Description
The story of Champagne Elea began in 1991, when David planted his first vines in Cerseuil, Troissy, and Bouquigny, working steep south-facing slopes of shallow clay-limestone soils overlooking the left bank of the Marne Valley. His wife, Emmanuelle later joined him, and together they built the vineyard through years of dedicated work, with a strong focus on Meunier alongside a smaller amount of Chardonnay. In 2014, David tragically passed away in an accident, Emmanuelle carried the estate forward with the help of the local winegrowers who had supported her, and she has managed the vineyard since 2015. Today, the estate continues as a collaboration rooted in gratitude, resilience, and a deep attachment to place, with the poppy symbolizing freedom, rebirth, and resilience at the heart of the cuvée’s identity; Elea is deeply tied to family, and is an amalgamation derived from the names of her three daughters: Eva, Lily, and Analéa.
The Elea “Les Coquelicots de Cerseuil” Brut is composed of 70% Meunier and 30% Chardonnay, sourced from the clay-limestone terroir of Cerseuil and disgorged with a Meunier liqueur based on a 2014–2023 perpetual blend; the wine was disgorged on January 28, 2025, with a dosage of 5 g/L. The wine is made to feel fresh, tensioned, and easy to drink, and it shows that style with bright orchard fruit, citrus zest, and white-flower notes wrapped around a creamy, mineral frame. Fine bubbles and a lively backbone give it lift and precision, while the Meunier brings generosity and supple texture, making it feel effortless and adaptable in almost any setting.
