Mouzon-Leroux is located in the grand cru village of Verzy on the northern Montagne de Reims. Passed down from father to son since 1776, it is now run by Sébastien Mouzon who has 8ha split into 65 parcels where the full 'encépagement Champenois' is represented: 60% pinot noir, 35% chardonnay, 5% arbane, pinot gris & blanc, meunier, and petit meslier. Sébastien started working biodynamically when he took over the reins in 2008, and more significantly, he was the earliest pioneer in the region to apply agroforestry principles – throughout the vineyards he has planted more than 700 trees, shrubs and hedges, plus 300 aromatic plants such as thyme, mint and oregano. Sheep and chickens are used for winter grazing, horses for ploughing, and Seb has built bat roosts as they help to control some unwanted insects. There is a sculpted, pristine purity and clear-fruited quality to all the Mouzon-Leroux champagnes thanks to the north-eastern exposure and exceptional viticulture.

L'Atavique is the domaine’s principal cuvée, a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay collected from all their holdings on the three hillsides of Verzy. It’s a blend of 55% 2019 and 45% 2018/17. It has a pale bright gold colour, delicate bubbles, a most attractive nose and palate, with lifted, stylish fruit and a good wisp of salinity on the finish. A real crowd-pleaser. Non dosé.