Champagne & Sparkling
In 1668, Dom Pérignon is said to have discovered how to make sparkling wine; today his technique is used the world over, although Champagne continues to make some of the finest. France’s most northerly wine region, Champagne is now home to 15,000 growers and 290 ‘houses’. A blend of grape varieties is usually required: white Chardonnay to add fruit and elegance, and two reds – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – to provide body and backbone.
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Berry Bros. & Rudd Champagne by Mailly, Grand Cru, Brut
Sourced from the prestigious Grand Cru village of Mailly, our Own Selection Champagne is a classic blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay. With more than three years Eageing, it is a delightfully complex example of non-vintage Champagne. Aromas of brioche and flowers draw you in on the nose. The palate is elegant, marrying notes of lemongrass, gingerbread and honeysuckle.
Ready to drink now
Davy Żyw, Champagne Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd -
Champagne Bollinger, Special Cuvée, Brut
This is gleaming gold in the glass. The nose entices with yellow fruit, ginger and hot buttered scones, while the palate is softly foaming, powerful and utterly delicious. The fine mousse aids textural complexity. Flavours weave between the immediate satisfaction of baked plum crumble with cream, and serious, savoury Pinot musk from the thoroughbred chalk terroir, the maturity of the base vintages and evolution in bottle. The finish is mineral, golden, expansive and dangerously moreish.
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & RuddChampagne Bollinger, Special Cuvée, BrutChampagne Bollinger, Special Cuvée, BrutBottle Price 75 cl $96 -
Gusbourne Estate Sparkling Rosé, Kent
Gusboune’s sparkling rosé (de facto although not de titulos) 2010 is a fine blend of 39% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, and 21% Pinot Meunier. The proximity of the coast ensured a milder autumn in 2010 than elsewhere and more than satisfactory ripening. Red wine is added, as with most Rosé Champagne and the wine marries red fruit flavours, with a fine mousse and an elegant sherbet finish.
Excellent with strawberries and summer pudding, or, per Gusbourne, with sorbet and tarte tatin. Good matches one and all!
Simon Field MW – Wine BuyerGusbourne Estate Sparkling Rosé, KentGusbourne Estate Sparkling Rosé, KentBottle Price 75cl $45 -
2008 Champagne J.L. Vergnon, Confidence, Blanc de Blancs, Brut NatureA gifted and well-known oenologue, Christophe Constant at Vergnon has excellent raw materials to work with, helped by the situation of his vines. His philosophy is to nurture ripe and mature Chardonnay, usually from old vines, to eschew malolactic fermentation, and to allow the wines a lengthy maturation pre (and post) disgorgement, to facilitate integration and presage a potential for lengthy ageing. A very sound philosophy indeed it would seem.
Barrel-fermented with zero dosage, this is a definitive statement, if one puts thoughts of Krug’s Clos de Mesnil momentarily to one side, of oak-fermented Champagne from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The oak does not mask the steely linear purity that has made this village’s wines so famous, but adds texture and hints of sourdough, tarte tatin and fig; resplendent complexity, in other words, to adorn a cerebral core. -
1999 Champagne Laurent-Perrier, Late Disgorged Vintage, Brut (22/04/21)Only in magnum. 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir form top crus. Disgorged on 22 April 2021. Dosage 7 g/l.
Honeyed straw colour. Tingly, vibrant nose with great energy even if without a massively deep undertow. Real grip and presence on the palate. And impressive persistence. But it's a sprightly wine rather than one in which pronounced autolysis has been sought.
Drink 2022 - 2026
Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com (Jun 2022) -
2005 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux Gamins
Made from Chardonnay grapes from an old, 100 % Grand Cru vineyard in Avize, La Vigne aux Gamins is a unique Cuvee full of love and flavour. The wine has a very clear, almost limpid colour and delicate bubbles. The nose develops very subtly Aromas of prune whilst aerating the wine reveals notes of cooked fruits, brioche and the lovely lingering finish of a great terroir. La Vigne aux Gamins is free of all embellishments, making it an exceptionally pure Champagne.
{***}{region}Champagne{region} {color}White{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {vintage}2005{vintage} {ratings} []Wine Enthusiast:: 94/100{ratings} {***}
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Champagne Krug, Grande Cuvée, 170ème Édition, Brut
The latest edition of Grande Cuvée is a release I await with anticipation every year. This wine doesn’t disappoint in the slightest, although I was surprised at the delicacy of the wine vs. other recent vintages. The nose opens with fresh aromas of crushed flint, dried flowers and ripe citrus fruit. As the wine develops in the glass, richer notes of apricot, pineapple, marzipan and warm patisserie emerge. The palate is lively and mouthwateringly refreshing, with hints of lemon compote enveloped in Grande Cuvées trademark rich and nutty character. As is so often the case, I daydream of sipping alongside some fresh oysters.
Drink from 2024-2034.
Paul Keating, Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd -
2015 Champagne Louis Roederer, Rosé, Brut
The 2015 Brut Vintage Rosé is generous and demonstrative, bursting with aromas of peach, orange and pear mingled with hints of red berries, fresh bread and ginger. Full-bodied, layered and vinous, it's rich and enveloping, its textural attack segueing into an ample, fleshy core that's girdled by bright acids and enlivened by a pillowy mousse. Long and expansive, it's more generous and gourmand than its racier 2014 predecessor, but just as good.
Drink 2021 - 2031
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Sep 2021)
2015 Champagne Louis Roederer, Rosé, Brut2015 Champagne Louis Roederer, Rosé, BrutBottle Price 75cl $140 -
2008 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Extra Brut
Precision, pleasure & elegance is what I always associate with Billecart Salmon. And in a vintage as fabled as 2008, these hallmark traits are revealed in greater detail. The Billecart Vintage 2008 is pure joy, tiny, steady bubbles stream through wild gold in the glass.The nose is filled with baked russet apples, waxy lemons and the golden crumb of cherry crumble, all supported by the noble Pinot vinosity of Grand Cru terroir.
The palate is a roasted medley of peach, Red Macintosh and white cherry, very seductive, very classy. Pinot noir leads the mid palate, earthy and richly textured, with the hallmark tension of the vintage extending the palate with an electric Cotes des Blancs, mouth-watering tang. The mousse is silky and seamless, the finish is tart tartin with saffron flecked Chantilly cream. The wine has benefitted from time in bottle, drinking beautifully now.
Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
2008 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Extra Brut2008 Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Extra BrutBottle Price 150cl $260 -
2017 Berry Bros. & Rudd English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs by Hambledon Vineyard, Hampshire, England
This is made for us by the celebrated Hambledon Vineyard. Bright, pure and refreshing, a neatly woven mousse supports notes of stone-fruit, gooseberry crumble and English meadow. The palate is foaming and firmly mineral, showcasing the quality of the Chardonnay from Hampshire’s pure chalk soils. This is the perfect partner for any celebration.
Davy Żyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2002 Champagne Pol Roger, Brut
It should come as no surprise that Pol Roger have delayed the release of their 2002 Vintage Champagne until 2012, in defiance of all commercial logic and the dictates of cash-flow. The reason is simple; 2002 is the best vintage in Champagne since 1990, a vintage which has not been equalled since and a vintage where the rewards of patience are and will continue to be very fine indeed. The wine was aged for nine years in Pol Roger’s famously deep cellars, kept at a constant 9 degrees, the perfect natural ambiance for gentle autolytic ageing and the nurturing of an exemplary equilibrium and a very fine and persistent mousse.
And as with all great things, fools rush in and the winemakers at Pol Roger, needless to say, are far from foolish. Indeed Cellar master Dominique Petit, formerly of Krug, is regarded as one of the greatest winemakers in the region and he knew from the out-set that the wine would need an unusually long cellaring before release. This, to borrow a phrase from another friend of Pol Roger, is his finest hour, thus far… The blend is a traditional one of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay; after the double-débourbage (cold-settling) the first fermentation is in stainless steel, kept relatively cool. A full malolactic fermentation ensues, followed by the second fermentation in bottle and then the lengthy slumber beneath Avenue de Champagne in Epernay. The bottles are hand – tuned by remueurs, the prestidigitatory efforts of whom ensure the completion of yeast autolysis and ensure a blameless richness and length on the palate.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer - June 20132002 Champagne Pol Roger, Brut2002 Champagne Pol Roger, BrutBottle Price 150cl $360 -
2005 Champagne Thiénot Cuvée Stanislas Blanc de Blancs
Firm and focused, with a creamy mousse supporting a subtle weave of lemon meringue pie, poached white peach, toasted almond and honey, showing a pronounced vein of smoky minerality that echoes on the finish. Drink now through 2025.
Wine Spectator 92/100{***} {region}Champagne{region} {color}White{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {vintage}2005{vintage} {ratings} []Wine Enthusiast::92/100 {ratings}{***}
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2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, BrutThe 2002 Dom Pérignon is unforgettable. Rich, sumptuous and flamboyant to the core, the 2002 captures all of the radiance of a year in which ripeness in the Chardonnays was pushed to the edge. The 2002 is oily and viscous on the palate, with tremendous textural resonance in all of its dimensions.
Tropical fruit, pastry and exotic floral notes all build as the 2002 opens up with air. I can still remember the first time I tasted the 2002, here in the Hautvillers cloister, with former Chef de Caves Richard Geoffroy. It was thrilling back then, and is every bit as memorable today.
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2019)2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Brut2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, BrutBottle Price 75 cl $454 -
2008 Rare Champagne, Millésime, Brut
The Millésime Rare is an absolutely delicious Champagne, and a wonderful example of the quality of the 2008 vintage. Made up of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, all grapes for the wine were sourced from Grand Cru villages. Initially delicate on the nose, it opens up in the glass to show aromas of sweet peach, dried flowers, almonds and white pepper. The palate is ripe with a rich mousse; it’s zesty and refreshing, with hints of pineapple, blood orange, liquorice and freshly-baked pastries.
Drink 2022 E2035
Paul Keating, Private Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Nov 2021)2008 Rare Champagne, Millésime, Brut2008 Rare Champagne, Millésime, BrutBottle Price 75 cl $293 -
2012 Champagne Veuve Clicquot, La Grande Dame, Brut
The 2012 La Grande Dame is a pretty wine, but it is starting to show the first signs of aromatic development. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it is something readers should keep in mind when deciding when to open this. I would not push my luck on aging. Dried pear, ginger, crushed flowers and spice fill out the layers nicely in a gentle, open-knit Champagne to drink over the next 5-10 years.
Drink 2023 - 2030 -
Champagne Frédéric Savart, Éphémère 022, Blanc de Blancs, 1er Cru, Extra Brut (Base 2018)
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2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut
This is an incredible rosé with super fine tannins that are layered and caress the palate, giving this Champagne an incredible mouthfeel. Iron and stone in the nose. Iodine. Dried flowers as well as dried strawberries and peaches. It's full-bodied but not overpowering and shows super complexity. Chalky sensation as well. A truly great wine for the table. You sip and fall in love. Aged all this time in the cellar of Dom Perignon.
Drink or hold2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut2002 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, BrutBottle Price 75cl $744 -
2012 Champagne Bérêche & Fils, Montagne, Grand Cru, Brut
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2008 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut
Spring and summer were generally cool and overcast but the year was rescued by a beautiful September, but was it enough? Harvest began on 15 September. Red wines came from Champs de Linotte in Hautvillers (close to the seat of Dom P) and Vauzelles in Aÿ.
First bottle: Pale to mid salmon pink (much deeper than a typical Provence rosé). There's some note that's mineral or iodine or oyster shell on the nose of this. Then we segue into something floral – rose petals? even candied rose petals. This doesn't have quite the substance and undertow of the 2012 and 2003 P2 reviewed alongside. Perhaps it will develop it, but this bottle seems a bit simple. I will open a backup sample to check it out and ensure this is not a cork effect. There doesn't seem to be any TCA on the nose but there is a slight shortage of fruit and no great follow-through on the palate.
Second bottle: This bottle has more fruit on the palate but it still doesn't have real zest and tension. And it rather falls away on the finish. Mind you 2008 was a very grey, cloudy year.
Drink 2022 - 20272008 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, Brut2008 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Rosé, BrutBottle Price 75cl $660 -
1998 Champagne Philipponnat, Clos des Goisses, L.V., Brut
Disgorged in March 2023, the 1998 Extra Brut Clos des Goisses L.V. matured for 25 months in bottle and on lees. It reveals a brilliant, complex and intense bouquet with aromas of white pepper, smoke, orange peel, pastry, ripe fruits and flowers intertwined with a refreshing, delicate note of menthol. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and chiseled, it’s concentrated and racy with bright acids and an endless finish. Fully mature, it should age well over the next two to three years.
Drink 2023 - 2035 -
Champagne Emmanuel Brochet, Rosé de Saignee, Extra Brut
The 2019 Extra-Brut Rosé de Saignée is produced from organically farmed old-vine Pinot Meunier grown in Villers Aux Noeuds that Brochet purchases from another grower. Bursting with aromas of raspberries, plums, sweet berries, peonies and orange, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a textural, enveloping profile and a broad, expansive finish. Avoiding any of the ponderousness that can sometimes mar this style of rosé, especially when the grapes get very ripe, shows all the precision typical of this producer's style.
Drink 2021 - 2026 -
Champagne Krug, Rosé, 20ème Édition, Brut
A distinct coppery colour with amber highlights. Superbly pretty. I noticed this particular bottle has six years of cork-ageing after being disgorged in the winter of 2015. The wine is moving into early mature middle age, showing tantalising complexity now: a touch of toffee, walnut, rich tea biscuit and sweet prunes. There is a silk mousse texture and it is all zipped up with a precise and bracing redcurrant racy finish. Quite a finale, positive freshness which promises more to come.
Drink 2022 - 2030Champagne Krug, Rosé, 20ème Édition, BrutChampagne Krug, Rosé, 20ème Édition, BrutBottle Price 150cl $1,200 -
2008 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut
The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up.
One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers, orchard fruit build into the explosive, resonant finish.
“We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then,” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.”
Drink 2020 - 20502008 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut2008 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, BrutBottle Price 150cl $2,200 -
2002 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut (2020 Late Release)
The 2002 Cristal is now entering its first plateau of maturity, making it a terrific Champagne for drinking. Hints of apricot, brioche, lemon confit, honey, hazelnut, baked apple tart and spice give the 2002 striking layers of nuance.
Rich and generous, the 2002 shows plenty of the natural opulence of the year and yet retains terrific freshness. Cristal is a blend of Pinot from Ay, Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont sur Vesle, and Chardonnay from Mesnil, Cramant and Oger.
The dosage is 9 grams per litre. This is the original 2010 disgorgement. What a wine.
Drink 2019 - 2039
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (December 2019) -
1990 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Brut
This is a wine that I know extremely well from 750 ml and it's one that is beginning to tire though I hasten to point out that it's still enjoyable and just beginning to show signs of fatigue. However there are no such concerns with the same wine from magnum that remains magnificently fresh and while it's clear that the aromas are mature, that's not at all the same thing as describing the yeasty and baked apple suffused nose as tiring.
There is equally good depth and vibrancy to the beautifully delineated flavors that are supported by a fine and firm mousse that allows the texture of a well-aged Dom to be easily appreciated. For my taste this has arrived at its peak though note well that it should easily be capable of effortlessly holding for years to come.
Drink now
Allen Meadows, Burghound.com (October 2015)
1990 Champagne Dom Pérignon, Brut1990 Champagne Dom Pérignon, BrutBottle Price 75cl $1,100 -
1985 Champagne Krug, Collection, Brut
Tasted from magnum, the 1985 Krug Collection is a poignant reminder of just how well Champagne ages in the big bottle. Extraordinarily complex and yet so subtle, the 1985 is utterly captivating. A slight hint of Burgundian reduction adds aromatic nuance and intrigue as this stellar, silky Champagne shows off its pure pedigree.
The 1985 is at a glorious peak of expression, but has more than enough freshness to drink well for another 10-15 years, perhaps more. What a wine.
Drink 2016 - 2026
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (October 2016)
1985 Champagne Krug, Collection, Brut1985 Champagne Krug, Collection, BrutBottle Price 150cl $5,000 -
Champagne La Closerie, Jérôme Prévost, Les Béguines, Extra Brut
The NV Extra Brut Les Beguines is spicy, savoury and full of Meunier character. All it needs is time to soften and fully come together, as it has just been disgorged. Today, it is the raw energy that impresses me most. Dried pear, ginger, spice, dried herbs, anise and chamomile open gradually.
Time in the glass fills out the mid-palate and finishes nicely, giving a good idea of what is to come. This looks to be a medium-bodied, distinctly savoury, vintage for Les Beguines. This release is based on 2020, with 20% reserve wines from 2019. The dosage is 2.5 grams per litre.
Disgorged: October 2022.
Drink 2024 - 2032 -
Champagne Louis Roederer, Collection 242, BrutIt was a brave decision for Champagne Louis Roederer to replace their flagship, bestselling Brut Premier. But Louis Roederer have a reputation for boldness, driven by excellence. In the face of global warming, Chef du Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has described the challenge of making this Champagne as ""fighting for freshness"". The style of this wine is a seamless transition from the Brut Premier, with the same drinkability, vinous detail and hallmark quality. Cleverly utilising a new perpetual reserve based on acidity and minerality, Jean-Baptiste has futureproofed the wine's freshness and style. The collection number represents the number of times they have made a multi-vintage since Louis Roederer was established in 1776.
This wine is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, from Louis Roederer’s owned Grand and Premier Cru vineyards. It's based on the 2017 vintage, with the addition of special reserve wines held in oak and steel. These have been chosen to add complexity and depth, but also freshness. It's been aged on the lees for at least three years, giving Collection 242 incredible elegance, with a silk-like mousse and notes of red apple and yellow plum. It shows remarkable purity of fruit, with floral highlights and a delicious pain au raisin character. But, as with all of Louis Roederer cuvées, it has an electric chalky freshness which extends the enjoyment of this magnificent multi-vintage cuvée.
Drink now to 2030.
Davy Żyw, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (Oct 2021) -
2006 Champagne Thienot Brut Millesime
A rare Champagne made only from red grapes, this dry wine is marked by an intense acidity that needs time to soften. At the moment, lemon flavor dominates, but with time, the crispness of fruit should round out. It's a wine that should age for many years. Drink from 2015. - Wine Enthusiast 90/100
2006 Champagne Thienot Brut Millesime2006 Champagne Thienot Brut MillesimeBottle Price 75cl $146 -
Hambledon, Classic Cuvée, Sparkling, Hampshire, England
52% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir, and 17 % Pinot Meunier from the 2018 harvest, with tank-aged reserve wines added. Dosage 5.7 g/l.
Hambledon Vineyard has a long and fascinating history. Not only does the village have the reputation as the cradle of cricket, long before Lord’s, it seems, but it is also the location of the first English commercial vineyard, courtesy of the Francophile Sir Guy Salisbury Jones, who developed the vineyards in the early 1950s. After an uneventful hiatus, the vineyard was purchased by Ian Kellett in 1999, and his investments of both patience and capital are now yielding fruit, quite literally, in the form of some of the best-located Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes in the country.
Fruits of the 2011 harvest, with reserve sines added from 2010, this is a most impressive effort, its lees-ageing imparting gentle biscuity notes and adding weight and structure to the first impressions, which recall English orchard fruit, yellow fruits and quince.
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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1996 Champagne Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
The 1996 Dom Ruinart is beginning to enter the second stage of its life post-release, where the aromas and flavours are starting to show hints of development. Orange peel, apricot jam, spices and mint are vivid and beautifully delineated in the glass. The 1996 remains fresh and vibrant on the palate, with remarkable depth and more than enough pure intensity to drink well for another 15-20 years. Readers looking for a 1996 Champagne to drink now will find considerable pleasure in the 1996.
Drink 2014 - 2031
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2014) -
2002 Champagne Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
Still a stunner, the 2002 Dom Ruinart is just as gorgeous as it has always been. Warm, toasty notes meld into apricots, succulent peaches, white flowers and spices in a rich, expansive Champagne that captures the year's essence.
The 2002 is pure, full-throttle opulence, yet all the elements are very much in balance. A creamy, resonant finish rounds things out in style. Multiple tastings have shown that the 2002 is shutting down in bottle, so my suggestion is to be patient.
What a gorgeous wine this is. This bottle was disgorged in March 2012.
Drink 2014 - 2032
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2014) -
Champagne Ulysse Collin, Les Maillons, Blanc de Noirs, Extra Brut (Base 2018)
Disgorged in 2022 after 36 months in tirage, the NV Extra-Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Maillons (2018) is based on the 2018 vintage, incorporating fully 60% reserve wines from the 2017 vintage.
Opening in the glass with scents of sweet mirabelle plum, honeycomb, orange oil, bee pollen and spices, it’s full-bodied fleshy and seamless, with a satiny attack that segues into a vinous, enveloping mid-palate that’s complemented by a fine, pillowy mousse.
Concluding with a sapid, penetrating finish, 2018 was the first vintage in which Collin employed his new Coquard press, and it doesn’t seem fanciful to imagine that this contributes to the notable finesse of this release.
Drink 2022 - 2035
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (August 2022)
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1998 Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
The 1998 Comtes de Champagne is a different story altogether. This is a sexy, up-front Comtes endowed with lovely richness in its fruit and open, expressive aromatics. It remains an impressive, inviting Comtes that should also continue to develop nicely in the bottle for at least another decade plus. - Vinous
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Champagne Marie-Noëlle Ledru, Grand Cru, BrutChampagne Marie-Noëlle Ledru, Grand Cru, BrutChampagne Marie-Noëlle Ledru, Grand Cru, BrutBottle Price 75cl $330
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Champagne Clandestin, Les Semblables Boreal, Brut Nature
Derived from the 2019 vintage, Benoît Dussot's NV Brut Nature Les Semblables (Boréal) is derived from north-facing holdings. Wafting from the glass with scents of crisp pear, citrus oil, white flowers and buttery pasty, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and chiselled, its fleshy core of fruit girdled by racy acids.
Originally from Beaune, Benoît Doussot arrived in Champagne in 2015 after a stint at Domaine Fichet in Meursault. Working at Vouette & Sorbée, he perceived that organic growers were selling their fruit to big houses and the local cooperatives for no premium, and he set out to change that. Today, Doussot works with some 12 hectares of vines, farmed by nine different vignerons, divided among 18 parcels. In sourcing, he's looking for the second terrace of Kimmeridgian limestone; and all his cuvées are derived from a single vintage, a single grape variety and this same terrace, differentiated by their different expositions.
Drink 2023 - 2030
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (August 2023)
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Champagne Domaine Nowack, Les Arpents Rouges, Extra Brut
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2004 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux Gamins
Made from Chardonnay grapes from an old, 100 % Grand Cru vineyard in Avize, La Vigne aux Gamins is a unique Cuvee full of love and flavour. The wine has a very clear, almost limpid colour and delicate bubbles. The nose develops very subtly Aromas of prune whilst aerating the wine reveals notes of cooked fruits, brioche and the lovely lingering finish of a great terroir. La Vigne aux Gamins is free of all embellishments, making it an exceptionally pure Champagne.
2004 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux Gamins2004 Champagne Thiénot La Vigne aux GaminsBottle Price 75cl $170 -
2014 Champagne Ayala, No. 14, Rosé, Extra Brut
The nose is layered with delicate floral notes and hints of cherry. The palate is incredibly bright and vibrant, with bundles of pink grapefruit and blood orange encompassed in a lively mousse. With the blend favouring Chardonnay, there are hints of tropical fruits too. This is drinking wonderfully now and will age well over the next six years.
Drink 2022 - 2030
Paul Keating, Senior Account Manager, Berry Bros. & Rudd
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2012 Champagne Gosset, Célébris, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
The colour is golden with emerald reflections and particularly fine bubbles. The nose is fresh, with a hint of menthol spicing up the fruity aromas of pink grapefruit and frangipane. On the palate, the wine evokes a range of gourmet aromas: apples baked in salted butter, tarte tatin, far breton. This subtle complexity is enhanced by a spicy touch of candied ginger and star anise. The long, tonic and mineral finish evokes fresh pineapples with a touch of citrus.
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2012 Champagne Pol Roger, Berry Bros. & Rudd 325 Years Limited Release, Brut (Disgorged December 2019)
The 2012 vintage continues to prove it is one of the greatest of this millennium. It was sunny, but low yielding and the resulting wines have concentration, opulence and are worthy of time in the cellar. This unique parcel, late disgorged exclusively for Berry Bros. & Rudd, gives the palate richer golden depth, but also freshness.
A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, the nose entices with roasted citrus, fig tarts and musky floral lift. The palate is a celebration of drinkability and complexity. The texture has a soft flow of fine mousse which carries the vintage’s richness in a cloud-like embrace. There are notes of peach, lemon meringue, the chewy corners of pâtisserie, and some depth of hazelnuts from evolution.
The finish is driven and typifies the grandeur of the vintage, but also the Grand Cru vineyards of Pol Roger. Everlasting, mineral elegance. Our 325th anniversary edition Pol Roger 2012 is testament to our enduring alliance with Pol Roger, but also the quality of their wines and the vintage.
Drink now to 2045
Davy Zyw, Senior Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd (October 2023)
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2004 Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
Les Comtes is one of the greatest of all Chardonnay Champagnes, its fruit sourced from the finest Grand Cru sites of the Côte des Blancs. Blue chip provenance includes the villages of Avize, le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cramant; it is the best of the best. Or, doubly appropriate given its luxuriant gustatory profile; la crème de la crème. 5% of the wine is aged in wood before spring bottling and the ensuing lengthy somnolence wherein the alchemical process of autolysis weaves its patient magic over nearly a decade.
2004 was an abundant crop, but also, unusually given its volume, one of high quality, especially in the south of the appellation and for the Chardonnay grape. Aromas of pear, greengage, bergamot and white flowers prove immediately attractive; the palate boasts precision, focus and a wonderful mousse bead. The immediate impression is of freshness and vitality; this is complemented by a profound yet subtle intensity that more than justifies the supreme reputation of this wine.
Ready to drink
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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Champagne Domaine Nowack, Autre Cru, Extra Brut
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Champagne A. Lamblot, La Coroche, Brut Nature (Base 2022)
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Champagne Emmanuel Brochet, Le Mont Benoit, Extra Brut
Emmanuel Brochet derives from a farming family in a part of Champagne that converted from viticulture to agriculture (more lucrative, given their proximity to Reims) in the aftermath of phylloxera. One of the remaining outposts of the vine is the Mont Benoît, where his grandparents had some 2.5 hectares contracted out. So, in 1997, Brochet took over and started a project of his own—a choice he made freely and enthusiastically, he emphasizes, rather than out of obligation.
Emmanuel Brochet's brilliant NV Extra-Brut Le Mont Benoit is the finest rendition of this cuvée that he has produced to date. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of waxy citrus rind, crisp stone fruit, bread dough, beeswax and nutmeg, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and vinous, exhibiting terrific concentration without weight, uniting the full maturity of the vintage with the pillowy, chalky signature of the Mont Benoit. Complex and compelling, this release underlines Brochet's status as one of the reigning champions of artisanal Champagne.
Drink 2023 - 2040
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (December 2023)
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2010 Gusbourne Estate, Rosé, Sparkling, Kent
From what is fast becoming one of the great names in the English sparkling wine firmament, this delivers on all fronts. It has an enticing pale salmon-pink colour with fresh red-berried fruit aromas that follow through delightfully on the palate. Made from a blend of the three classic Champagne varieties, the Chardonnay provides a real freshness to the ripe Pinot fruit. Perfect for summer or to brighten up colder, darker weather.
Edwin Dublin, Champagne Specialist -
2009 Gusbourne Estate, Blanc de Blancs, Sparkling, Kent
An outstanding Chardonnay from the most exciting of all the current English sparkling wine producers (there is now very stiff competition), the 2009 has been aged for 36 months on its lees, and has undergone full malolactic fermentation. The wine has an impressive toasty depth, seldom hitherto encountered in England, with all the freshness and vivacity that we have come to expect from these patriotic sparklers.
The fruit character of tarte tatin and poached pear hints at an impressive ripeness, a ripeness that is naturally present and not in any way forced by an excessive dosage. All in all, very impressive indeed. Bravo M. Holland (and I don’t mean the gentleman, who, at the time of writing, is the President of France!).
Simon Field MW - Wine Buyer -
2007 Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
Taittinger's 2007 Comtes de Champagne will be nearly impossible to resist upon release. Soaring aromatics, mid-weight structure and soft contours give the 2007 its alluring personality. Lemon oil, white flowers, mint, chamomile and green pear add brightness and freshness throughout, with a persistent, clean finish that makes it impossible to resist a second taste.
Today, the 2007 comes across as a slightly more open version of the 2004, with freshness that makes that wine so appealing, and a touch of textural richness that recalls the 2002. Although the 2007 does not have the explosive energy or verticality of the profound 2006, it will drink better earlier. The 2007 has been positively brilliant on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.
Drink 2018 - 2047
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2018)
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2014 Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut
71% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay with 25% vinified in oak tuns and 20% malolactic fermentation. RS 8 g/l.
There is real savour of age on the nose of this wine, which seems to have considerable development. Something very appetising on the palate but with the intrigue of the age on the nose. It may have 8 g/l dosage, but it tastes bone dry and extremely vibrant on the end. Only 20% malo presumably had an effect. Lots of wild-flower flavours Ea bit of a wild card overall.
Drink 2019 - 2027
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (October 2021)2014 Champagne Louis Roederer, Brut2014 Champagne Louis Roederer, BrutBottle Price 75 cl $130 -
2010 Champagne Dom Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs, Brut
At first glance, the champagne looks golden yellow, with light greenish hues and a fine, persistent sparkle.The first nose reveals a powdery, floral and mineral note evoking the chypre universe of perfumery. The second nose brings together toasted and spicy notes such as nutmeg mace, roasted hazelnut and almond, and a hint of coffee. Fig leaf aromas mingle with notes of black tea and fresh spices in the mouth. A lingering fresh finish is elevated by an elegant bitterness.
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2007 Champagne Thiénot Grande Cuvée Alain Thiénot
Dark black currant, plum violet and spicy aromatics lead to a silky elegantly textured palate showing great depth, tension and persistence.
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2007 Champagne Thiénot Grande Cuvée Alain ThiénotChampagne2007 Champagne Thiénot Grande Cuvée Alain ThiénotBottle Price 75 cl $146Bottle Price 150 cl $330 -
2006 Champagne Thiénot Cuvée Stanislas Blanc de Blancs
With fruit from the chalk vineyards of the Côte des Blancs, this wine named after Alain Thiénot's son Stanislas is tightly textured, mineral-driven, steely and crisp. Apple skins and lime juice feature along with a continuing freshness despite the wine's age.
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2007 Champagne Thiénot Cuvée Garance, Blanc de Rouges
An expressive version, with vibrant acidity providing fine cut, and flavors of wild berry, toasted brioche, orange pâte de fruit and clover honey riding the finely detailed bead. Smoky on the finish. Enjoy this rich, balanced version with food. Drink now through 2027. - Wine Spectator
{***}{region}Champagne{region} {color}Rose{color} {maturity}drink-now{maturity} {maturity-text}Drink now{maturity-text} {ratings} []Wine Spectator::92/100 []Wine Enthusiast:: 92/100 {ratings} {***}
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Champagne Thiénot Brut
This blend of the three classic Champagne grape varieties forms the signature Thiénot style of finesse, fruit and freshness, offering springtime notes, magnificent balance and a lingering finish. The Champagne House’s great classic.
Champagne Thiénot BrutChampagne Thiénot BrutBottle Price 37.5 cl $59 -
2007 Champagne Bollinger, RD, Extra Brut
Bollinger’s 2007 R.D. is superb, but it is also a wine that reflects the nature of a unique and challenging growing season. In most vintages the R.D. is marked by the distinct creaminess and breadth of Aÿ Pinot Noir. Two thousand seven, though, was a difficult year marked by very dry weather, rain at the end of the growing season and an early harvest in August, something that was not as common as it has become. Selection was essential. For the 2007, the blend is composed of just 14 villages compared to the more typical 18-25. Verzenay is the main Pinot component while Cramant plays the leading role in the Chardonnays. For these reasons, the 2007 is an R.D. driven by more focus, energy and tension than readers are used to seeing. Lemon confit, dried flowers, sage, mint, crushed rocks, almond and ginger are some of the aromas and flavors that give the 2007 its complex, multi-faceted personality.
The 2007 can be enjoyed now, but I would prefer to cellar it for a few years. It will age effortlessly for decades as it moves through the various phases of its life. I was reminded of the way Champagne can magically traverse time by magical bottles of the 1976 R.D. and 1996 Vieilles Vignes Françaises I tasted recently. The blend is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, 91% Grand Cru fruit and the rest Premier Cru. Bollinger fans will notice the return of the original label, with the disgorgement date clearly visible, a tribute to Madame Bollinger, who was a pioneer in so many ways. Disgorged: July 10, 2020. Dosage is 3 grams per liter.
Drink 2022-2047.2007 Champagne Bollinger, RD, Extra Brut2007 Champagne Bollinger, RD, Extra BrutBottle Price 75 cl $343