Laurent Bénard
pronounced loh-RAHN bay-NARThe organic brand of an engineer from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ who, alongside the classic Champagnes of the family-run Bénard-Pitois house, makes Extra Brut and Brut Nature Champagnes without added sulphur under his own name. Gault&Millau rates them 92-93/100.
See the bottlesAvailable at SZAMPAN.com.pl
1 Champagne. Formats and packaging of the same bottle are on its page, not listed separately.
House signature
Vineyard and cellar
The vineyards are certified organic, and since 2012 the house has also certified its cellar work.
At bottling
The wines age in wood, have low or zero dosage and receive no sulphur at bottling.
Gault&Millau score
Vendange Extra Brut 2017, a Blanc de Noirs from Meunier and Pinot Noir, was given 93 points by the guide.
At a glance
- Founded
- 1878 (Champagne in the Bénard-Pitois family)
- Based in
- Mareuil-sur-Aÿ (Premier Cru), Grande Vallée de la Marne
- Type
- grower (récoltant-manipulant); the organic brand of the Bénard-Pitois family house
- Owner
- Michelle and Laurent Bénard-Louis
- President
- Laurent Bénard (has run the estate with his wife since 1991)
- Chef de cave
- Laurent Bénard
- Vineyards
- 9.5 ha of Grand and Premier Cru in six villages: Avenay-Val-d'Or, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Mutigny, Bergères-les-Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger
- Production
- no public data
- House style
- certified organic, casks, low or no dosage, no sulphur added at bottling, a slightly oxidative, food-friendly style
Data checked: October 2026.
History
- 1878
Champagne in the Bénard-Pitois family
In 1878 the Bénard-Pitois family of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ began making Champagne. Ever since, the house has stressed that the same principle is handed down from generation to generation: to work with the soil and tend the vines with respect, patience and discipline.
- 1991
Michelle and Laurent
Since 1991 the family estate has been run by Michelle and Laurent Bénard-Louis, the third generation of winegrowers in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Since then the house has been extended and renovated several times.
- 2012
Organic in the cellar too
Laurent Bénard and his wife hold organic certification for their vineyards and, since 2012, also for their cellar practices. Wines from this organic line are bottled under the Laurent Bénard brand, while the classic range is still called L. Bénard-Pitois.
- 2026
The earliest harvest in the house's history
In 2026 the house began harvesting on 18 August, the earliest in its history, and finished on 26 August. Yields were reduced by spring frosts, drought and successive heatwaves, but the grapes were healthy.
People
Laurent Bénard
An engineer by training. Gault&Millau writes that he treats organic farming as a means, not an end, and subordinates it to the quality of his Champagnes.
Michelle Bénard-Louis
She has run the estate with her husband since 1991. Together they say on the house website that they are waiting for the fourth generation.
House style
The family has 9.5 ha in six Grand and Premier Cru villages: in the Grande Vallée de la Marne (Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Avenay-Val-d'Or, Mutigny) and on the Côte des Blancs (Bergères-les-Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger). Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay grow here, and the vines are on average 25 years old.
Laurent Bénard Champagnes are made from certified organic grapes. The soils are ploughed, the wines age in wood, the dosage is low or zero, and no sulphur is added at bottling. Gault&Millau describes the house style as leaning towards controlled oxidation, which makes these wines good companions at the table. The Champagnes go mainly to restaurants and hotels.
Vendange Extra Brut Premier Cru is a vintage Blanc de Noirs: the 2017 version was 60% Meunier and 40% Pinot Noir. Gault&Millau gave it 93/100.
Key cuvées
- Vendange Extra Brut Premier Cru
- A vintage Blanc de Noirs from Meunier and Pinot Noir; 2017: 93/100 Gault&Millau. We stock the 2018 vintage.Serving: roast poultry, veal with mushrooms, Comté.
- La Clé des Sept Arpents Extra Brut Premier Cru
- Non-vintage, mainly Meunier (66%) with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay; 92/100 Gault&Millau.Serving: charcuterie, pâté, beef tartare.
- Vibratis Brut Nature Premier Cru
- A vintage blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay with no dosage; 2015: 92/100.Serving: oysters, sashimi, ceviche.
- Vibrato
- The 2011 vintage rated 93/100.Serving: lobster, guinea fowl, aged Parmesan.
- Le Parc
- Pure Meunier from the 2020 vintage.Serving: roast pork, mushrooms, aged cheeses.
Curiosities
- The name La Clé des Sept Arpents refers to the arpent, an old French unit of area used before the hectare was introduced. source
- The same family makes Champagne under two brands: the classic L. Bénard-Pitois, with higher dosage and the Gourmandine Demi-Sec cuvée, and the organic Laurent Bénard. source
- The house's address is 23 rue Duval in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, but in official records it appears under the municipality of Aÿ-Champagne, formed by merging Aÿ, Bisseuil and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. source
- The family house's Brut Réserve (85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay) comes in half bottles, magnums and jeroboams, and some of the Chardonnay is fermented in casks. source
- In 2026 the house's harvest began on 18 August, the earliest in its history. The family writes that this is an exception which may recur in the future. source
Frequently asked questions
How does Laurent Bénard differ from Bénard-Pitois?
They are two brands of the same family from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. L. Bénard-Pitois is the classic range, with higher dosage and the medium-sweet Gourmandine. Under the Laurent Bénard name the family bottles its organic wines: Extra Brut and Brut Nature Champagnes with no sulphur added at bottling.
What style are Laurent Bénard Champagnes?
Vinous, with a light, controlled oxidative note, as Gault&Millau describes it. The wines age in wood and have little or no sugar. These are Champagnes for the table, going mainly to restaurants and hotels.
What is Laurent Bénard Vendange Extra Brut?
A vintage Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs from Meunier and Pinot Noir; the 2017 version was 60% Meunier and was rated 93/100 by Gault&Millau. We stock the 2018 vintage.
What does the name La Clé des Sept Arpents mean?
“The key of seven arpents”. The arpent is an old French unit of area used before the hectare was introduced. The wine itself is a non-vintage Premier Cru Extra Brut, 66% Meunier, rated 92/100 by Gault&Millau.
Where do Laurent Bénard's grapes come from?
From 9.5 ha in six Grand and Premier Cru villages: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Avenay-Val-d'Or and Mutigny in the Grande Vallée de la Marne, and Bergères-les-Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger on the Côte des Blancs. The estate has been run since 1991 by Laurent and Michelle Bénard-Louis.
Other houses
All houses
Moët & Chandonpronounced mo-ET ay shahn-DOHN50 bottles
Dom Pérignonpronounced dom peh-ree-NYOHN27 bottles
Bollingerpronounced boh-lan-ZHAY19 bottles
Krugpronounced kroog13 bottles
Charles Heidsieckpronounced sharl ED-sik10 bottles
Veuve Clicquotpronounced vuhv klee-KOH11 bottles
Deutzpronounced duhts10 bottles
Lansonpronounced lahn-SOHN10 bottles
Louis Roedererpronounced lwee ROH-duh-rer9 bottles- Marguetpronounced mar-GAY10 bottles
- J-M Sélèquepronounced zhee em seh-LEK10 bottles
Ruinartpronounced rwee-NAR8 bottles
Sources
- Champagne Bénard-Pitois - house website
- Gault&Millau - Laurent Bénard
- Gault&Millau - Laurent Bénard Vendange 2017
- Gault&Millau - La Clé des Sept Arpents
- Vinissimus - Champagne Laurent Bénard
- Wikipedia FR - Arpent
- Wikipedia FR - Aÿ-Champagne
Photos: Fab5669, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons); October Ends, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons).
