured grip.
Finish
Fresh and mineral, with citrus lift, subtle herbal spice and persistent fruit.
“The perpetual reserve brings depth to the base wine, balancing richness with freshness.”
How to serve
Getting the best out of it
How to pair it
This is a sparkling wine
Acidity and bubbles scrub the palate clean. The saltier, crunchier and fattier the food, the better it works.
Match
Flavours that echo the wine.
- Raw shellfish (oysters, crudo)
- Aged hard cheese (Parmigiano, Comté)
- Egg dishes
- Salty snacks (crisps, olives)
Contrast
Opposites that make each other better.
- Fried food (tempura, fritto misto)
- Creamy dishes (risotto, carbonara)
- Cured meats (prosciutto)
Careful with
Combinations that flatten the wine.
- Sweet desserts
- Tomato-heavy sauces
- Very spicy food
Terroir & winemaking
From the vineyard to the bottle
Pinot Meunier from Vandières in the Vallée de la Marne, where south- and southeast-facing slopes offer a varied mosaic of soils.
- Vines
- Predominantly old Pinot Meunier vines from the family’s holdings in Vandières.
- Soils
- Clay-limestone, chalk, sand and clay.
- Farming
- Geoffrey works the family’s parcels in Vandières, drawing on generations of experience with the local vineyards.
- Cellar
- 50% wine from the 2018 harvest is blended with 50% perpetual reserve spanning 1992–2018. Traditional bottle fermentation and about 60 months on the lees give it texture and depth.
- Additions
- Extra Brut, 5 g/l dosage.
Where it's from · Champagne, France
Vandières
Vandières is a highly regarded village in the Vallée de la Marne, recognised within Champagne for producing some of the appellation's most characterful Pinot Meunier. The slopes here are predominantly south and southeast-facing, catching consistent sun exposure while the Marne valley below channels cool air that preserves freshness and extends the growing season.
The winemaker · Vandières, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
Geoffrey Delouvin
Artisan vigneron crafting expressive grower Champagnes from Meunier‑driven terroirs
Geoffrey Delouvin is the eleventh generation of his family to grow vines in Vandières — a fact that carries real weight in how he works. Centuries of accumulated knowledge about these specific slopes, these specific soils, and this specific variety aren't abstract heritage; they inform every practical decision made in vineyard and cellar.
“To re-energise our wines while respecting the best of our family traditions, my ethos was simple: respect life and land, and great champagne will follow.”
- Style
- Grower Champagne, Meunier-forward
- Grapes
- Pinot Meunier dominant, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
- Farming
- No herbicides, no insecticides, no chemical fertilisers, composted manure only
- Winemaking
- Solera reserve from 1992, wild yeasts, hand disgorgement, minimal SO₂
- Signature
- Single-cru depth from a mosaic of old-vine parcels across Vandières
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Good to know
Questions we get a lot
Is this a natural wine?
All our wines come from small growers who farm organically or biodynamically and keep intervention in the cellar to a minimum: native yeasts, little or no added sulphites. Every producer has their own approach; the details are in “From the vineyard to the bottle” above.
Why is it a bit cloudy, or is there sediment?
Many of our wines are bottled unfiltered. A light haze or some sediment is natural and harmless: stand the bottle upright for a few hours and pour gently.
How long does it keep once open?
It depends on the wine (see “Once open” above). As a rule: cork back in and keep it in the fridge, reds included.
When will my order arrive?
We ship Tuesday to Saturday, usually right away. In Germany delivery takes 2–3 working days; rates for every country are on our shipping page.
Can I pick up in Berlin?
Yes. Choose pickup at checkout and collect your order at our shop in Berlin.