From the Vaulted Cellars of Vertus: Rothschild Debuts Its First Single-Plot Champagne

Photo Credit: Barons de Rothschild

Champagne Barons de Rothschild Marks 20 Years with a Historic Debut: Le Grand Clos 2019

A new chapter is unfolding in Champagne. To mark its 20th anniversary, Champagne Barons de Rothschild has inaugurated its newly restored cellar in Vertus — and unveiled something extraordinary: the House’s first single-plot cuvée, Le Grand Clos 2019.

Tucked beside the medieval village of Vertus in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, the historic Clos was acquired by the Rothschild family in 2013. Enclosed by centuries-old walls and planted with Chardonnay vines dating back to before the First World War, this 52-are monopole is now the soul of a singular cuvée — produced entirely within its own borders, for the very first time.

Photo Credit: Nicolas Gouhier

Fewer than thirty Clos exist in Champagne, and even fewer are vinified exclusively from within the vineyard walls. Le Grand Clos is one of them — and a rare expression of purity, precision, and place. Crafted from 100% Chardonnay, vinified entirely in oak barrels, and aged for 13 months on fine lees before spending another 55 months in bottle, this is not just a wine — it’s a time capsule.

The release is limited to just 1,788 individually numbered bottles, each presented in its own oak case and offered strictly by allocation.

Photo Credit: Nicolas Gouhier

The cuvée also marks the revival of a forgotten jewel: the original vaulted cellars, first built in 1874 and now brought back to life after a meticulous, multi-year restoration. Nestled beneath traditional timber roofing and overlooking the vineyard itself, the House’s new state-of-the-art vat room unites centuries of heritage with contemporary elegance.

A deep dive into Napoleonic-era cadastral archives has restored the vineyard’s rightful name — Le Grand Clos — and with it, a sense of grandeur worthy of the Rothschild legacy.

Photo Credit: Nicolas Gouhier

Read more about the De Rothschild family here