Adrien Dhondt – Le Projet AD is a highly confidential Champagne project dedicated to precise, parcel-driven expressions of the Côte des Blancs. Known for his work at the family domaine Dhondt-Grellet, Adrien Dhondt signs rare, chalky and deeply saline Champagnes shaped by Chardonnay, great village terroirs and minimal dosage.

Adrien Dhondt – Le Projet AD — Confidential parcel Champagne from the Côte des Blancs

Adrien Dhondt is one of the most closely followed names among the new generation of Champagne winegrowers. Known for his work at the family estate Dhondt-Grellet, he also develops a very limited production under his own name, through Le Projet AD, a confidential range focused on precise, site-specific Champagnes.

The project explores some of the most expressive terroirs of the Côte des Blancs, including villages such as Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Produced in tiny quantities, these Champagnes are sought after for their chalky depth, saline precision, vinous texture and highly individual character.

Origin and approach

Adrien Dhondt comes from the family background of Dhondt-Grellet, one of the admired grower domaines of the Côte des Blancs. His personal project allows him to explore a more intimate and experimental reading of Champagne, through small releases connected to specific villages, lieux-dits and vintages.

Le Projet AD is deliberately rare. Each cuvée is conceived as a singular expression, shaped by a precise origin rather than a house style. This limited production explains the growing interest surrounding these bottles among lovers of fine grower Champagne.

Terroirs: Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

The cuvées signed by Adrien Dhondt highlight some of the great Chardonnay villages of the Côte des Blancs. Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger each bring a distinct balance of ripeness, chalk, tension and mineral length.

Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in particular gives Champagnes of remarkable drive and precision, marked by citrus, white flowers, wet chalk and a long tactile finish. In the best releases, the intensity of the soil is matched by a refined, finely textured palate.

Vinification and ageing

The style is based on precise vinification, natural balance and careful ageing. The wines are handled in a way that preserves fruit depth, chalky vibration and the vinous dimension of Champagne, without masking the character of each terroir.

Dosage is kept very low, and certain cuvées may be released with no dosage at all. This approach gives Champagnes of tension, salinity and purity, with the ability to gain complexity after several years in bottle.

Champagne style

Adrien Dhondt Champagnes are defined by mineral intensity, aromatic precision and a deeply vinous texture. Chardonnay expresses notes of lemon, yuzu, yellow apple, pear, white peach, white flowers, fresh almond, wet chalk and fine brioche.

On the palate, the wines combine energy, depth and saline tension. The bubbles remain fine, the texture is dense without heaviness, and the finish extends with a long, straight and chalky persistence.

Iconic cuvées

Ageing and gastronomic pairings

Adrien Dhondt Champagnes can be enjoyed young for their purity and tension, but the most ambitious Chardonnay cuvées gain depth with time. Their low dosage, chalky structure and vinous dimension give them genuine ageing potential.

At the table, they pair beautifully with oysters, langoustines, shellfish, noble fish, creamy poultry, risotto, aged Comté, refined seafood dishes and gastronomic cuisine built around butter, citrus or fresh herbs.