Champagne
Champagne, the epitome of elegance and celebration, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of sparkling wines. As one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Champagne has captured the hearts of wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs with its exceptional quality, refined craftsmanship, and iconic vineyards.
Historically, Champagne has been dominated by some world-acclaimed Champagne House, which source grapes and harvest from Champagne growers. These famous Grandes Marques include Louis Roederer (Cristal), Dom Pérignon, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Bollinger, all of them are revered for their notable names that display unrivalled winemaking prestige and pedigree.
In the recent decade, the emerging Grower Champagne trend in Champagne is shaking up the industry by challenging the dominance of the big Champagne houses. These small-scale producers, also known as "Récoltant-Manipulant" or RM, grow their own grapes and produce their own Champagne, showcasing the unique terroir and character of their vineyards. Jacques Selosse, Ulysse Collin, and Champagne Vilmart & Cie are among the most prominent names in this trend, producing some truly artisanal and terroir-driven Champagnes.
Champagne is primarily made from three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. These grapes are carefully selected and blended to create a harmonious and complex flavour profile. Chardonnay contributes elegance, freshness, and finesse, while Pinot Noir adds structure, depth, and fruitiness. Pinot Meunier brings a touch of roundness and vibrancy to the blend.
The region of Champagne is divided into several distinct sub-regions, including Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. Each sub-region has its unique terroir, characterized by variations in soil composition and microclimates, which influence the style and character of the wines produced.
Champagne offers various styles, from non-vintage blends to vintage cuvées and prestigious prestige cuvées. While Non-vintage Champagnes typically epitomise the house style, the vintage Champagnes are made from grapes harvested in one particular year (top vintages such as 1996, 2002, 2008 etc), in which these wines showcase the unique characteristics of the specific vintage.
The prestige cuvées, often the flagship wines of the renowned Champagne houses, are the pinnacle of excellence. These exceptional Champagnes are created using the finest grapes, the most meticulous winemaking techniques and often benefit from extended ageing to achieve unparalleled complexity and finesse.
Champagne is synonymous with celebration, elegance, and luxury. Its effervescent charm and timeless appeal have made it the drink of choice for countless special occasions and memorable moments. With its rich history, iconic vineyards, and unrivalled quality, Champagne continues to captivate wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
Champagne
| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Champagne | 3 | 93 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£842.69 |
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Wine Advocate (93)From over 40-year-old Chardonnay vines planted in an east-facing lieu-dit, the 2013 Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru La Pierre Aux Larrons was disgorged earlier this year with 2.5 grams per liter dosage. Opening in the glass with inviting aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, fresh peach, dried white flowers and subtle top notes of cognac and pastry cream, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and caressing, its charming core of fruit underpinned by tangy acids and lifted by a pillowy mousse. This is a charming wine from Rodez and one that captures the tenderness of fully mature fruit in a late vintage. |
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Champagne | 10 | - |
Inc. VAT
£821.09 |
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Champagne | 3 | - |
Inc. VAT
£842.69 |
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Champagne | 1 | 16 (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£540.04 |
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Jancis Robinson (16)Ambonnay. Bottled spring 2014. 95% fermented in oak and 95% no malo. Contains five or six different vintages. Dosage 3.5 g/l. Rather light, inexpressive nose. Delicate, ‘sharp’ Chardonnay on the palate but this somehow lacks a bit of conviction and focus. The acidity is very notable and certainly at the moment it’s a bit too austere for me. |
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Champagne | 2 | 17 (JR) |
Inc. VAT
£477.64 |
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Jancis Robinson (17)Ambonnay appears on all his front labels. 60% Pinot Noir, spring 2015 bottling of multi vintages back to 2009. Three years on lees. Dosage 4 g/l. Released February 2019. Very tight and harmonious. A very strong statement with massive life and vivacity. No hurry to drink. |
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Champagne | 1 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£589.24 |
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Vinous (93)Bright yellow-gold. An intriguingly perfumed nose evokes poached pear, orange zest, sweet butter and honey, along with a smoky quality and a chalky mineral overtone. Chewy, very deep citrus and orchard fruit flavors are complicated by suggestions of toasted brioche, white truffle and candied fig. Finishes very long and smoky, with resonating floral and mineral qualities. I'd serve this complex Champagne, which comprises wines from 15 different vintages dating back to 1995, with an indulgent, buttery poultry or shellfish dish. |
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Champagne | 7 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£570.04 |
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Vinous (93)Bright yellow-gold. An intriguingly perfumed nose evokes poached pear, orange zest, sweet butter and honey, along with a smoky quality and a chalky mineral overtone. Chewy, very deep citrus and orchard fruit flavors are complicated by suggestions of toasted brioche, white truffle and candied fig. Finishes very long and smoky, with resonating floral and mineral qualities. I'd serve this complex Champagne, which comprises wines from 15 different vintages dating back to 1995, with an indulgent, buttery poultry or shellfish dish. |
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Champagne | 4 | - |
Inc. VAT
£1,123.94 |
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Champagne | 5 | 94 (WA) |
Inc. VAT
£903.64 |
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Wine Advocate (94)Rodez's 2010 Brut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Ambonnay Les Genettes wafts from the glass with a lovely bouquet of candied peel, buttered orchard fruit, Meyer lemons, yellow plums and subtle spices, followed by a full-bodied, broad-shouldered but elegantly integrated palate with excellent depth at the core, ripe but racy acids and a creamy mousse, concluding with a sapid, precise finish. This gourmand but beautifully focused, decidedly vinous blanc de noirs is one of the most cohesive, fully realized wines in this set of recent releases, and it appears to possess the structural integrity and balance to last for over a decade. |
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Champagne | 1 | - |
Inc. VAT
£1,028.44 |
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Champagne | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£475.49 |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£2,553.62 |
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Vinous (98)The NV Extra-Brut Ambonnay Le Bout du Clos (2014) is the most complex of the four lieu-dits I was able to taste. It marries power, freshness and energy. It's all there, from the delineated aromatics, to the sculpted fruit, to the underlying veins of salinity that give the wine its shape. I especially admire the freshness and translucence here. Readers who can find the Ambonnay should not hesitate, as it is truly riveting. The Bout du Clos is the only lieu-dit in the collection that is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a blend that works so brilliantly here. Disgorged: February 2, 2021 |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£4,122.04 |
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Vinous (98)The NV Extra-Brut Ambonnay Le Bout du Clos (2014) is the most complex of the four lieu-dits I was able to taste. It marries power, freshness and energy. It's all there, from the delineated aromatics, to the sculpted fruit, to the underlying veins of salinity that give the wine its shape. I especially admire the freshness and translucence here. Readers who can find the Ambonnay should not hesitate, as it is truly riveting. The Bout du Clos is the only lieu-dit in the collection that is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a blend that works so brilliantly here. Disgorged: February 2, 2021 |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Champagne | 3 | 93 (WA) |
In Bond
£683.00 |
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Wine Advocate (93)From over 40-year-old Chardonnay vines planted in an east-facing lieu-dit, the 2013 Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru La Pierre Aux Larrons was disgorged earlier this year with 2.5 grams per liter dosage. Opening in the glass with inviting aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, fresh peach, dried white flowers and subtle top notes of cognac and pastry cream, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and caressing, its charming core of fruit underpinned by tangy acids and lifted by a pillowy mousse. This is a charming wine from Rodez and one that captures the tenderness of fully mature fruit in a late vintage. |
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Champagne | 10 | - |
In Bond
£665.00 |
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Champagne | 3 | - |
In Bond
£683.00 |
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Champagne | 1 | 16 (JR) |
In Bond
£434.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (16)Ambonnay. Bottled spring 2014. 95% fermented in oak and 95% no malo. Contains five or six different vintages. Dosage 3.5 g/l. Rather light, inexpressive nose. Delicate, ‘sharp’ Chardonnay on the palate but this somehow lacks a bit of conviction and focus. The acidity is very notable and certainly at the moment it’s a bit too austere for me. |
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Champagne | 2 | 17 (JR) |
In Bond
£382.00 |
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Jancis Robinson (17)Ambonnay appears on all his front labels. 60% Pinot Noir, spring 2015 bottling of multi vintages back to 2009. Three years on lees. Dosage 4 g/l. Released February 2019. Very tight and harmonious. A very strong statement with massive life and vivacity. No hurry to drink. |
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Champagne | 1 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£475.00 |
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Vinous (93)Bright yellow-gold. An intriguingly perfumed nose evokes poached pear, orange zest, sweet butter and honey, along with a smoky quality and a chalky mineral overtone. Chewy, very deep citrus and orchard fruit flavors are complicated by suggestions of toasted brioche, white truffle and candied fig. Finishes very long and smoky, with resonating floral and mineral qualities. I'd serve this complex Champagne, which comprises wines from 15 different vintages dating back to 1995, with an indulgent, buttery poultry or shellfish dish. |
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Champagne | 7 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£459.00 |
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Vinous (93)Bright yellow-gold. An intriguingly perfumed nose evokes poached pear, orange zest, sweet butter and honey, along with a smoky quality and a chalky mineral overtone. Chewy, very deep citrus and orchard fruit flavors are complicated by suggestions of toasted brioche, white truffle and candied fig. Finishes very long and smoky, with resonating floral and mineral qualities. I'd serve this complex Champagne, which comprises wines from 15 different vintages dating back to 1995, with an indulgent, buttery poultry or shellfish dish. |
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Champagne | 4 | - |
In Bond
£927.00 |
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Champagne | 5 | 94 (WA) |
In Bond
£737.00 |
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Wine Advocate (94)Rodez's 2010 Brut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Ambonnay Les Genettes wafts from the glass with a lovely bouquet of candied peel, buttered orchard fruit, Meyer lemons, yellow plums and subtle spices, followed by a full-bodied, broad-shouldered but elegantly integrated palate with excellent depth at the core, ripe but racy acids and a creamy mousse, concluding with a sapid, precise finish. This gourmand but beautifully focused, decidedly vinous blanc de noirs is one of the most cohesive, fully realized wines in this set of recent releases, and it appears to possess the structural integrity and balance to last for over a decade. |
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Champagne | 1 | - |
In Bond
£841.00 |
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Champagne | 2 | - |
In Bond
£377.00 |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£2,120.00 |
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Vinous (98)The NV Extra-Brut Ambonnay Le Bout du Clos (2014) is the most complex of the four lieu-dits I was able to taste. It marries power, freshness and energy. It's all there, from the delineated aromatics, to the sculpted fruit, to the underlying veins of salinity that give the wine its shape. I especially admire the freshness and translucence here. Readers who can find the Ambonnay should not hesitate, as it is truly riveting. The Bout du Clos is the only lieu-dit in the collection that is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a blend that works so brilliantly here. Disgorged: February 2, 2021 |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN) |
In Bond
£3,419.00 |
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Vinous (98)The NV Extra-Brut Ambonnay Le Bout du Clos (2014) is the most complex of the four lieu-dits I was able to taste. It marries power, freshness and energy. It's all there, from the delineated aromatics, to the sculpted fruit, to the underlying veins of salinity that give the wine its shape. I especially admire the freshness and translucence here. Readers who can find the Ambonnay should not hesitate, as it is truly riveting. The Bout du Clos is the only lieu-dit in the collection that is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, a blend that works so brilliantly here. Disgorged: February 2, 2021 |
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