Champagne
Champagne
The chalky soils of Champagne combined with its frigid growing environment create wines that are electric and salivating. But it’s the creation of bubbles that makes these wines stand out.
The bubbles are formed during a secondary fermentation in bottle, known as Méthode Traditionelle. The longer they age, the more nougat and brioche flavours develop and the finer the bead (bubble) becomes.
In terms of who invented Champagne, the English make a strong case as they worked out the formula for purposely making the fizz happen and their stronger coal-fired glass bottles - resulting from the Industrial Revolution - could hold the pressure. Whereas the French were still bottling in wood-fired glass which wasn’t strong enough and they hadn’t cracked the technique of creating bubbles on purpose.
Grapes
White: Chardonnay
Red: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Styles
Nowhere in the world can emulate the fineness and electric detail of these wines. Non-vintage Champagnes should be enjoyed earlier in their lives, while vintage wines have more structure and can age beautifully. House styles differ too. Blanc des Blancs (100% Chardonnay) offer a more elegant and fragile expression while Blanc des Noirs (100% Pinot and or Meunier) are darker fruited with more obvious structure and power.
Favourite Producers
Pierre Peters, Louis Roederer, Vilmart, Andre Clouet, Taittinger, Larmandier, Egly-Ouriet, Jacques Selosse
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Dosnon Blanc de Noirs NV 1500mlMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
NVPinot noirFrance376$200.00 As low as $180.00 -
Laherte Freres Nature de Craie NVDisgorged April 2022. For a number of vintages, Aurélien Laherte has been experimenting with a sans soufre (zero sulphur) cuvée. In 2018 he cracked it with two barrels of Côte des Blancs juice, drawn from two Premier Cru terroirs in Vertus and Voipreux. Laherte noted that the key factors to the stability of vinifying in the absence of any additions were zero dosage and full malolactic conversion.
The third release of Laherte’s Nature de Craie is drawn from a single vintage (2020) drawn from parcels planted in 1960, 1965 and 1987. The word craie refers to the chalky soil of these terroirs, which lie on the lower slopes ensuring good exposure, in turn providing ripeness of fruit and no need for additional dosage. From hand-harvested and traditionally pressed fruit, this release was vinified in neutral oak barrels before aging on cork for 12 months. It was disgorged in April with no dosage. BibendumNVChampagneFrance376$205.00 As low as $184.50 -
Henri Giraud Blanc de Craie Grand Cru NVThe NV Blanc de Craie, 100% Chardonnay from vineyards in Aÿ and Louvois, is bright and finely sculpted, with terrific aromatic intensity, tons of nuance and all the vibrancy from the chalk-rich soils that give this cuvée its name. Citrus peel, white flowers, white pepper, mint and anise lead into the vivid, persistent finish. The Blanc is done entirely in oak, but it is neutral, so there is virtually no oak imprint at all in the flavors, only in the textural feel. One of the unique aspects of the Blanc de Craie is that the base vintage (2017 in this case) accounts for only 30% of the blend. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous.comChampagneFrance376$205.00 As low as $184.50 -
Hubert Soreau Le Clos l'Abbe 2013More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2013ChampagneFrance376$205.00 As low as $184.50 -
J-P Deville 'Millésime' Brut 2012From the 2012 vintage. 80% chardonnay 20% pinot noir 6g/l dosage.2012ChampagneFrance376$205.00 As low as $184.50 -
Bollinger PN VZ19Bollinger continues its quest to highlight its Pinot Noir expertise with arguably the most exciting and focused wine yet in the PN series, focusing on the grand cru village of Verzenay from 2019 (although backed up with reserves from all around the Montagne de Reims and Grande Vallée, 25% of which comes directly from magnums). It weaves a beautiful line between the clear, long and ultra-fine Pinot of Verzenay, mineral and understated, the quiet power of the 2019 vintage, and the stunning complexity of reserves. Roast apricot, scorched orange citrus and soft raspberry fruits are backed up beautifully by toasty nougat, cocoa and dried pear ageing characters. It's a striking wine of persistent, tightly packed quality, holding terrific mid-term potential. DECANTER
The NV (2019) PN VZ is another terrific wine in this new range of Champagnes from Bollinger that is now in its fifth release. Exotic floral and spice notes play off a core of Pinot fruit in this captivating, mid-weight offering. Time in the glass accents the wine's inner sweetness and perfume. Pear, mint, jasmine and white pepper linger. In this release, the (2019) PN VZ is like a mini-Vieilles Vignes Françaises. It's an incredibly racy, sexy Blanc de Noirs. This release is based on 2019, with 50% reserve wines back to 2009. About half of the reserve wines were aged in magnum ANTONIO GALLONI
Something new in the range, the NV Champagne PN VZ19 is 100% Pinot Noir from Verzenay. It's assertive on opening, with aromas of raspberries, fresh baked bread, black cherries, violets, wet stones, passionfruit, and sweet citrus. It brings forward a good deal of intensity on the palate, with a lot of purity and a distilled feeling, its black cherry fruit gliding through a long finish with a saline flourish. This lovely wine has a lot to offer now but will improve with time and is going have 15 or more years of longevity. There's a fresh umami feel through this wine JEB DUNNUCK
The latest rendition of Bollinger's blended blanc de noirs bottling is the NV Brut Blanc de Noirs PN VZ19; it is based on the 2019 vintage, which represents 52% of the blend, and the village of Verzenay, which accounts for the origin of 40% of this bottling's components. 2019 is complemented by fully 48% reserve wines, and above all, fully a quarter derives from 2009; and it has the tension of Verzenay by Aÿ, Avenay-Val-d'Or, Tauxières and Mutigny. If all that sounds complicated, the wine's appeal is easier to see, as it offers up a demonstrative bouquet of yellow stone fruit, mandarin and praline, followed by a medium to full-bodied, pure and pillowy palate that's charming, even giving, but also attractively racy, concluding with a saline finish. It was disgorged with six grams per liter dosage. This doesn't tower above its 2018-base counterpart (perhaps unsurprisingly, as the percentage of reserve wines in this bottling is so high), but it does seem to be marginally the strongest iteration of this cuvée to date. WILLIAM KELLEY
NVChampagneFrance376 -
Lassalle Cuvee Angeline 2009More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
NVChampagneFrance376$214.00 As low as $192.60 -
Pierre Gimonnet Special Club Cramant Grand Cru 2015The 2015 Brut Spécial Club Oger Grand Cru is an attractive, powerful wine. Citrus peel, white flowers, chalk and the savory notes typical of so many 2015 are nicely laced together. I would give the 2015 a year or two in the cellar to come together, as it is a bit disjointed at present, but I would not wait too long, as flavors that are savory today may very well develop into more overpowering vegetal notes over time. The Oger is a blend taken from the Terres de Noël, Brulis, Champ Nérons and Fondy lieux-dits. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: October 14, 2019. Antonio Galloni, VINOUS
2015chardonnayFrance376$214.00 As low as $192.60 -
Agrapart Terroirs Blanc de Blanc Brut Grand Cru NVBased on the 2019 vintage, but with a preponderance of reserve wines from 2018, Agrapart's NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Terroirs delivers notes of citrus oil, white flowers, freshly baked bread and hazelnuts, followed by a medium to full-bodied, creamy and satiny palate that's bright, lively and chalky. WILLIAM KELLEY
The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Terroirs Grand Cru is another terrific wine in the lineup this year. Chalk, white pepper, sage and mint meld into a core of lemon peel and crushed rocks. All the elements are so well balanced. An equal blend of 2019 and 2018 juice from 100% Grand Cru sites in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Oiry, the Terroirs saw natural fermentation and 100% malolactic fermentation. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. ANTONIO GALLONI
NVChampagneFrance376$215.00 As low as $193.50 -
Vincent Couche Millesime Extra Brut 2015Lots of concentration upfront, apples and stone fruit, all so fresh with limey acidity. it’s silky smooth in flow with a sea of fine bubbles. Chalky, succulent aftertaste with cinnamon dust and liquorice hint. Not much else to add, it’s a pure delight. 95 KASIA SOBIESIAK, the wine front2015ChampagneFrance376$215.00 As low as $193.50 -
Charles Heidsieck Brut Vintage 2013A blend of pinot noir and chardonnay from 10 grand and premier crus (Oger, Vertus, Chouilly, Cuis, Verzy, Aÿ, Ludes, Ambonnay, Tauxières, Avenay). 9g/L dosage. Drinking within 10 years. Charles Heidsieck2005ChampagneFrance376$220.00 As low as $198.00 -
Henriot Brut Vintage Rose 2008More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2008ChampagneFrance376$225.00 As low as $202.50 -
Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres 2018The 2018 Extra-Brut Les Couarres is a dense, potent Champagne. The blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay works so well here. A wine of substance and presence, Les Couarres impresses with its poise more than anything else. White flowers, kirsch, spice, Poire William and crushed rocks lend an exotic flair throughout. I especially admire the precision here. This is beautifully rendered. Dosage is 4-5 grams per liter. Disgorged: February 2023. ANTONIO GALLONI2018ChampagneFrance376$225.00 As low as $202.50 -
Delamotte Blanc de Blanc 2014The 2014 Blanc de Blancs is seriously impressive. Ample in feel, Delamotte is especially rich in 2014, and yet there is plenty of freshness to balance things out. This is an especially savory style for Delamotte, and one that works so well. Dried lemon peel, pastry, almond, dried herbs and chamomile open in a beautifully translucent Blanc des Blancs that marries power and finesse. I can’t wait to see how it ages. ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous2012Champagne, chardonnayFrance376$235.00 As low as $211.50 -
Dhondt Grellet Les Terres Fines (base 2019)More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
NVChampagneFrance376$235.00 As low as $211.50 -
Charles Heidsieck Rose 2012More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2006ChampagneFrance376$235.00 As low as $211.50 -
Larmandier Bernier Rose de Saignee Brut 1er Cru NVBased on the 2019 vintage, the new NV Extra-Brut Rosé de Saignée is a rich, gastronomic wine, delivering aromas of raspberries and cherries mingled with notions of kirsch, warm spices and petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with racy acids and a pretty pinpoint mousse, it's a vinous Champagne that would work well at table. WILLIAM KELLEYNVChampagneFrance376$240.00 As low as $216.00 -
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Les Orizeaux 2019More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019ChampagneFrance376$240.00 As low as $216.00 -
Chartogne-Taillet Chemin de Reims 2019The 2019 Extra-Brut Chemin de Reims is a bundle of focus and tension. I would prefer to cellar it for a few years, as it is quite tense. Chalk, crushed rocks, salt, white pepper, and mint all race across the palate. This chiseled Blanc de Blancs is terrific, a wine of tremendous substance and palate presence. This serious, contemplative Champagne is lights-out. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: January 2024. 96 ANTONIO GALLONI, vinous2019France376$240.00 As low as $216.00 -
Lassalle Cuvee Special Club 2013More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2013ChampagneFrance376$240.00 As low as $216.00 -
R.Pouillon Les Chatignieres Champagne NV100% pinot meunier
A sweetness here, not sweet-sweet, but there's a richness and fruitiness that comes with this wine. Also a splash of orangey-pink colour too. Scents of candied almond, white strawberry, sea spray, stone fruits, a touch of whisky, mandarin, unusually, it's outside of the box for sure. The palate repeats a similar profile, a touch of pink ham savouriness in there, the rest like the bouquet; light fizz, crunchy texture despite the fruitier profile. Creamy elements through the finish too. It's kind of all over the place but finds a coherency. A really compelling, talking point Champagne, and really enjoyable. MIKE BENNIE, winefront.com
Meunier a great grape for Champagne in the same way Aligoté is for Burgundy. White peach, almond, a bit of a musky and animal character, peanut shells. Juicy, a sweeter uptake of white nectarine and ginger, a bare tickle of bubbles, pulls dry and chalky on the finish. Some fino tang, a spicy barrel character. A bit overt. GARY WALSH, winefront.com
NVChampagneFrance376$240.00 As low as $216.00 -
Vouette et Sorbee Blanc dArgile Brut Nature R18(R18, disgorged Nov 2020. Magnums R19, disgorged Dec 2021). Within the cold, west-facing, Kimmeridgian limestone-rich lieu-dit of Biaunes, there is a small plot of Chardonnay that Gautherot planted wild: without preparing the soils and amongst the native vegetation (a totally crazy idea). The Côte des Bar is overwhelmingly planted to Pinot Noir, but in 2000 Gautherot chose Chardonnay. He used massale cuttings from Anselme Selosse’s vines (in Avize) and Vincent Dauvissat’s Valmur Grand Cru vineyard. This plot has become the base of what Antonio Galloni calls “one of the most beautiful and distinctive wines in Champagne.”
The vines here yield only 15 to 20 hl/ha each year—one of the keys to the intensity on offer. The 2018 and 2019 wines also took in some Chardonnay from Fonnet (from 2020, upcoming vintages will also take in Chardonnay from the Vouette vineyard, which was previously planted to Pinot Noir but was replanted to Chardonnay a number of years ago).
Fermentation for this wine was wild and took place in used 500- and 600-litre barrels, with a small portion of fruit fermented and raised in Georgian amphora (see Textures). As with the Fidèle, this wine spent roughly 15 to 18 months in bottle on lees, before being disgorged by hand with zero dosage.
2015Pinot noirFrance376$245.00 As low as $220.50 -
Frederick Savart L’ Ouverture NVThe NV Extra-Brut L’Ouverture is a bright, exuberant Champagne. Crushed rocks mint, white flowers, apricot, tangerine peel and citrus confit all race out of the glass. Bright and finely cut, this steely, delineated Champagne has a ton to offer. Time in the glass brings out burnished Pinot character and a good bit of breadth, but there’s a ton of Chardonnay-like vibrancy here too. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous.com
Savart's NV Brut Premier Cru L'Ouverture offers up expressive aromas of pear, honeyed orchard fruit, baking spices and fresh bread. Medium-bodied, lively and fine-boned, with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and a pinpoint mousse, it's an attractive wine that's showing well out of the gates. WILLIAM KELLEY, Wine Advocate
A very fragrant blanc de noirs with 20 per cent of the second press and three years on lees. The wild red fruit is super fresh, delicate and floral; the lees time has this on a neat, reductive edge. The palate is very fine, fresh and crisp. Great depth and elegance here. JAMES SUCKLING
NVChampagneFrance376$250.00 As low as $225.00 -
Henri Giraud Hommage au Pinot Noir NVA rich version set in a firm, finely honed frame, with exotic spice, lime blossom and orange liqueur notes forming an aromatic thread, which winds through raspberry tart, grilled nut, graphite and crystallized honey flavors. Silky in texture, with a long, mouthwatering finish. WINE SPECTATOR
The NV Hommage au Pinot Noir is silky, soft and accessible. Gentle hints of dried orchard fruit, spice, chamomile, lemon confit, dried flowers and a touch of oak all grace this restrained, classy Champagne. This release is based on 2019, with 40% reserve wines. Disgorged: November 15, 2022. Drinking window 2023- 2030. ANTONIO GALLONI
ChampagneFrance376$255.00 As low as $229.50 -
Frerejean Freres FJF 2012 Cuvée des HussardsNamed after the light cavalry of Napoléon Bonaparte, in which the soldiers were the first to use the art of sabring, the Cuvée des Hussards is powerful and expressive. This cuvee was elaborated from 85% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Noir coming from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards older than 40 years old. 2012 is regarded as the vintage of reference of the last decade.
"Pale and lively. Straight up the nose. Quite different from the wines so far. More lively and tense but good undertow. Fruit not oak expressed here. Racy with depth and undertow. Vibrant " 17/20 Jancis RobinsonNVChampagneFrance376$260.00 As low as $234.00 -
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvée Les Barres 2019More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2019ChampagneFrance376$270.00 As low as $243.00 -
Larmandier Bernier Terre de Vertus 1er Cru 2017The 2017 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus 1er Cru is creamy, open-knit and quite seductive. Readers will find a generous, sensual Champagne with plenty of early appeal. Vinification and aging in oak softens the contours. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint and chamomile build beautifully over time. This is a fine effort in a very challenging year. No dosage. Disgorged: May 2023. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
The 2017 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus, which derives from two east-facing plots within the same lieu-dit in Les Barillers, located mid-slope, imparts a very mineral, almost crystalline character. A vineyard that rarely produces powerful wines, even in the context of 2017, it has retained its personality, though it’s a little more generous and slightly less focused than the 2016 rendition. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of lemon peel, honeysuckle and oyster shell, it is medium-bodied, racy and saline-tinged and can be approached before the last year’s release. It was disgorged in May 2023. KRISTAPS KARKLINS, The Wine Advocate
Terre de Vertus is one of three single-terroir Blanc de Blancs produced at this estate and is certainly the most famous. It is from a parcel of vines on the chalky mid-slope of Vertus, traversing the 1er Cru lieux-dits of Les Barillers and Les Faucherets. These sites produce intensely mineral wines that recall the best of Le Mesnil (to the north) in their chalky raciness and drive.2017ChampagneFrance376$270.00 As low as $243.00 -
Frederic Savart Bulle de Rose NVGrapes from the village of Ecueil : 70% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay, 8% Pinot Noir (Red Wine), 6 g/L dosage. 80% stainless steel, 20% old oak barrels and partial malolacticNVChampagneFrance376$275.00 As low as $247.50 -
R. Pouillon Solera Premier Cru Extra BrutMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
NVChampagneFrance376$275.00 As low as $247.50 -
Henri Giraud Rose Dame JaneBeginning with the striking, pale copper color, this is very unconventional rosé champagne. Wonderful fruit aromas that range from cherry and wild strawberry to persimmon and candied orange with a touch of sushi ginger. Then comes the mouth-filling and well-structured palate that has an amazing grainy-chalky feel to it, unlike anything else in this category. Very long, saline finish. A cuvée of pinot noir with a small amount of chardonnay that was vinified in amphoras. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. JAMES SUCKLING
The NV Dame-Jane is 100% Pinot Noir vinified and aged in amphora. Bright and light on its feet, the Dame-Jane is brisk and yet also shows quite a bit of depth. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint, crushed rocks and hard candy all grace this super-expressive, mid-weight Rosé. This release is based on 2019, with 40% reserve wines. Disgorged: October 1, 2022. ANTONIO GALLONI
ChampagneFrance376$290.00 As low as $261.00 -
Pol Roger Brut Reserve NV Magnum 1500mlMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
NVChampagneFrance376$290.00 As low as $261.00 -
Vouette et Sorbee Blanc dArgile Brut Nature R20It's a super mineral, nutty wine with crunchy stone fruits. There is lovely, pulpy fruit but also racy, crunchy acidity and terrific length with a twist of pleasant astringency. It takes you (the 60 miles) to grand cru Chablis and back again. ROB WALTERS, importer
Review on a previous release
Proving superior Blanc de Blancs is quite possible in the Aube's Pinot Noir paradise, this opens with lemon cream and persistent white chocolate and nougat through the palate. Details of white flowers, peach and almond. Very gourmand and complex, and quite a counterpoint to the more austere Chardonnay Champagnes from further north. 100% Chardonnay. Single parcel. Oak fermented. TIM HALL, decanter.com2020chardonnayFrance376$300.00 As low as $270.00 -
R. Pouillon Les Blanchiens Champagne 201550% pinot noir, 50% chardonnay
The 2015 Brut Nature Les Blanchiens is a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay picked in the eponymous mid-slope parcel in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. It was aged for 12 months in oak before tirage, then aged for five years in bottle. A deep golden color moves on to a nose that opens with an initial tone of white lilies, followed by melted butter suffused with white pepper. Creamy mousse on the palate accentuates the essential saltiness and highlights the rye crumb and fresh brioche autolysis. This is rich and generous, from ripe and expressive grapes, from oak vinification but also from 2015. The salty verve in the background, however, provides ample balance and freshness. A rounded, gastronomic Champagne with much expression and a lasting, cleansing echo. Zero dosage. ANNE KREBIEHL MW
Putty and freshness and real zip. Yes! Super-refreshing with undertow. Long and just what you want from a serious aperitif champagne. JANCIS ROBINSON MW
Distinct, smoky elements on the nose with aromas of roasted almonds, crystallized ginger, croque monsieur, scamorza, preserved lemons and spiced pears. Medium-bodied, with sleek bubbles and tangy acidity. Toasty at the end with a long finish. 50% pinot noir and 50% chardonnay. JAMES SUCKLING
NVChampagneFrance376$310.00 As low as $279.00 -
Saint-Gall Blanc De Blancs Orpale 2008100% chardonnay from grand cru villages in the Côte des Blancs (Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant, Avize, Oger) from the 2008 vintage. 7g/l dosage
Luminous golden colour and fine cords of bubbles. The nose first reveals notes of citrus, candied lemon and yellow fruits. Then it evolves and reveals smoky notes of blond tobacco and roasted nuts. The finish is refreshing and long, ORPALE 2008 was imagined as a jewel of a cuvee. The 2008 Orpale is an exceptional, passionate cuvée that naturally has a special place at the table, served with gourmet aperitifs or with fine dishes during a meal. Domaine Wine Shippers, Importer
NVChampagneFrance376$315.00 As low as $283.50 -
Larmandier Bernier Les Chemins d'Avize 2014 Grand Cru Extra BrutMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2014ChampagneFrance376$320.00 As low as $288.00 -
Vilmart Coeur de Cuvee 201580% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir from vines averaging 60 years old, the wine spends nearly 6 years on lees. Most importantly only the heart of the pressing is taken - 1400 litres instead of the usual 2100 litres, hence the name 'coeur de cuvee.'
The 2015 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is a pretty dense wine that belies its deceptively mid-weight structure. What surprises me most about the 2015 is how closed it is. In most years, especially warm years, Coeur de Cuvée is quite a bit more open and voluptuous, but the 2015 does not come across like that at all. Rather, it is super-classic in bearing, with tons of gravitas from the 60-year-old vines just waiting to emerge. There are none of the awkward herbal notes that penalize so many wines. Bright saline notes extend the finish effortlessly. The 2015 is a brilliant Coeur de Cuvée. ANTONIO GALLONI
2015chardonnay, Pinot noirFrance376$325.00 As low as $292.50 -
Vilmart Emotion 201460% Pinot, 40% Chardonnay from vines averaging 60 years. This spends 6 years on lees.
Vilmart's 2014 Brut Rosé Emotion is laced with sweet dried cherry, dried herbs, blood orange and mint. It offers terrific breadth for the year, with the Pinot more in evidence than in the 2015 tasted alongside it (the blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay for both). Eight grams of dosage feels expertly judged. Disgorged: February 2022. ANTONIO GALLONI2014ChampagneFrance376$325.00 As low as $292.50 -
Vilmart Coeur de Cuvee 2016The 2016 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is an elegant, sensual Champagne. In other words, classic Vilmart. Crushed flowers, mint, chalk, slate, dried herbs and citrus peel are all beautifully delineated. Brisk acids wrap it all together in style. The 2016 needs a few years to be at its most expressive, as it is pretty reserved today. Even so, all the elements are impeccably put together. The barrels used here are one to three years old. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: September, 2022. (94+) ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous
Notes of honeysuckle and lime blossoms, blood orange peel, anise and cardamom are a fragrant overtone heralding this fresh Champagne, which shows good tension and drive. The refined, chalky mousse is lacy in texture, buoying finely meshed flavors of ripe apricot and quince paste, raw almond, vanilla wafer and candied ginger. Ends with a long, mouthwatering finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged September 2022. Drink now through 2036. (95) WINE SPECTATOR2016chardonnay, Pinot noirFrance376$340.00 As low as $306.00 -
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015This graceful Champagne offers hints of smoke and toasted brioche that transition to patisserie apple and blackberry fruit, candied ginger and mandarin orange peel notes. Seamlessly knit and mouthwatering, with a minerally underpinning and a finely detailed, dotted bead. Lush and creamy on the vibrant, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2035. 95 Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator2015ChampagneFrance376$345.00 As low as $310.50 -
Bollinger Special Cuvee NV 1500mlThe NV Brut Special Cuvée is fabulous. Hints of pears, pastry crust and hazelnut lead to an expansive core of fruit. There is plenty of the signature Bollinger oxidative style in this rich, enveloping Champagne. Once again the Special Cuvée is one of the best Champagnes in its price range. ANTONIO GALLONI
… The complexity and richness of Special Cuvée is unparalleled among the entry non-vintage blends of every Champagne house, short of ascending to the mesosphere of Krug. Its grand recipe explains why, built on incredible depth of 50%-60% reserves. Triumphant complexity is a given at Bollinger, but it's the dynamic freshness and vitality that really set it apart as one of the most affordable Champagne benchmarks. (96) TYSON STELZER
Like its rosé counterpart, the latest release of Bollinger's NV Brut Special Cuvée is showing especially well, bursting from the glass with aromas of honeyed apples, crisp stone fruit, buttery pastry, ripe lemons and fresh walnuts. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and vinous, with a deep core of beautifully ripe fruit, racy acids and a pillowy mousse, it's a charming, characterful wine that proves that Special Cuvée is firmly back where it belongs. WILLIAM KELLEY
NVChampagneFrance376$345.00 As low as $310.50 -
Larmandier Bernier Blanc de Noirs 1er Cru 2015Since the Larmandiers felt they had picked a touch too early to produce their emblematic rosé in the 2015 vintage, they elected instead to produce the 2015 Extra-Brut Blanc de Noirs, an attractively pillowy, racy, medium to full-bodied Champagne redolent of freshly baked bread, orchard fruit and buttery pastry. Concluding with a long, chalky finish, it represents a fine success. WILLIAM KELLEY
The 2015 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs 1er Cru is a new wine in this range that emerges from the deeper clay soils found in the southern part of Vertus. A brawny, potent Champagne, the Blanc de Noirs is endowed with tons of depth and some angularity that needs time to soften. It will be interesting to see where this goes in more favorable years. Zero dosage. ANTONIO GALLONI2015ChampagneFrance376$345.00 As low as $310.50 -
Dom Perignon 2013A driven and serious DP with aromas of chalk, biscuits, apricot stones and lemons. Some spice and dried flowers, too. So sleek and sophisticated. Elegant. Yet, it’s long and powerful, with a sharp minerality. Tight and precise. Reminds me of bottles from the 1980s, such as 1988. It really takes off. Disgorged October 2021. Drinkable on release in January 2023, but better in a couple of years. A DP for the cellar. JAMES SUCKLING2013ChampagneFrance376Special Price $375.00 Regular Price $420.00 -
Deutz Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2013100% chardonnay from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, with a little Oger, Chouilly, Vertus and 4% Ville Marmery; aged 9 years on lees; disgorged 31 May 2022.
There's a compelling contrast here between the elegance of the house in this cool, late harvest, and a real presence of confidence and intensity that encapsulate the strength of Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The dancing purity of the season furnishes a fantastic core of lemon, white peach, grapefruit and nashi pear, but faintly brushed with the brioche and honey of age, a quiet declaration of the slow-motion evolution of great things to come. The grand acidity of 2013 unites with a deep ocean of salt-infused minerality in a mesmerising upwelling of pure, crystalline chalk that glitters and froths though a finish of epic line and length. The cool, restrained mood of 2013 charges Amour with a surge of energy that thrusts it long into the future of potential, confirming a brilliant Blanc de Blancs and the greatest since the spellbinding 2008. Importer2012ChampagneFrance376$415.00 As low as $373.50 -
Bollinger Grande Annee Rose 2015More product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
2015ChampagneFrance376$420.00 As low as $378.00 -
Deutz Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs Vintage 2011Explosive aromas of toasty bready long-term less-matured complexities. Wonderful aged Chardonnay character, lovely refinement and tension on the palate, with finesse and piercing persistence. White flowers, citrus fruits, very detailed with no single thing dominating. The acidity is harmonious and refreshing on the dry, more-ish finish. HUONE HOOKE, The Real Review2009ChampagneFrance376$425.00 As low as $382.50 -
Carbon Brut NVMore product information will be added here soon! In the meantime, if you do have any questions at all about this product or others in our store, you can contact us by phone or email. Our friendly and experienced team are always happy to assist - we love drinking, selling, talking about and being in and around wine!
NVPinot Meunier, Pinot noirFrance376$430.00 As low as $387.00 -
Bereche & Fils Cramant Grand Cru 2017The 2017 Extra-Brut Cramant Grand Cru is a rich, textured wine. Lemon confit, marzipan, spice and a whole range of tropical accents are dialed up in this exuberant, open-knit Champagne. This is an especially flamboyant style, but it works nicely. The mousse is especially fine, giving the Cramant a decidedly vinous feel. This is tremendous showing in a very hard year that was better in the Côtes des Blancs than in the Marne Valley, where rot was especially problematic. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2022. ANTONIO GALLONI, Vinous.com2013ChampagneFrance376$445.00 As low as $400.50 -
Frederic Savart Les Noues 2019The 2019 Extra-Brut Les Noues is 100% Pinot Noir from a parcel planted on sand over chalk. It is endowed with tremendous textural richness and breadth that captures the natural intensity of this radiant year. Crushed flowers, red berry fruit, mint, cinnamon and light nutty overtones all grace this exquisite, open-knit Champagne. Even with its very recent disgorgement, the 2019 is very easy to enjoy right now. Disgorged: February 2023. ANOTONIO GALLONI, VinousNVChampagneFrance376$445.00 As low as $400.50