Tiny, highly specialized, and family-owned, H. Billiot Fils is a perfect symbol for 'the New Champagne', where artisanal small growers now challenge the domination of the formerly all-powerful negotiant houses.  Owned and farmed by Serge Billiot and his daughter Laetitia, the Billiot vineyards have been owned by the family since the early 20th century.  While pressing grapes for Mumm and Moet & Chandon, Serge's great-grandfather Louis Billiot decide to bottle some of his own wine - a radical concept at the time. Henri Billiot (Serge's father) created Champagne H.Billiot et Fils after he inherited the vineyards. Serge took over in 1954. Today, Laetitia has taken over most of the day-to-day activities from her father and she is a force to be reckoned with.

The estate comprises of 5 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards spread across 18 different mid-slope parcels of limestone in Ambonnay, in the heart of the Montagne de Reims. Total production is just 3,750 cases per year. The wines are fermented in enamel-lined steel vats with both cuvée prestige Laetitia'( named after Serge's daughter) and 'Julie' (named after Serge's Grand-daughter) aged in old oak barrels. Malolactic fermentation is blocked, as the wines are already quite rich due to the maturity of the vines. The wines are neither fined nor filtered.

Ambonnay is classic pinot terroir, so it is not surprising that 75% of Billiot's vineyards are pinot noir, with the remaining 25% devoted to chardonnay. The house style is firmly dictated by the structure, depth and vibrancy of pinot noir, yet the judicious use of chardonnay provides an ineffable elegance. The non-vintage Brut Reserve and Rose offer unbeatable value for money.