Champagne Wine

Delight in the elegance of A Margaine 1er Cru Le Brut NV, a refined Champagne that perfectly balances freshness and finesse. Bursting with vibrant notes of citrus, green apple, and delicate brioche, its fine bubbles and crisp acidity make every sip celebratory. Ideal as an aperitif or paired with seafood and light dishes, this NV Champagne embodies the artistry of the Premier Cru vineyards and the house’s dedication to excellence.

Pascal Agrapart is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, farming his family's vineyards in Avize with a quiet, uncompromising dedication to terroir. Certified organic, working with natural yeasts, and bottling without fining or filtration, Agrapart represents the intellectual and artisanal pinnacle of the Côte des Blancs — a producer whose wines are sought by collectors and sommeliers worldwide.

The Agrapart & Fils Champagne Les 7 Crus Extra Brut NV Organic (Base 2023) 750ml is a Blanc de Blancs assemblage drawing on têtes de cuvée from seven premier and grand cru terroirs across Avize, Oger, Cramant, and Oiry. Fermented with natural yeasts, aged 32–44 months sur lie, with 25% of the wine matured in older 600L casks for added texture and complexity. Bottled unfiltered with a minimal dosage of just 5 g/L and SO2 at 50 mg/L — a wine of precision, integrity, and remarkable depth.

Creamy and flavorful yet precise and vertical, with an array of citrus, chalk, and white flower that carries through to a long, mineral finish. A benchmark expression of organic Champagne craftsmanship.

Winemaking Details

• 100% Chardonnay — Blanc de Blancs
• Terroirs: Avize, Oger, Cramant & Oiry (7 premier & grand crus)
• Natural yeast fermentation; 100% malolactic
• 25% aged in older 600L casks; remainder in tank
• Aged sur lie 32–44 months; manual riddling
• Bottled unfiltered; dosage 5 g/L; SO2 50 mg/L
• Certified organic | Base vintage: 2023
• 750ml

Alfred Gratien Champagne Rosé — Champagne, France NV

Alfred Gratien is one of Champagne's most storied and independent houses — still hand-riddling, still fermenting in small oak casks, still refusing to follow trends. Their Rosé is a masterclass in balance: a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, and 35% Pinot Meunier, crafted to deliver both vivacity and structure. The Tasting Panel awarded it 94 points; James Suckling 93. At $62.99, it is one of the most compelling values in prestige Champagne Rosé.

Sunset-pink in the glass with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose opens with brioche, red currant, Rome apple, honey, and white flowers — then shifts to strawberry, peony, and a whisper of wheat and crème fraîche. On the palate, ripe acidity carries flavors of nectarine, red plum, and mandarin orange, with an underlying stoniness and light tannin grip that give the wine real structure. The finish is long, slightly smoky, and mineral — with a lingering note of almond and orange rind. Drink now or hold.

Tasting Panel 94 — "Sunset-pink... vivacious... fleshy flavors of nectarine and red plum... a long finish of almond and orange rind."

James Suckling 93 — "Full-bodied, creamy and relatively dry at the end. Not heavy, but agile."

• Producer: Alfred Gratien, Épernay, Champagne, France
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Blend: 45% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 35% Pinot Meunier
• Style: Rosé, Non-Vintage
• Vinification: Small oak cask fermentation, hand-riddled
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Brioche, red currant, strawberry, nectarine, mandarin, almond, mineral finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or hold
• Best Paired With: Salmon tartare, lobster bisque, charcuterie, strawberries, soft-ripened cheese

A 94-point Champagne Rosé from one of the region's most principled houses — Alfred Gratien is the benchmark for what independent Champagne can be.

Bérêche et Fils’ Ambonnay Grand Cru is one of the most coveted single-village expressions in their portfolio — and among the most compelling Blanc de Noirs in all of Champagne. Sourced from a single lieu-dit, “Les Tourets,” in the western part of Ambonnay village, this is Pinot Noir of extraordinary purity and presence. Ambonnay’s signature cashmere-like texture is immediately apparent: open, enveloping, and generous, with a volume and power that never tips into heaviness. Brioche and honey on the attack give way to floral lift and a finish that is invigorating, slightly iodized, and saline — the unmistakable signature of chalk and grand cru terroir. A wine of genuine rarity, with just 2,325 bottles produced.

Critical Review
“A beautiful, enveloping wine; brioche-like on the attack, floral, with notes of honey and ripeness. The finish is invigorating, slightly iodized, and saline.” — Le Rouge et le Blanc

Varietal: Pinot Noir (Blanc de Noirs)
Vintage: 2020
Appellation: Ambonnay Grand Cru, Champagne, France
Lieu-dit: Les Tourets
Style: Extra Brut
Farming: Biodynamic
Production: 2,325 bottles
Bottle Size: 750ml

Bérêche et Fils has been producing Champagne since the mid-19th century, and the estate’s reputation as one of the finest in the entire region has only grown under the stewardship of brothers Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche. Their approach is uncompromising: single-vineyard plots, minimal dosage, no malolactic fermentation, and a deep respect for terroir that allows each site to speak with clarity and precision. The result is a house style that is unmistakably racy, mineral, and built for the long haul.

This Cramant Grand Cru is a singular expression of one of Champagne’s most celebrated Chardonnay terroirs — a finely defined, powdery, and ethereally fresh wine resting upon an incredible bedrock of chalk. The nose is ample and delicate, evoking hawthorn against a backdrop of slightly damp chalk. The palate is unctuous and pure, revealing notes of iodine and extraordinary mineral tension. The finish — soft, chalky, and seemingly endless — gives way to the sheer emotion that only a great Cramant can evoke. A magnificent vintage with excellent aging potential.

Varietal: Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs)
Vintage: 2020
Appellation: Cramant Grand Cru, Champagne, France
Style: Extra Brut / Zero Dosage
Farming: Biodynamic
Bottle Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description

For its 170th anniversary, Maison Besserat de Bellefon gave its cellar master, Cédric Thibault, the freedom to imagine an exceptional cuvée expressing the best of his style. Perfect for special occasions, this extraordinary champagne will pair perfectly with lobster or haddock.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This limited-edition wine is a blend of grand cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Aged for 10 years in bottle, it is a steely, structured wine that brings sophistication to the white fruits and lively acidity. Drink now.  

Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve — Champagne NV

Billecart-Salmon’s Brut Réserve is one of Champagne’s most enduring benchmarks — a non-vintage blend whose overall composition has remained virtually unchanged for nearly fifty years. Sourced from more than twenty top vineyards across the Marne, the wine blends 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir, and 30% Chardonnay, with over 50% reserve wines spanning up to 15 vintages. Aged 36 months on the lees and finished with just 3 grams per liter dosage, this is a Champagne of exceptional precision, generosity, and effortless elegance — equally at home as an apéritif or at the dinner table.

The nose offers ripe pear, raspberry, gingerbread, toast, and honey with a touch of cut hay. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied with soft, creamy bubbles, bright acidity, and a crystalline texture — tense and precise, yet generous and rounded. Spring flowers, brioche, and lime linger on a long, delicate, ethereal finish.

James Suckling 93 — “Lovely aromas of raspberries, gingerbread, toast and honey. Generosity and concentration of flavor, with soft, creamy bubbles. Delicious now.”
Wine Advocate 91 — “Long, delicate and ethereal Champagne.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 — “A classic. Real richness and depth, structured and open with honeyed aromas and ripe, rounded white fruits.”

• Producer: Billecart-Salmon, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Champagne, France
• Vintage: Non-Vintage
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Blend: 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
• Reserve Wines: 50%+ across up to 15 vintages
• Aging: 36 months on lees; 6 months post-disgorgement
• Dosage: 3 g/L (Extra Brut style)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Ripe pear, raspberry, gingerbread, brioche, honey, spring flowers, lime, creamy bubbles
• Best Paired With: Oysters, lobster, smoked salmon, soft cheeses, fried chicken, light pasta dishes

Nearly fifty years of consistency, precision, and elegance — Billecart-Salmon’s Brut Réserve is the Champagne house that never needs to shout.

Expert Reviews 

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The NV Champagne Brut Rose is an attractive pale salmon hue, with a fresh perfume of wild strawberry, ripe peach, white and red flowers, a hint of tropical fruit, and grapefruit. The palate is rounded, with fruit up front and through the mid-palate, and it has a silky and fresh lift. There is a wonderful ease and drinkability to this wine, which delivers balance and finesse. Best after 2022.

93 Points James Suckling | Attractive salmon color with aromas of dried strawberries and lemons, as well as hints of flowers. Full-bodied with tight tension from the fine phenolics that run through the palate. Hints of white pepper, peaches and sliced green strawberries with some candied lemons, too. Always an excellent bottle. 40% chardonnay, 30% pinot noir and 30% pinot meunier. Drink now.

91 Points Decanter | Currently based on the 2016 harvest, this is floral and citrussy, showing a lithe, graceful balance. It’s a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Meunier, with about 40% of reserve wine, and red wine accounts for 7% of the blend. Its delicate, subtly expansive flavours of raspberry and strawberry are enlivened by a tangerine-like acidity, and while it feels ripe and full in flavour on the palate, it never loses its sense of refinement and poise, finishing with detailed length and depth.

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | A fine composition of red fruits and taut citrus, this Champagne is poised and fragrant with acidity and light tannins.

90 Points Wine Spectator | Delicate notes of yellow plum, marzipan, verbena and fleur de sel are set in this firm and finely meshed rosé Champagne. Creamy finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now.

Persistent mousse, with fine bubbles rising slowly. Pale salmon pink in color, with a shade of gold. A nose of red fruits and fresh pear. Delicate fruit on the palate, elegant, and showing great finesse. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2014 

Vinous 98 Points | Bollinger’s 2014 La Grande Année is a great way to start the evening as guests mill around Wheeler Farms. It is early evening in Napa, but there is still plenty of action in the winery, where various lots are being pressed under the watchful eye of winemaker Nigel Kinsman. There are some moments where I would very much like to be a civilian, a regular person enjoying the night, but I am more concerned with our guests having a great night, so I quickly go back to check on our wines. The Bollinger 2014 is everything I expected; bright, focused and full of all the energy this late-ripening vintage conferred to the best wines. 

Producer Description 

La Grande Année: The Great Year. This Champagne is the embodiment of everything that makes Bollinger the producer that stands apart in Champagne. La Grande Année symbolizes the word “hand-crafted” so strongly that an overused word suddenly becomes the appropriate definition. 

La Grande Année is only produced in the most outstanding of vintages, where ripeness and acidity reach a perfect balance and aging potential is excellent.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 97 Points |  Like a racing spinnaker, this is tightly trimmed yet voluminous in character. Toasty notes of roasted almond and vanilla wafer are deftly integrated with sun-dried black cherry, baked peach, blood orange sorbet and candied ginger flavors, all well-defined by racy acidity and a subtle streak of salinity. This is long and fragrant, with pain d'épices, graphite and tea rose notes playing on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2040.

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 96 Points | Bollinger's 2015 Brut La Grande Année Rosé was disgorged in May last year with seven grams per liter dosage. Offering up deep aromas of orchard fruits, blood orange, mandarin rind and peach mingled with nuances of coffee, praline and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and layered, with a broad attack that segues into a vinous palate framed by high levels of structuring dry extract that makes its presence felt on the sapid, nutty and penetrating finish. Given the skin maturity and inherent structure of the year, the Bollinger team elected to include only 4.5% of still red wine in the blend, a comparatively low percentage.

Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut NV — Aÿ, Champagne, France

Bollinger is one of Champagne's most storied and revered houses — a family-owned Grande Marque founded in 1829 in Aÿ, at the heart of the Pinot Noir-dominant Montagne de Reims. Fiercely independent, resolutely traditional, and uncompromising in quality, Bollinger is the only major Champagne house to still ferment a portion of its reserve wines in magnum and to use a significant proportion of oak-aged reserve wines in its blends. The Special Cuvée is the house's flagship non-vintage Brut — a benchmark of the Bollinger style and one of the most consistently celebrated Champagnes in the world. The current release is based on the 2019 vintage (45%), blended with 55% reserve wines, with 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 15% Pinot Meunier — approximately 10% vinified in oak barrel, with around 40% reserve wine kept in magnums.

The color is a rich, youthful golden hue. The nose is classic and complex: golden apricot, hazelnut, wet stone, black cherry, dried apple, marzipan, and toasty sourdough — the unmistakable Bollinger signature of depth, richness, and biscuity autolytic character. On the palate, it is full-bodied yet elegant and light on its feet, with a ripe and luxurious feel, racy acidity, and a pillowy, refined mousse. Savoury, biscuity notes carry through to a long, inviting finish with just a hint of warmth. Exceptional now, with plenty of life ahead.

Decanter 95 — "A classic Champagne done well. Notes of marzipan, toastiness and leesy sourdough. Classic for a reason — would only elevate any table it finds itself on."

Jancis Robinson 17/20 — "A particularly stunning rendition of Bollinger. Very fine texture, remarkably fine mousse. Savoury, biscuity notes. Great length — a lovely example."

Jeb Dunnuck 93 — "Classic and ripe with lush, rounded aromas of golden apricot, hazelnut, wet stone and black cherry. Full-bodied yet elegant. One of the best entry wines to the range from this house — a benchmark wine."

James Suckling 93 — "Lovely density and fine-bubble texture. Dried apple and apricot, spice, zest and ginger. Always really well done."

Robert Parker 92 — "Bursting from the glass with honeyed apples, crisp stone fruit, buttery pastry, ripe lemons and fresh walnuts. Charming, characterful — Special Cuvée is firmly back where it belongs."

• Producer: Bollinger, Aÿ, Champagne, France
• Style: Non-Vintage Brut Champagne
• Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier
• Reserve Wine: 55% (including ~40% aged in magnum)
• Base Vintage: 2019
• Oak: ~10% vinified in barrel
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Golden apricot, hazelnut, wet stone, black cherry, dried apple, marzipan, sourdough, pillowy mousse, long finish
• Drink: Now through 2028
• Best Paired With: Oysters, lobster, grilled fish, roast chicken, aged Comté, charcuterie, aperitivo

James Bond's Champagne of choice — Bollinger Special Cuvée is the benchmark non-vintage Brut, and one of the great Champagnes at any price.

Winemaker Description 

When Edmond de AYALA founded the House in 1860, he focussed on crafting a champagne with a distinct and recognisable style, known today as AYALA Brut Majeur. A pure and balanced champagne which showcases the diverse personalities of Champagne’s different Terroirs.

Crafted with a unique diversity of crus from Champagne’s vineyard, this cuvée is a multi-cru and multi-vintage blend with Chardonnay as main grape variety.

To preserve this pure style, the House brings its expertise and meticulous approach to the micro-vinification process, always with a minimum of intervention on wines.

Charles Le Bel Champagne “Inspiration 1818” Brut — Champagne NV

Founded in 1818, Champagne Charles Le Bel is one of the region’s most storied négociant houses, crafting wines that balance classical elegance with exceptional value. The “Inspiration 1818” Brut is the house’s flagship non-vintage blend — a harmonious assemblage of 37% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier, and 33% Pinot Noir, with a remarkable 70% reserve wines contributing depth, complexity, and consistency across every release. Finished at 9g/L dosage, this is a Champagne of genuine quality and outstanding price-to-pleasure ratio.

The nose is blooming and inviting: butter, white-flesh fruits, Mirabelle plum, brioche, and dried fruits. On the palate, it is well-balanced and structured — the Pinot Noirs lend body and richness, while the Chardonnay delivers a refreshing finish of citrus and white pepper. Fine, plentiful bubbles rise in a sparkling, crystalline wine that is equally at home as an apéritif or at the table.

67 Wine — “A delicious, classic Champagne with aromas of brioche, almonds, and pears. An exceptional quality-to-price ratio — perfect for parties and grand evenings alike.”

• Producer: Charles Le Bel, Champagne, France
• Founded: 1818
• Vintage: Non-Vintage
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Blend: 37% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier, 33% Pinot Noir
• Reserve Wines: 70%
• Dosage: 9 g/L (Brut)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Butter, Mirabelle plum, white peach, brioche, dried fruits, citrus, white pepper, fine persistent bubbles
• Best Paired With: Oysters, smoked salmon, soft cheeses, charcuterie, light appetizers, fruit tarts

Two centuries of Champagne craftsmanship at an honest price — Charles Le Bel’s 1818 Brut is the house that history built.

Dom Pérignon Rosé Plénitude 2 (P2) — Champagne 1995

The 1995 Dom Pérignon Rosé P2 is, quite simply, one of the most extraordinary Champagnes in existence. The 1995 vintage was marked by an exceptional summer — a late, rapid flowering offset by heat wave conditions from late June, with minimal rainfall and temperatures above the 30-year seasonal average, producing a harvest of remarkable concentration and ripeness. The wine was first released as a standard P1, then returned to the cellars in Épernay for approximately ten additional years of aging sur latte before disgorgement as P2 — a second Plénitude that transforms the wine entirely. Vinous awarded it 96 points. John Gilman gave it 95+. Jancis Robinson scored it 19/20. This is a bottle for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

The nose is breathtaking: crushed flowers, sweet tobacco, cedar, dried cherry, white cherries, tangerine, chalky soil tones, citrus peel, gentle smokiness, and dried rose petals. On the palate, it is pure, full-bodied, and deceptively primary for a wine of 30 years — with a superb core of fruit, utterly refined mousse, and a very long, focused, energetic finish of extraordinary class. Both mature and timeless, in the way only great Champagne can be.

Vinous 96 — “A totally breathtaking wine… crushed flowers, sweet tobacco, cedar and dried cherry give the 1995 fabulous aromatic complexity and nuance. Both mature and timeless, in the way only Champagne can be.”

John Gilman 95+ — “Remarkably young and vibrant for more than twenty years out from the vintage… pure, full-bodied and still quite primary in personality, with a superb core of fruit, lovely focus and grip, utterly refined mousse and a very long, focused and energetic finish.”

Jancis Robinson 19/20 — “Rich and round. Very slightly toasty with great drive. More like 1996 rosé than it resembles the 1995 and 1996 whites.”

• Producer: Dom Pérignon, Épernay, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 1995
• Cuvee: Rosé Plénitude 2 (P2) — ~10 additional years sur latte after P1 release
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Crushed flowers, sweet tobacco, cedar, dried cherry, white cherry, tangerine, chalky soil, citrus peel, dried rose petals
• Cellar Potential: Fully mature; drink now through 2035+
• Best Paired With: Lobster, langoustine, aged Parmesan, foie gras, roasted squab, black truffle, caviar

A 96-point Champagne 30 years in the making — Dom Pérignon Rosé P2 1995 is the benchmark for what aged prestige Champagne can be.

Dom Pérignon Rosé Plénitude 2 (P2) — Champagne 2000

Dom Pérignon Pénitude 2 is not simply an aged Champagne — it is a fundamentally different wine. After close to 15 years in the darkness of the cellar, the expansion of energy reaches its peak and the wine rises to an apex of essential, radiant vitality that the first release (P1) cannot achieve. The 2000 Rosé P2 is among the most extraordinary expressions of this philosophy: a 70% Pinot Noir-dominant blend with a beefy 20% red wine addition, harvested in a warm, generous vintage and then given nearly a quarter century of cellar aging to reach this moment of perfect maturity. Vinous awarded it 96 points. Wine Advocate and Decanter each gave it 94. This is a bottle for a singular occasion.

The color is a deep, luminous rosé with amber hints that speak to its age. The nose is hauntingly beautiful: kirsch, blood orange, dried white flowers, mint, iodine, oyster shell, and gentle spice. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied, ample and elegantly textural, with a rich, savory core of distinctly Burgundian character, a fine mousse, and a long, saline finish of extraordinary length and complexity. Fully mature and drinking magnificently today — and will continue to reward over the next decade.

Vinous 96 — “Hauntingly beautiful and ethereal in the way only fine, aged Rosé can be. Kirsch, orange peel, white flowers, mint and gentle touches of spice… beautifully balanced and harmonious. A beguiling, complex Champagne.”

Wine Advocate 94 — “Sapid, gastronomic… ample and elegantly textural, with a rich and open-knit core of distinctly savory fruit, a fine but youthfully boisterous mousse and a long, saline finish. Almost Burgundian-styled.”

Decanter 94 — “An aromatic treat… an autumnal rosé of real interest and subtlety. Jellied plum, poached strawberry, cooked cream and oyster-shell brightness.”

• Producer: Dom Pérignon, Épernay, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2000
• Cuvee: Rosé Plénitude 2 (P2) — ~15 years on lees before disgorgement
• Blend: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay (incl. 20% red wine addition)
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Kirsch, blood orange, dried white flowers, mint, iodine, oyster shell, jellied plum, saline finish
• Cellar Potential: Fully mature; drink now through 2035+
• Best Paired With: Lobster, langoustine, aged Parmesan, foie gras, roasted squab, black truffle

A 96-point Champagne 24 years in the making — Dom Pérignon Rosé P2 2000 is the benchmark for what aged prestige Champagne can be.

Expert Reviews

~ Rosé made using the saignée method
~ Zero dosage
~ Natural
~ Very low sulphur content
~ Aromas of red fruits, mandarin orange and white pepper
~ Pinot Noir

Vinification of the Brut Nature Rosé cuvée

~ Rosé made using the saignée method with maceration in vats lasting 3 days
~ Only the juices from first pressing are used
~ Minimal use of sulphur
~ No filtering
~ Use of gravity to avoid oxidation
~ Then total and natural malolactic fermentation
~ Zero dosage
~ 100% of the wines are made in vats to preserve freshness
~ After bottling the cuvée is aged for 2 to 3 years sur lattes (on laths)

GRAPE VARIETY: 100% Pinot Noir

FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal as an aperitif. Goes perfectly with salmon carpaccio or scallops, sushi, grilled meats. Serve at: 45°F.

TASTING NOTES: On the nose, very evocative of strawberry and raspberry with a floral note of rose petals. The palate recalls red fruits and is augmented by hints of citrus fruit, mandarin orange and a small, very refined touch of white pepper.

Expert Reviews - Base 2021

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Emmanuel Brochet’s NV Le Mont Benoit (2021 base), which includes 40% reserve wines from 2020 and 2019, was disgorged in May 2024 with a dosage of four grams per liter—slightly higher than usual. He notes that this modest adjustment was necessitated by the incisive profile of the base vintage. The wine unfurls from the glass with aromas of green apple, chamomile and peeled almond. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, chiseled, bright and laden with electric acidity, culminating in a long, chalky finish marked by a distinctive bitterness. Stylistically, this bottling slightly diverges from recent iterations shaped by a string of warm vintages, but qualitatively speaking, it is unmistakably the same superb cuvée. While Brochet himself expresses a degree of dissatisfaction due to its higher malic acid, such critique speaks to the standards of a perfectionist. This rendition, in all likelihood, will age beautifully over the coming years.  

Memo Summary Notes

The Emmanuel Brochet Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut "R21" is a highly sought-after, "unicorn" grower Champagne. It is crafted by Emmanuel Brochet, a cult producer based in Villers-aux-Nœuds on the Montagne de Reims, known for his tiny production and extremely meticulous organic farming.

The "R21" notation indicates that the base year for this non-vintage release is the 2021 harvest.

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Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Medium golden yellow hue, the NV Champagne La Vallée Suspendue Extra Brut is expressive on the nose and leaps from the glass with rounded aromas of lemon curd, merengue, pastry dough, marzipan, and red berries. It has more intensity on the palate, becoming more savory and salty, with a brothy feel, a fluffy mousse, and a chalky, textured finish. This is a solid wine with a lot of character to enjoy over the coming 10 years.

Vinous 93 Points | The NV (2016) Extra Brut La Vallée Suspendue is a blend of 80% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir and 5% Chardonnay, based on 2016 with 50% reserve wines from a perpetual reserve that goes back to 1999. Those elements combine in a rich, resonant Champagne that is incredibly distinctive. Dried pear, spice, tangerine oil and exotic yellow flowers all build in the glass, but it is the wine's overall balance I admire most. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2023.

Gosset · Grande Réserve Brut NV · Champagne AOC · France

Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne — established in Aÿ in 1584, when Pierre Gosset, alderman and winegrower, founded the house that bears his name. Nearly five centuries of Champagne-making later, Gosset remains one of the region’s most distinctive producers: a house defined by richness, Pinot Noir texture, extended cellaring, and an unwavering commitment to the Grande Réserve style. The NV Grande Réserve is the house’s signature Champagne — a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, and 10% Meunier from premier villages including Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, aged a minimum of four years in the cellar before disgorgement, then rested a further six months to assimilate the dosage (8 g/L). Rated 94 points by Decanter and 93 by Wine Spectator.

Luminous golden hue with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose opens with fresh lemon meringue pie, yellow apple, Mirabelle plum, and white peach, deepening with warmth into honeyed, toasted notes. On the palate, a spine of chiseled acidity structures a vivid, creamy texture — Asian pear, baked pineapple, lemon curd, toasted brioche, and roasted almond, with a minerally underpinning of smoke, brine, and wet stone. Elegant, long, and absolutely fresh from first bubble to finish.

Expert Reviews

“Elegance, length and absolute freshness are inherent and quietly convincing. Beautifully subtle autolysis on the palate, deepening into notes of creamy apple crumble, Golden Delicious and Mirabelle plum.”
— Decanter · 94 Points

“A spine of chiseled acidity structures this vivid, creamy Champagne, which has a minerally underpinning of smoke and brine and flavors of Asian pear, baked pineapple, lemon curd, toasted brioche and roasted almond.”
— Wine Spectator · 93 Points

“Pure and inviting aromas of white peach, fresh flowers, and wet stone. A fresh pillowy mousse and a delicate saline finish — a wonderful calling card for the freshness of the house style.”
— Jeb Dunnuck · 92 Points

“Lemon tart, spiced apples, almonds and pastries. Fresh, lively and very precise, with fine bubbles and a light, chalky undertone.”
— James Suckling · 92 Points

• Producer: Gosset, Aÿ, Champagne, France (est. 1584 — oldest wine house in Champagne)
• Style: Brut NV Champagne
• Blend: 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier
• Base Vintage: 2018 | Cellaring: 4+ years minimum
• Dosage: 8 g/L
• Villages: Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Villers-Marmery
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon meringue, Mirabelle plum, Asian pear, brioche, roasted almond, smoke, brine, chiseled acidity
• Pairings: Grilled fish, lobster, oysters, scallops, soft cheeses, aperitif

D:94 · WS:93 · JD:92 · JS:92 · Champagne AOC — the oldest wine house in Champagne, since 1584. Rich, creamy, and built for the long haul.

Expert Reviews 

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | The fine and creamy bead of this elegant rosé carries an attractive mix of white cherry, peach, blood orange granita and biscuit flavors, enlivened by a firm frame of mouthwatering acidity.

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 90 Points | The NV Champagne Grand Brut Rosé pours a medium salmon hue and is equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (8% of which is red wine). It is juicy with ripe raspberry, crushed flowers, and sweet citrus. The palate is ripe with apricot, sweet tangerine, and a soft texture. It is ready to drink now or over the next 6-8 years.

Winemaker Description 

This Grand Rosé has a high percentage of Chardonnay, which creates freshness and precision, complemented by Pinot Noir with delivers very fine and crunchy fruit. With 4 years minimum ageing in the cellars, this Rosé balances between freshness and fruit without masking the wine’s character and purity. The nose reveals aromas of citrus and strawberries with subtle notes of red berries and spice. The palate is well-built with a constant balance between the tension of the acidity and the smoothness of the fruit, while the finish shows a nice roundness and lovely minerality.

Winemaker Description

The Extra Brut Solessence Nature unwinds in the glass with scents of white flowers, crisp green apple, spring blossom and almond paste. Medium to full-bodied, ample and precise, it's a bright, vibrant wine with chalky structure and a long, saline finish.

J. Vignier Aux Origines Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (2017 Base)

“Aux Origines” — where it all began — is a deeply personal Champagne that honors the roots of the Vignier family’s winemaking history. Produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in Les Simarts, the first vineyards planted by Nathalie Vignier’s grandparents, Marie-Louise and Paul, in the village of Barbonne-Fayel during the 1960s, this is a wine of place, memory, and exceptional craft. The Côte de Sézanne’s clay and sandy soils over chalk yield generous, expressive Chardonnay with both ripe fruit character and the chalky minerality that defines great Champagne. Fermented in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation, rested seven months on fine lees, then aged a minimum of 36 months in bottle before disgorgement — the result is a Blanc de Blancs of remarkable depth, texture, and elegance.

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Aux Origines
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Region: Côte de Sézanne, Champagne, France
• Vineyard: Les Simarts, Barbonne-Fayel
• Base Vintage: 2017
• Size: 750ml
• Farming: Certified Sustainable (Socofret)
• Vinification: Stainless steel; full malolactic fermentation; 7 months on fine lees; 36+ months bottle aging
• Alcohol: 12.5%

Pairs beautifully with oysters, caviar, shellfish, sushi, delicate white fish, soft cheeses, or light poultry. Serve well chilled.

J. Vignier’s Deux Terres is a remarkable vintage Blanc de Blancs that brings together Chardonnay from two distinct Champagne terroirs. The name, meaning “Two Lands,” refers to its origins in both the celebrated Grand Cru village of Cramant in the Côte des Blancs and Barbonne-Fayel in the Côte de Sézanne.

Produced entirely from Chardonnay harvested in the exceptional 2010 vintage, the wine is sourced from 50- to 60-year-old vines in two parcels: Le Bateau in Cramant and Les Bercottes in Barbonne-Fayel. The Sézanne vines were planted by massal selection using cuttings taken from the family’s oldest vineyards in Cramant, creating a direct connection between the two sites.

The Cramant parcel contributes the precision, chalky minerality and refined structure traditionally associated with the Côte des Blancs, while the Côte de Sézanne brings generosity, ripe Chardonnay fruit and a broader, more expressive texture. Together, the two terroirs create a Champagne of depth, harmony and distinctive character.

The wine was vinified and aged entirely in stainless steel to preserve purity and freshness. It underwent full malolactic fermentation and was bottled in May following the harvest. Deux Terres then spent a minimum of eight years aging on its lees before release, developing remarkable complexity, a creamy mousse and beautifully integrated mature Champagne character.

Elegant and finely structured, this mature Blanc de Blancs offers layers of citrus, orchard fruit, toasted brioche, almond and subtle pastry notes, complemented by chalky minerality and a long, dry finish. Its extended aging brings richness and depth while the naturally bright acidity keeps the wine focused and energetic.

A superb Champagne for the table, Deux Terres pairs beautifully with oysters, caviar, lobster, scallops, roasted fish, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto and aged cheeses. It may also be enjoyed on its own as a sophisticated aperitif.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Deux Terres
• Vintage: 2010
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte des Blancs
• Classification: Premier Cru
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyards: Le Bateau in Cramant and Les Bercottes in Barbonne-Fayel
• Vine Age: Approximately 50–60 years
• Soils: Cretaceous chalk, marl and clay
• Exposure: South, southwest and northeast
• Farming: Certified sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Élevage: Stainless steel
• Lees Aging: Minimum of eight years en tirage
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Residual Sugar: 2.8 g/L
• Acidity: 4.8 g/L
• Alcohol: 11.8%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier’s Les Abbesses is a distinctive single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs that captures the depth, ripeness and mineral character of the Côte de Sézanne. Produced entirely from Chardonnay, this Champagne comes from one exceptional parcel in the historic village of Vindey, whose name is believed to derive from the Latin vinum dei, meaning “wine of God.”

The vineyard is planted on a unique combination of alluvial soils and silex over deep Cretaceous chalk. The flint-rich surface absorbs warmth during the day, helping the Chardonnay reach full maturity, while the underlying chalk preserves freshness, tension and a refined mineral profile.

2015 was the inaugural vintage of Les Abbesses. The wine was vinified in stainless steel to retain the purity and precision of its fruit and underwent full malolactic fermentation. It then spent 60 months aging in bottle, allowing the Champagne to develop greater texture, complexity and beautifully integrated autolytic character.

Deep and self-possessed, Les Abbesses opens with delicate aromas of white flowers, ripe orchard fruit and fresh citrus. The palate is elegant yet generous, with fine bubbles, subtle brioche notes and a focused mineral core. Its combination of richness and chalky freshness carries through a long, dry and graceful finish.

This expressive vintage Blanc de Blancs is excellent as a sophisticated aperitif and has enough depth for the table. Pair it with oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, roasted white fish, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto or soft-ripened cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Les Abbesses
• Vintage: 2015
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte de Sézanne
• Village: Vindey
• Classification: Premier Cru
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyard: Single-vineyard selection
• Soil: Silex and alluvium over deep Cretaceous chalk
• Farming: Certified sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Bottle Aging: 60 months
• Residual Sugar: 4.5 g/L
• Acidity: 4.4 g/L
• pH: 3.08
• Alcohol: 12.3%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier’s Les Longues Verges is an exceptional single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs Champagne that expresses the precision, depth and distinctive chalky minerality of the Côte des Blancs. Produced entirely from Grand Cru Chardonnay, the wine comes from a unique parcel that crosses the boundary between the celebrated villages of Cramant and Chouilly.

The vineyard’s unusual name reflects its history. “Verges” was an old French unit of measurement used before the adoption of the metric system, with one verge measuring approximately 50 meters. The parcel’s position across two Grand Cru villages gives the wine a particularly compelling sense of place, combining Cramant’s refined structure with Chouilly’s generous fruit and elegance.

The vines are planted on Cretaceous chalk, marl and clay with a northeast-facing exposure. These cool, mineral-rich soils help preserve freshness and acidity while encouraging the Chardonnay to develop remarkable purity, concentration and finesse. The vineyard is farmed according to certified sustainable practices.

The 2013 vintage was vinified and aged in stainless steel to preserve the clarity of the fruit and the vineyard’s pronounced mineral character. The wine underwent full malolactic fermentation and was bottled in May following the harvest. It then spent 84 months aging in bottle before release, developing a fine mousse, greater textural depth and beautifully integrated mature Champagne complexity. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Elegant and focused, Les Longues Verges offers bright citrus, white peach and orchard-fruit flavors, joined by delicate notes of jasmine, fennel, ginger and toasted brioche. The palate is long, juicy and finely structured, with a creamy texture balanced by vivid acidity and the steely, chalk-driven minerality characteristic of Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs.

This is a sophisticated Champagne with enough depth and structure for the table. It pairs beautifully with oysters, caviar, lobster, scallops, sushi, roasted white fish, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto and aged cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Les Longues Verges
• Vintage: 2013
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte des Blancs
• Villages: Cramant and Chouilly
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Wine Style: Blanc de Blancs Brut
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyard: Les Longues Verges
• Orientation: Northeast
• Soil: Cretaceous chalk, marl and clay
• Farming: Certified sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Bottle Aging: 84 months
• Residual Sugar: 4.4 g/L
• Acidity: 4.2 g/L
• pH: 3.07
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier’s Ora Alba is an elegant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs that expresses the purity, precision and chalk-driven character of the northern Côte des Blancs. Produced entirely from Chardonnay, the cuvée brings together fruit from the prestigious Grand Cru villages of Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry.

The name Ora Alba, meaning “dawn” or “the first light of day,” beautifully reflects the wine’s bright, luminous personality. It is conceived as the Vignier family’s interpretation of northern Côte des Blancs Chardonnay, where deep Cretaceous chalk is complemented by marl and clay, creating Champagne with both mineral tension and generous texture.

The Grand Cru vineyards contribute distinct qualities to the final blend. Cramant brings structure, finesse and pronounced chalky minerality, while Chouilly contributes elegance and ripe fruit. Oiry adds freshness, precision and a refined linear character. Together, these sites produce a harmonious Blanc de Blancs with depth, balance and a strong sense of place.

Ora Alba is vinified and aged in stainless steel to preserve the purity of the Chardonnay and the clarity of its mineral profile. The wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation, giving the palate a smooth, integrated texture while retaining its natural freshness. It is then aged for an extended period on its lees before disgorgement, developing a fine mousse and subtle notes of brioche, pastry and toasted almond.

Fresh and refined, Ora Alba offers aromas of lemon zest, white peach, green apple and delicate white flowers. The palate is precise and energetic, with layers of citrus, orchard fruit and chalky minerality supported by fine bubbles and a softly creamy texture. Subtle notes of brioche and almond emerge with air, leading to a long, dry and elegant finish.

This versatile Grand Cru Champagne is excellent as an aperitif but also has the depth and structure to accompany a meal. Pair it with oysters, caviar, lobster, scallops, sushi, roasted white fish, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto or aged cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Ora Alba
• Base Vintage: 2013
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte des Blancs
• Villages: Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Wine Style: Blanc de Blancs Brut
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Soil: Cretaceous chalk, marl and clay
• Farming: Certified sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Élevage: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: Extended aging in bottle before disgorgement
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier’s Pur Cramant is a rare, single-vineyard Grand Cru Champagne created to capture the character of one exceptional parcel in Cramant. For this cuvée, Nathalie Vignier selects a different lieu-dit from her family’s Cramant holdings according to which site she believes most clearly expresses the personality of the vintage. For the 2016 release, that vineyard was Les Fourches.

Located in the southern part of Cramant, close to the renowned Bateau vineyard, Les Fourches is planted with Chardonnay vines more than 55 years old. The parcel’s northeast-facing slopes and distinctive combination of clay-rich marl over pure Cretaceous chalk create a Champagne with both depth and precision. The marl contributes texture and power, while the deep chalk subsoil provides freshness, tension and the refined mineral character associated with the finest wines of the Côte des Blancs.

Produced entirely from Grand Cru Chardonnay, the wine was fermented and aged in stainless steel to preserve the purity of the fruit and the clarity of the vineyard expression. It underwent full malolactic fermentation and remained on its lees until bottling in April following the harvest. The Champagne then spent approximately 64 months aging en tirage before disgorgement, developing a fine mousse, greater complexity and a beautifully integrated texture.

Pur Cramant Les Fourches is precise, concentrated and elegantly structured. Aromas of lemon zest, white peach, green apple and white flowers are complemented by subtle notes of brioche, almond and chalk. The palate is energetic and finely textured, with bright citrus, ripe orchard fruit and a pronounced mineral core. Its Extra-Brut dosage keeps the finish dry, focused and persistent while allowing the character of the old vines and chalk-rich terroir to remain at the forefront.

This is a sophisticated, terroir-driven Champagne that is equally compelling as an aperitif or served with food. Pair it with oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, sushi, roasted white fish, creamy poultry dishes, mushroom risotto or aged cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Pur Cramant
• Lieu-Dit: Les Fourches
• Vintage: 2016
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte des Blancs
• Village: Cramant
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Wine Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vine Age: More than 55 years
• Orientation: Northeast
• Soil: Cretaceous chalk, marl and clay
• Farming: Certified sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Élevage: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: Approximately 64 months en tirage before disgorgement
• Residual Sugar: 4.3 g/L
• Acidity: 4.4 g/L
• pH: 3.07
• Alcohol: 12.25%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier’s QVFMR “Les Jardins d’Elise” is an exceptionally rare, long-aged Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs created as part of the estate’s Cuvée Éphémère collection. Produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in Cramant, this singular 2008 Champagne honors Nathalie Vignier’s great-grandmother, Elise, and the historic vineyards she helped establish.

The cuvée is drawn from three individual Cramant lieux-dits originally planted by Elise: Chenelots, Marais and Herbin. The vines were between approximately 25 and 45 years old at harvest and grow on complex soils of Cretaceous chalk, marl and loam. These varied Grand Cru sites combine depth and ripeness with the freshness, precision and mineral tension for which Cramant Chardonnay is renowned.

The name QVFMR represents a collection of limited, ephemeral Champagnes through which Nathalie Vignier explores historic parcels and traditional cellar methods. Each release is produced in very small quantities and offers a distinctive expression of the family’s vineyards, heritage and long history in the Côte des Blancs.

The 2008 Les Jardins d’Elise was fermented and aged in previously used neutral oak barrels, allowing the wine to develop texture and complexity without overwhelming the purity of the fruit. It remained on its fine lees until bottling in June 2009 and then spent an extraordinary 13 years aging en tirage. The bottles were disgorged by hand and finished with a restrained dosage of only 2.7 grams per liter.

Richly developed yet remarkably precise, this mature Blanc de Blancs offers layers of preserved citrus, ripe orchard fruit, toasted almond, brioche and subtle pastry notes. Its extended lees aging contributes a refined, creamy mousse and profound savory complexity, while the chalk-rich Cramant terroir provides freshness, structure and a long mineral finish.

With its Extra-Brut dosage and extensive bottle aging, Les Jardins d’Elise is a serious, gastronomic Champagne. It pairs beautifully with caviar, oysters, lobster, scallops, turbot, roasted poultry, mushroom dishes, aged Comté and other mature cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: QVFMR “Les Jardins d’Elise”
• Collection: Cuvée Éphémère
• Vintage: 2008
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte des Blancs
• Village: Cramant
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Wine Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut
• Grape Variety: 100% Chardonnay
• Vineyards: Chenelots, Marais and Herbin
• Vine Age: Approximately 25–45 years at harvest
• Orientation: South, southwest and northeast
• Soil: Cretaceous chalk, marl and loam
• Farming: Certified sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Neutral oak barrels
• Élevage: Neutral oak barrels on the fine lees
• Bottling: June 2009
• Lees Aging: 13 years en tirage
• Disgorgement: Disgorged by hand
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Dosage: 2.7 g/L
• Residual Sugar: 2.7 g/L
• Acidity: 6.2 g/L
• pH: 2.97
• Alcohol: 11.5%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier’s Silexus Sezannensis is a distinctive single-parcel Chardonnay Champagne that highlights the unusual flint-rich soils of the Côte de Sézanne. Its Latin-inspired name refers directly to its origin: a Champagne shaped by the silex soils of the Sézannais.

The Côte de Sézanne lies south of the better-known Côte des Blancs and shares its deep Cretaceous chalk subsoil. Here, however, the Chardonnay often develops a broader, more generous expression while retaining the freshness and mineral character associated with Champagne’s chalk-based vineyards.

Silexus Sezannensis comes from the Chatet parcel near the village of Saudoy. Four of the Vignier family’s twelve hectares in the Côte de Sézanne are located in this vineyard. Its south-facing vines grow in a complex mixture of flint and sand over Cretaceous chalk, with marl, clay and silica contributing additional texture and character.

The dark silex stones absorb warmth from the sun during the day and gradually release it around the vines, encouraging even ripening. The underlying chalk helps preserve freshness and acidity, creating a Champagne that combines ripe Chardonnay fruit with precision, tension and a pronounced mineral profile.

The wine is vinified and aged in stainless steel to protect the purity of the fruit and clearly express the character of the vineyard. It undergoes full malolactic fermentation and is bottled in May following the harvest. The Champagne then spends a minimum of 84 months aging en tirage before disgorgement, gaining greater depth, complexity and a finely integrated mousse.

Expressive and mineral-driven, Silexus Sezannensis offers aromas of ripe citrus, yellow apple, white peach and delicate flowers, complemented by subtle notes of brioche, almond and crushed stone. The palate is generous yet focused, with fine bubbles, bright acidity and a distinctive flinty character carrying through the long, dry finish.

This terroir-focused Champagne is excellent as an aperitif and has enough depth to accompany a meal. Pair it with oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, sushi, roasted white fish, poultry, mushroom dishes or aged cheeses.

Wine Details

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Silexus Sezannensis
• Base Vintage: 2016
• Region: Champagne, France
• Appellation: Côte de Sézanne
• Village: Saudoy
• Vineyard: Chatet
• Grape Variety: Chardonnay
• Orientation: South
• Soil: Silex over Cretaceous chalk, with sand, marl, clay and silica
• Farming: Certified Sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Élevage: Stainless steel followed by extended bottle aging
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: Minimum of 84 months en tirage before disgorgement
• Residual Sugar: 5.3 g/L
• Acidity: 4.6 g/L
• pH: 3.07
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Winemaker Description

Its traditional production makes Vocation Champagne a Blanc de Noirs to enjoy on any occasion and turn it into a memorable moment.

The Champagne region is synonymous with excellence, hard work and continuous work to continue offering recognized world-class wines and bubbles. Our vocation and respect for nature, as well as our lives, manage to create the best fruit which is the basis and structure for our final offering.

Vocation is the living representation of what has been our home for centuries and radiates our values ​​as a family by making and respecting the traditional way of making champagne, the precious liquid.

Experience the pinnacle of champagne craftsmanship with Krug Grande Cuvée 172nd Edition, an exceptional prestige cuvée presented in an elegant gift box. This iconic champagne represents the artistry of blending 146 separately vinified wines from 11 different vintages, with the 2016 vintage as its foundation.

Why Choose Krug Grande Cuvée 173rd Edition?

• Exceptional Ratings: 98 points Wine Enthusiast, 97 points Decanter & James Suckling, 96 points Wine Spectator
• Perfect for Gifting: Arrives in a luxurious presentation gift box
• Masterful Blend: 51% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Meunier
• Aging Potential: Drink now through 2040 or cellar for 5-10 years

Tasting Profile

Discover a symphony of flavors including toasted brioche, lemon curd, dried apricot, hazelnut, and hints of ginger and white flowers. The palate is rich yet refined, with vivacious bubbles, bright acidity, and an exceptionally long, elegant finish with notes of salted butter and roasted nuts.

Expert Reviews - 172nd Edition

Wine Enthusiast 98 Points | This is the most recent bottling of this iconic Champagne. There is a touch of toast as well as enticing apple and citrus aromas. On the palate, this wine is rich, intense, poised between maturity and ripe white fruits.

Decanter 97 Points | The 172ème édition, based around the 2016 vintage, is a delicate, floral and saline Grande Cuvée at this early stage in its life. The palate it taut, tightly wound, gradually unfurling into toasted fruit bread, rye bread and roasted nuts, wrapped around an intricate and taut lemon core. It's exceptionally long, spicy, rounded and spherical in shape.

James Suckling 97 Points | Beautiful notes of dried citrus fruit, lemon curd and dried apples with hints of spices, dried flowers and subtle brioche. I like the polished and caressing texture and steady, refreshing acidity. It's fresh and even austere, with notes of ground spices. So vertical and firm. Structured and long.

Wine Spectator 96 Points | This classy Champagne waltzes across the palate with fluid poise and grace. The mousse's pointillismlike beads and a vivid frame of acidity buoy the detailed range of aromas and flavors, including chopped cherry, dried apricot, tangerine peel and plum cake notes, plus fragrant hints of grated ginger, lime blossoms, ground coffee and grilled nuts.

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Outstanding. It reveals a complex, slightly spicy bouquet of white fruits, beeswax, marzipan, hazelnuts, dried herbs, ripe orchard fruits and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated on the palate, it has a subtly spicy entry, an enrobing and layered texture and a fleshy core of fruit framed around a perfectly balanced, fresh and mineral finish.

Perfect Pairings

Elevate your dining experience by pairing this prestigious champagne with oysters, caviar, aged Comté cheese, roasted poultry, or creamy risotto. Its complexity and structure make it ideal for special celebrations or as a sophisticated aperitif.

About Krug Champagne

Since 1843, Krug has been synonymous with the finest champagne in the world. Each Grande Cuvée is a unique blend that showcases the house's commitment to excellence and the art of blending across multiple vintages.

Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut NV — Champagne

Laherte Frères is a benchmark grower-producer in Chavot, farming biodynamically and organically across 10 hectares in the Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne. The Ultradition is their signature cuvée — a multi-vintage blend anchored by old-vine Pinot Meunier, built to express terroir transparency and minimal intervention. Wine Spectator awarded it 92 points, calling it “vivid” and “clean-cut and minerally on the finish.” John Gilman added 92+ points, praising its “superb soil signature, refined mousse, and a very long, complex, dancing finish.” At this price, it is one of the most compelling values in grower Champagne.

The nose opens with white peach, spring flowers, chalky soil tones, gentle smokiness, and a dollop of brioche. On the palate it is full-bodied and extremely elegant — pure, with a fine core, refined mousse, and a long, dancing finish of citrus and mineral. Pinot Meunier at its most expressive.

Wine Spectator 92 • Vinous 92 • John Gilman 92+ — “Pure, full-bodied, and extremely elegant, with a very long, complex and dancing finish.”

• Producer: Laherte Frères, Chavot, Champagne, France
• Style: Brut NV
• Blend: 60% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Noir
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Dosage: 6–8 g/L
• Farming: Biodynamic, Organic
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White peach, spring flowers, chalk, brioche, citrus, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, lobster, sushi, aged Comté, roast chicken, caviar

A 92-point biodynamic grower Champagne at an honest price — Laherte Frères’ Ultradition is the benchmark for what Pinot Meunier-driven Champagne can be.

Winemaker Description

Produced from a small walled vineyard close to the Lanson winery in Reims, this is a splendid wine. Its richness is balanced by the intense freshness and minerality of the Chardonnay, with apple and citrus flavors that still in the background. Now mature, this wine is ready to drink.

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 97 Points | Produced from a small walled vineyard close to the Lanson winery in Reims, this is a splendid wine. Its richness is balanced by the intense freshness and minerality of the Chardonnay, with apple and citrus flavors that still in the background. Now mature, this wine is ready to drink.

Wine Advocate 94 Points | Disgorged in July 2016 with only three grams per liter dosage, the 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs Clos Lanson is showing very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of dried white flowers, citrus oil, toasted brioche, oyster shell and smoke. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and vibrant, with a racy spine of acidity, good concentration and chalky structuring extract. This is quite a tightly knit, tensile wine, despite the warm mesoclimate and two years on cork, which suggests it will enjoy a long future.

Vinous 93 Points | Clos Lanson's 2007 Brut Blanc de Blancs is a very pretty, soft Champagne that can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring. Bright citrus and floral notes, along with soft contours, give much of its immediacy and sheer allure. Understated and classy, the 2007 will drink well for a number of years, but it is also remarkably giving and enjoyable today for a relatively young Blanc de Blancs. Although it is not super-complex, the 2007 offers quite a bit of freshness and character. An open bottle was still in great shape when I re-tasted it a few days later. Disgorged: July 2016.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Fragrant, featuring lime blossom and ground spice notes, this fine and creamy Champagne offers a broad range of lemon parfait, chopped hazelnut, spun honey and dried cherry flavors, underscored by chalky minerality. Elegant and well-knit, with a firm, focused finish. Disgorged July 2016. Drink now through 2030. 665 cases made.