Ployez-Jacquemart
Overview
Grower Champagne house in Ludes on the Montagne de Reims, run by Laurence Ployez. Flagship ‘Liesse d’Harbonville’: 70% Chardonnay / 30% red grapes (Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier). Fully barrel-fermented in 2–3yo Burgundy barrels, no malolactic fermentation, aged 15–18 years sur latte (among the longest in Champagne), dosage ~3g/L. Current release: 2005. One of Champagne’s most distinctive and potentially longest-lived Têtes de Cuvée.
Appellations
Key Wines
Liesse d’Harbonville (Tête de Cuvée — prestige) 70% Chardonnay / 30% Pinot Noir (sometimes with Meunier); fully barrel-fermented; no malo; 15–18 years sur latte; dosage ~3g/L. Current release: 2005. Among the longest-aged Têtes de Cuvée in Champagne. See 2024 Burgundy Vintage VFTC #121 notes for 2005 tasting.
Extra Brut Vintage (non-prestige vintage bottling) Separate from the Liesse d’Harbonville Tête de Cuvée. In 2008: 50% Chardonnay / 25% each Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier; disgorged March 2018 after 9 years sur latte; dosage just under 4g/L.
- 2008: 94+ (VFTC #118) — “impressively youthful”; still in climbing mode; pear, apple, brioche, chalky soil, almond, spring flowers; 2028–2060
Extra Brut Rosé (NV, often vintage-specific; Laurence Ployez) The Rosé is sometimes a pure vintage wine; in some years she blends in reserve wines from 1–2 preceding vintages. Consistent dosage of ~4.5 g/L across all vintages tasted. Cépages typically: 45–64% Chardonnay, 30–60% Pinot Noir, 0–25% Pinot Meunier; 10–20% of Pinot Noir component is still red wine from the village of Avenay. A percentage of vins clairs may be blocked from malolactic fermentation.
Six vintages tasted for VFTC #120 Rosé aging study (2002–2012 base years):
| Base Year | Score | Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 94 | 2025–2055+ | Vintage wine; 50/50 Chard/PN; tangerine, cherries, chalk, rose petals; “simply great” |
| 2011 | 93 | 2025–2045+ | 25% reserve wines from 2010; 54/46 Chard/PN; crisp, precise, decades ahead |
| 2005 | 93 | 2025–2045+ | Vintage wine; 63/37 PN/Chard; 20% still red; 50% no malo; brilliant at 20 years |
| 2004 | 93 | 2025–2050 | Vintage wine; 1/3 each PN/Chard/Meunier; fully at apogee; “fine, fine juice” |
| 2003 | 92 | 2025–2045 | 10% reserve from 2002; 45/30/25 Chard/PN/Meunier; 10% still red; fully mature |
| 2002 | 94 | 2025–2050 | 40% reserve from 2001; 60% PN; at apogee; wild strawberries, blood orange, chalk |
Style Notes
Ployez-Jacquemart wines are defined by exceptional longevity and a less vinous, more precise style of Rosé — one of the reasons they age with such refinement. Gilman: these “are certainly not going to drink young” (re: Liesse), and the Rosé bottlings confirm this philosophy: even the 2002 base year is still vibrant at 23 years of age.
Source Notes
VFTC #121 (pages 136–169): Liesse vertical tasting. VFTC #120 (pages 1–22): Rosé aging study — six-vintage Extra Brut Rosé study (2002–2012 base years); Laurence Ployez personally sent bottles for the feature.
My Tastings
(none yet)
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Jan-Feb 2026 #121.pdf(pages 136–169) — Liesse d’Harbonville verticalsources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Nov-Dec 2025 #120.txt(pages 1–22) — Rosé aging study; six-vintage Extra Brut Rosé seriessources/articles/VFTC/VFTC July-August 2025 #118.txt— 2008 Extra Brut Vintage (94+); dosage essay context