Sténopé is a collaboration between Champagne Devaux’s cellar master Michel Parisot and Michel Chapoutier, the renowned winemaker from the Rhône Valley. Sténopé takes its name from classic Greek: stenós means narrow while opê means hole, recalling the first photographic devices that “capture an image of reality – the very best portrait of a season.”

The idea of the collaboration was born in 2008, the project started with the purchase of a vineyard in Les Riceys in 2007 – a quintessential Pinot Noir village in the Côtes des Bar – co-owned with Chapoutier. Sténopé is made from the best wines from this and other parcels, partly owned by the house, partly by Chapoutier. The decision was made to produce Sténopé in every vintage. The first vintage launched was 2008 and released in 2015.

Michel Parisot, cellar master at Champagne Devaux noted that Sténopé is made from equal portions of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. 80 % of the base wines were matured in barrel and none went through malolactic fermentation.

2011 as a vintage held much terror: spring frost, drought, thunderstorms and excessive rain. Selection was key. Just 6,387 bottles and 893 magnums of Sténopé 2011 were made.