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

Benoît Déhu’s Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature is a distinctive grower Champagne from Fossoy, on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne in Champagne, France. Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family Champagne house dates to 1787. After working at Champagne Bollinger, he returned to the family estate and began pursuing a highly personal approach centered on biodynamic farming, parcel expression, low-intervention winemaking and the potential of Meunier.

Initiation is a blend of Meunier and Pinot Noir. The Meunier comes from Déhu’s celebrated La Rue des Noyers parcel, while the Pinot Noir is sourced from a small parcel lower on the hillside with predominantly clay and sand soils. Déhu planted the Pinot Noir using massale selections derived from a Pommard clone from Burgundy, bringing an intriguing Burgundian influence to this deeply Champenois wine.

La Rue des Noyers forms the heart of Déhu’s independent project: a 1.7-hectare parcel farmed biodynamically, with a portion traditionally worked by horse. Déhu is particularly known for fermenting and aging his wines in oak, including barrels made from trees harvested in the nearby forest of Fossoy. His Champagnes favor tension, energy and minerality rather than overt richness.

For the 2021 base, malolactic fermentation was blocked and the wine was bottled with no dosage, giving the Champagne its taut, dry and mineral-driven personality. The finished wine combines crushed-stone minerality with floral, herbal and red-fruited nuances, showing impressive energy and precision. The wine was disgorged on April 26, 2024.

90 Points — Vinous

“The NV (2021) Initiation is an attractive wine, perhaps a bit lithe in this release, but still very pretty. Crushed rocks, flowers, mint, dried herbs and red-toned fruit all grace the palate. Blocked malolactic fermentation and no dosage further amplify the wine's decidedly taut leanings. All things considered, this is a gorgeous 2021. Disgorged: April 26, 2024.”

— Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 90 Points

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature
Base Vintage: 2021
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Western Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Grapes: Meunier and Pinot Noir
Meunier Source: La Rue des Noyers
Pinot Noir: Massale selection from Pommard clone; clay and sand soils
Farming: Biodynamic practices at La Rue des Noyers
Vinification: Oak fermentation and élevage; malolactic fermentation blocked
Dosage: No dosage / Brut Nature
Disgorgement: April 26, 2024
Rating: Vinous 90 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne Cuvée Initiation Brut Nature (Base 2021) 750ml

Benoît Déhu’s Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut is an expressive grower Champagne from Fossoy, on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne in Champagne, France. Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family estate dates to 1787. After working at Champagne Bollinger, Benoît returned to his family domaine and developed his own highly personal range of naturally farmed, terroir-driven Champagnes.

The 2022 Initiation Rosé is composed of 78% Meunier and 22% Pinot Noir, with 7% still red wine blended into the cuvée to create its delicate rosé character. Meunier plays a central role in Déhu’s work, particularly from his celebrated La Rue des Noyers vineyard, while Pinot Noir brings additional structure, depth and red-fruit character.

Déhu farms with a strong commitment to biodynamic and natural viticulture, including work according to the lunar calendar and the use of traditional vineyard practices. His wines are known for their careful oak vinification and élevage, with many barrels made from trees sourced in the nearby forest of Fossoy.

The 2022 Initiation Rosé is elegant, vibrant and savory, with notes of cranberry, dried flowers, ginger and cinnamon. Bright acidity and fine minerality give the wine energy and precision, while the red wine component lends subtle texture and depth. Despite its delicacy, the wine has impressive persistence and complexity.

Vinous notes that this release was bottled with no dosage, emphasizing its dry, energetic and terroir-driven style. It was disgorged beginning in April 2025, with multiple disgorgements taking place throughout the year.

94 Points — Vinous

“The NV (2022) Extra Brut Rosé Initiation is laced with cranberry, ginger, dried flowers and cinnamon. Elegant and light on its feet, the 2022 is a total delight. This deceptively understated Rosé is gorgeous. Readers should expect a decidedly savory style. The Initiation is 78% Meunier and 22% Pinot Noir, with 7% still red wine blended in. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: April 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year.”

— Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 94 Points

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut
Base Vintage: 2022
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Grapes: 78% Meunier, 22% Pinot Noir
Rosé Method: Blend with 7% still red wine
Farming: Biodynamic and natural viticulture
Vinification: Oak vinification and élevage
Dosage: No dosage for this release
Disgorgement: Beginning April 2025; multiple disgorgements
Rating: Vinous 94 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne Cuvée Initiation Rosé Extra Brut (Base 2022) 750ml

La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature 2020 is Benoît Déhu’s flagship single-vineyard Champagne, produced from 100% Meunier grown in the village of Fossoy on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France.

Benoît Déhu is an eighth-generation vigneron whose family estate dates to 1787. After spending several formative years at Champagne Bollinger, Déhu returned to his family domaine and began developing his own highly personal range of naturally farmed, terroir-driven Champagnes.

At the heart of his project is La Rue des Noyers, a 1.7-hectare parcel that Benoît began farming independently in 2011. The vineyard is farmed biodynamically, with approximately 0.40 hectares traditionally worked by horse. The name La Rue des Noyers refers to the trees that once bordered the parcel.

This is an unusually focused Champagne: one vineyard, one grape variety and one vintage. Made entirely from Meunier, La Rue des Noyers is designed to explore the character and potential of a grape that historically played a supporting role in Champagne blends but can produce wines of remarkable depth, energy and complexity when treated as a serious single-vineyard variety.

The wine is fermented and aged in oak barrels, many of which are made from trees harvested in the nearby forest of Fossoy. The wine spends approximately 11 months on its lees in barrel before bottling. It is made with minimal intervention, bottled unfined and unfiltered, and finished as a Brut Nature with no dosage.

The 2020 is a dry, vinous and mineral-driven expression of Meunier, combining ripe orchard fruit and citrus with savory notes, subtle spice, toasted nuances and a pronounced saline character. The oak adds texture and complexity without obscuring the wine’s energetic structure and distinctive sense of place.

La Rue des Noyers captures the signature Déhu style: intense, vibrant and energetic, with beautiful tension and fine minerality. It is a distinctive grower Champagne for those interested in single-parcel wines and the increasingly important role of Meunier among Champagne’s most progressive producers.

Vinous rates the 2020 La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature 89 Points, noting this single-vineyard Champagne within Benoît Déhu’s distinctive range of biodynamically farmed, minimalist wines from the Vallée de la Marne.

Wine Details

Producer: Benoît Déhu
Wine: La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature
Vintage: 2020
Region: Champagne, France
Area: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Fossoy
Vineyard: La Rue des Noyers
Vineyard Size: 1.7 hectares
Grape: 100% Meunier
Farming: Biodynamic; a portion of the vineyard is worked by horse
Vinification: Fermented and aged in oak barrels
Élevage: Approximately 11 months on the lees in barrel
Fining / Filtration: Unfined and unfiltered
Dosage: No dosage / Brut Nature
Rating: Vinous 89 Points
Bottle Size: 750ml

Benoît Déhu Champagne La Rue des Noyers Brut Nature 2020 750ml

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

Raphaël and Vincent Bérêche are among Champagne’s most admired growers — farmers first, winemakers by conviction, and producers of some of the most mineral, structured, and genuinely terroir-driven Champagnes being made today. Working nine hectares across the Vallée de la Marne, Petite Montagne, and a sliver of Montagne de Reims, the brothers converted to biodynamics in 2007 and have never looked back. Vinification is predominantly in barrel with natural yeasts, no malolactic fermentation, and an increasing use of cork for secondary fermentation — a deliberate set of choices that produces wines of uncommon depth and longevity at every level of the range.

The Brut Réserve is the purest expression of the Bérêche domaine: a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier drawn from the chalky soils of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims, the sandy terroir of Ormes in the Petite Montagne, and the clay-limestone of Mareuil-le-Port in the Vallée de la Marne. With 35% reserve wine integrated into the blend, it soars from the glass with citrus oil, green apple, and a restrained touch of brioche. The palate is medium-bodied and precise — savory and fresh in equal measure, with the vibrant, mineral-driven acidity that is the unmistakable signature of this house. The finish is long and crystalline.

• Producer: Bérêche et Fils, Ludes, Champagne, France
• Style: Brut Réserve NV
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Blend: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier (35% reserve wine)
• Farming: Biodynamic | Organic
• Vinification: ~75% barrel fermented, natural yeasts, no malolactic fermentation
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Citrus oil, green apple, brioche, savory mineral, vibrant acidity, long crystalline finish
• Food Pairings: Oysters, sea urchin, Dover sole, aged Comté, caviar, classic French aperitif

Biodynamic farming, no malo, barrel fermentation — Bérêche Brut Réserve is grower Champagne at its most uncompromising.

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.  

The wine itself is Billecart-Salmon’s classic Brut Réserve, presented in the distinctive red-and-black limited-edition label. Billecart-Salmon and (RED) first collaborated nearly a decade ago and have renewed the partnership with a limited release, with a portion of each bottle sold supporting critical healthcare programs in communities most affected by AIDS.

Crafted from the three classic Champagne varieties — Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir — Brut Réserve is sourced from outstanding sites throughout Champagne. The blend incorporates a significant proportion of reserve wines, giving the cuvée impressive consistency, complexity and depth while retaining the graceful, refined character for which Billecart-Salmon is known.

In the glass, it shows a brilliant straw-gold color and an exceptionally fine stream of persistent bubbles. The bouquet is clean and precise, opening with white stone fruits, fresh orchard fruit and delicate floral notes, followed by subtle hints of biscuit and toast.

The palate is beautifully balanced and silky, with flavors of crisp apple, pear and citrus complemented by gentle roasted and biscuity notes. Fine mousse and vibrant acidity give the wine wonderful energy, while a mineral backbone carries through to a long, fresh and elegant finish.

This is a wonderfully versatile Champagne: sophisticated enough for celebrations, yet balanced and food-friendly enough to enjoy throughout a meal. Serve well chilled as an aperitif or pair with oysters, shellfish, sushi, smoked salmon, light poultry dishes and soft cheeses.

Tasting Notes

Color: Bright straw gold with fine, persistent bubbles
Aromas: White fruits, orchard fruit, flowers and delicate biscuit
Palate: Crisp apple, pear, citrus and subtle toasted notes
Style: Fresh, refined, harmonious and beautifully balanced
Finish: Long, mineral and elegant

Food Pairings

Oysters · Caviar · Sushi · Smoked salmon · Shellfish · Roasted poultry · Soft cheeses

Limited Edition

The distinctive (RED) label is more than special packaging: it represents Billecart-Salmon’s partnership with (RED). The current collaboration contributes $5 from every (BILLECART-SALMON)RED bottle sold to support programs fighting AIDS and expanding access to essential healthcare.

Please note: This is the classic Billecart-Salmon Réserve cuvée in a special limited-edition (RED) presentation; it is not a red or rosé Champagne. 

Billecart-Salmon Demi-Sec is a beautifully refined expression of the sweeter side of Champagne, combining richness and generosity with the remarkable finesse for which this historic family-owned house is renowned. Rather than simply emphasizing sweetness, the cuvée achieves an impressive balance between dosage, freshness and acidity, resulting in a Champagne that is lush and expressive while remaining elegant and remarkably easy to drink.

The blend is identical to that of Billecart-Salmon’s celebrated Brut Réserve, but with a higher dosage that gives the wine additional roundness, texture and richness. It is composed of approximately 40% Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, drawing fruit from several of Champagne’s important growing areas, including the Montagne de Reims, Grande Vallée de la Marne, Vallée de la Marne and selected Chardonnay crus throughout the region. A substantial proportion of reserve wines adds depth, consistency and complexity to the final blend.

In the glass, the Champagne displays a luminous pale-gold color with a persistent stream of very fine bubbles. The bouquet is lively and inviting, opening with delicate white flowers before developing richer notes of buttered brioche, pastry and ripe orchard fruit. On the palate, it is generous and creamy, with a fine mousse and an appealing sweetness beautifully counterbalanced by Champagne’s natural acidity. The result is harmonious rather than overtly sugary, with the richness of the fruit and dosage carried by freshness and an elegant, lingering finish.

Billecart-Salmon vinifies the wine primarily in stainless-steel tanks, with partial malolactic fermentation helping preserve freshness while adding suppleness. The current house specifications indicate approximately 50–60% reserve wines, around 30 months of aging on the lees, and a dosage of approximately 40 g/L.

Although Demi-Sec Champagne is traditionally associated with dessert, this cuvée is remarkably versatile at the table. It is particularly delicious with fruit tarts, pastries, brioche, lemon meringue tart and chocolate cake, where its combination of sweetness and acidity can complement rather than overwhelm the dessert. It can also create an intriguing sweet-and-savory pairing with richer foods such as foie gras or toasted brioche.

Serve well chilled at approximately 46°F / 8°C.

Blend

40% Meunier · 30% Pinot Noir · 30% Chardonnay

Tasting Notes

Color: Pale gold with fine, persistent bubbles
Aromas: White flowers, buttered brioche, pastry and ripe fruit
Palate: Rich and full-flavored, with creamy texture, fine bubbles and beautifully balanced sweetness and acidity
Finish: Smooth, elegant and lingering

Food Pairings

Fruit tarts · Lemon meringue tart · Chocolate cake · Pastries · Brioche · Shortbread · Foie gras

Winemaking

Approximately 50–60% reserve wines · Stainless-steel vinification · Partial malolactic fermentation · Approximately 30 months on the lees · 40 g/L dosage.

Billecart-Salmon Demi-Sec is an elegant choice for those who enjoy Champagne with greater richness and sweetness, yet still want the freshness, precision and sophisticated house style that define Billecart-Salmon.

An exceptionally refined expression of Chardonnay, Billecart-Salmon Le Blanc de Blancs is crafted entirely from Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs, one of Champagne’s most celebrated terroirs for Chardonnay.

The cuvée brings together fruit from the prestigious villages of Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, producing a Champagne of remarkable purity, precision and mineral intensity. Billecart-Salmon blends wines from two different years, allowing the House to capture both freshness and complexity while maintaining its signature elegant style.

Made from 100% Chardonnay, the wine is vinified in stainless-steel tanks to preserve its delicate fruit and mineral character. Between 20% and 50% reserve wines are incorporated into the blend, adding depth and complexity, while extended aging of approximately 4 to 5 years on the lees creates its refined texture and beautifully integrated mousse.

In the glass, Le Blanc de Blancs displays a luminous golden color with subtle green reflections and an exceptionally fine stream of bubbles. The mousse is delicate yet generous, giving the Champagne an elegant and polished appearance.

The bouquet is precise and mineral-driven, revealing aromas of white flowers, fresh butter and brioche, followed by bright citrus and subtle chalky notes. With time in the glass, the wine develops additional layers while retaining a remarkable sense of finesse and freshness.

On the palate, it is beautifully creamy yet vibrant. Flavors of fresh almond, lemon zest and citrus are carried by a distinctly chalky texture, reflecting the limestone-rich soils of the Côte des Blancs. A delicate meringue-like richness adds softness and depth, while the Champagne’s natural acidity keeps the palate fresh, energetic and beautifully balanced.

The finish is long, smooth and mineral, with a subtle saline note that adds precision and makes the wine particularly compelling at the table. Billecart-Salmon describes the cuvée as combining impressive vinosity with an unexpectedly fresh finish — a style that appeals especially to lovers of elegant, mineral-driven Champagne.

Vineyards

100% Grand Cru Côte des Blancs

Avize · Chouilly · Cramant · Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

Tasting Notes

Color: Luminous gold with delicate green reflections
Aromas: White flowers, brioche, fresh butter and mineral notes
Palate: Lemon zest, citrus, fresh almond, chalk and delicate meringue
Style: Creamy, precise, elegant and mineral-driven
Finish: Long, refined and saline

Winemaking

Vinification: Stainless steel
Reserve Wines: Approximately 20–50%
Lees Aging: Approximately 4–5 years
Recommended Cellaring: 8–10 years for a 750ml bottle
Serving Temperature: Approximately 50°F / 10°C
Bottle Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Oysters · Caviar · Scallops · Langoustines · Seafood carpaccio · Ceviche · Turbot · Sushi

Billecart-Salmon Le Blanc de Blancs is a beautifully precise Grand Cru Champagne, combining creamy Chardonnay richness with brilliant citrus freshness, chalky minerality and the effortless elegance for which the House is renowned.

The benchmark rosé Champagne. The one every other measures itself against.

Billecart-Salmon Le Rosé has been setting the standard since 1830 — born in the prestigious cellars of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, crafted with a precision and elegance that is simply unmatched. This is not just Champagne. This is a moment.

In the Glass
A luminous salmon-pink with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose opens with fresh strawberry, wild raspberry, and a whisper of citrus blossom, lifted by a subtle warmth of brioche. On the palate — pliant, creamy, and strikingly expressive. Pomegranate and grapefruit weave into a brisk, finely cut finish. There is a vinous depth here, a sense that behind the Champagne, there is a real wine — effortlessly fresh, impossibly delicate.

The Blend
40% Chardonnay · 30% Pinot Noir · 30% Pinot Meunier (~7% still red wine)
NV base: 2020 · 46% reserve wines dating to 2014 · Dosage: 4.7 g/L

"At any time, it's like a ray of sunlight that transcends the beauty of the moment."
— Pierre Hermé, Legendary Pastry Chef

Expert Reviews

🍷 Antonio Galloni, Vinous — 91 pts | Pliant, creamy and super-expressive. Pomegranate and grapefruit laced into the brisk, finely cut finish. Drinking 2024–2030.

🍷 Tim Hewson, Decanter — 92 pts | Fragrant, crunchy redcurrant, red cherry and orange fruit with an alluring hibiscus-like floral lift. A rosé of immediacy and charm. Drinking 2024–2027.

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. 

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 - 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.

A remarkable limited-edition Champagne created for a historic celebration, the Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Cuvée Extra Brut 2018 commemorates the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Created exclusively for the American market, this special cuvée also highlights the longstanding relationship between the United States and Billecart-Salmon, one of Champagne's most respected family-owned houses.

For this exceptional release, Billecart-Salmon selected the outstanding 2018 vintage, a year of impressive ripeness, concentration and freshness. The Champagne is composed of 65% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and 35% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, sourced from prestigious Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards.

Only a small portion — approximately 3% — was vinified in oak, with the remainder in stainless steel to preserve freshness, purity and precision. The Champagne then spent an impressive 63 months aging on the lees, developing complexity and texture while retaining the finely etched character that defines the Billecart-Salmon style. A restrained Extra Brut dosage of 4.9 g/L emphasizes the wine's mineral structure and remarkable purity.

In the glass, it displays a luminous pale-gold color with a fine, energetic stream of bubbles. The bouquet is sophisticated and expressive, revealing nectarine, mirabelle plum and blueberry, layered with delicate white and violet flowers and subtle chalky minerality. Notes of biscuit and brioche emerge as the wine opens, adding further depth and complexity.

The palate begins with a beautifully creamy texture before developing remarkable energy and precision. Poached pear, white flowers and brioche are framed by an intensely chalky mineral backbone. Notes of almond, peach and citrus add dimension, while the Chardonnay brings finesse and structure and the Pinot Noir contributes depth and power.

The finish is exceptionally persistent — dry, mineral and finely sculpted, with impressive freshness balancing the richness of the vintage. Powerful without heaviness, this is a serious, sophisticated Champagne that combines the generosity of 2018 with Billecart-Salmon's signature elegance and restraint.

Both a collector's bottling and an exceptional Champagne for the table, the 250th Anniversary Cuvée is particularly suited to celebratory occasions and sophisticated cuisine.

Blend

65% Pinot Noir · 35% Chardonnay

Tasting Notes

Color: Luminous pale gold with fine, lively bubbles
Aromas: Nectarine, mirabelle plum, blueberry, white flowers, violets, biscuit and chalk
Palate: Creamy and energetic with brioche, poached pear, peach, almond and pronounced mineral character
Finish: Long, precise and chalk-driven with exceptional freshness

Food Pairings

Grilled lobster · Seared scallops · Tuna · Caviar · Foie gras · Pata Negra ham · Fine seafood dishes

Winemaking

Vintage: 2018
Vineyards: Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites
Origins: Montagne de Reims & Côte des Blancs
Oak Vinification: Approximately 3%
Lees Aging: 63 months
Dosage: 4.9 g/L — Extra Brut
Bottle Size: 750ml

A rare and highly distinctive release, Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Cuvée Extra Brut 2018 combines historic significance with the precision, finesse and elegance that have made Billecart-Salmon one of Champagne's great houses.

94+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck
94 Points — Wine Spectator
93 Points — James Suckling
90 Points — Wine Advocate

One vineyard. Zero dosage. Pure Chardonnay from chalk. Champagne Geoffroy's 2019 Les Collinardins is an exceptionally limited, single-parcel Blanc de Blancs from a southwest-facing lieu-dit in Damery, on the border of Cumières in the Vallée de la Marne. Fermented with indigenous yeasts, matured two years in oak, aged 36 months under cork and disgorged without dosage, it is a concentrated, mineral-driven Champagne of remarkable precision and length.

The Vineyard

Les Collinardins is a southwest-facing parcel situated in Damery at approximately 104 meters above sea level on an 18% slope. Geoffroy farms approximately 0.5 hectare of Chardonnay vines planted between 1990 and 2007. The soil is siliceous clay over chalk beginning at approximately 70 centimeters depth — clay contributing richness and ripe fruit, chalk delivering freshness, tension and the persistent mineral character that defines the wine.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay

Although the Vallée de la Marne is more commonly associated with Pinot Noir and Meunier, Les Collinardins demonstrates the depth and precision Chardonnay can achieve in a carefully selected chalk-influenced site. The wine combines citrus, pear and floral notes with a broader, more vinous texture than many traditional Côte des Blancs Champagnes.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness, carefully sorted and pressed in a traditional Coquard press, with only the finest tête de cuvée juice selected. Vinification is carried out by gravity with indigenous yeasts. The wine is fermented and matured on its lees for two years, predominantly in 600-liter oak demi-muids and smaller seasoned barrels. Malolactic fermentation did not occur, preserving the wine's racy natural acidity.

Secondary fermentation takes place under cork. The Champagne then spends approximately 36 months aging in bottle before release — without fining, filtration or dosage. The April 2024 disgorgement carries 0 g/L, making it a true Brut Nature.

Tasting Notes

The 2019 opens with aromas of candied lemon, key lime, white pear and quince, accompanied by apple blossom, honeysuckle and spring flowers. With air, notes of brioche, pastry, hazelnut, butter, smoky stone and graphite emerge.

The palate is firm, vertical and finely structured, with crisp acidity and a precise, pinprick mousse. Tangerine, lime peel, poached pear and tropical-fruit flavors are balanced by chalk, toasted almond and a subtle saline quality. Despite its richness, the wine remains energetic and incisive — its satiny texture leading into a long, dry and mineral finish marked by citrus, toast and smoky stone.

Professional Ratings

94+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Fantastic nose with notes of candied lime and lemon, key lime, white pear, smoky stones, tropical fruit and fresh cream. The palate is vertical and compact, with nervous tension and energy. Ripe and long on the palate, with toasty notes and building richness.

94 Points — Wine Spectator: Fragrant and enticing, with chalk, mineral, spice, apple blossom and graphite aromatics lacing flavors of tangerine, lime peel, poached quince and pear, and blanched almond and toast point. Firm and finely meshed, with a satiny texture and long, long finish. Disgorged April 2024. Drink now through 2040.

93 Points — James Suckling: Pastry aromas dominate with lemon curd, butter and spring flowers. Pinprick bubbles with crisp acidity, a lean yet elegant palate, light body and a toasty mineral finish.

90 Points — Wine Advocate: Sourced from a 0.5-hectare, southwest-facing parcel in Damery. Elevage for a full two years predominantly in 600-liter demi-muids. Disgorged without dosage in April 2024. Aromas of nashi pear, honeysuckle and nuts. Medium- to full-bodied, textural and incisive — vinous in character with a pinpoint mousse. Racy acidity and a lime-tinged finish underscore the no-malolactic vinification.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in the Vallée de la Marne since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing individual vineyard expression, ripe fruit, indigenous-yeast fermentation, long maturation and restrained dosage. Although the family's winery is now based in Aÿ, its identity remains closely connected to the vineyards surrounding Cumières and Damery.

Food Pairing

This structured Blanc de Blancs pairs beautifully with oysters, scallops, lobster, crab, grilled sea bass, sole meunière and sushi. Its richness and mineral acidity also complement roast chicken, mushroom risotto and aged cheeses such as Comté or Parmesan.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. The wine may be enjoyed now, but its concentration and acidity should support development through approximately 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Lieu-Dit Les Collinardins
Vintage: 2019
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Damery
Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature
Classification: Premier Cru
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard: Les Collinardins
Parcel Size: Approximately 0.5 hectare
Vine Age: Planted 1990–2007
Exposure: Southwest
Altitude: Approximately 104 meters
Slope: Approximately 18%
Soil: Siliceous clay over chalk
Farming: Practicing organic
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Pressing: Traditional Coquard press; tête de cuvée juice only
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in seasoned oak
Barrel Aging: Approximately 2 years in 600L demi-muids
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Bottle Aging: Approximately 36 months under cork
Dosage: 0 g/L (Brut Nature)
Disgorgement: April 2024
Fining and Filtration: Neither fined nor filtered
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Guy Charlemagne Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs B.C. Origine Les Chétillons — Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 2012

Guy Charlemagne is one of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger’s most revered grower-producers, farming a precious parcel within Les Chétillons — one of the most celebrated single-vineyard Chardonnay sites in all of Champagne. The Charlemagne family tends nearly one hectare across four parcels in Les Chétillons and Les Chétillons de Haut, planted between 1970 and 1991 using massal selections on south- and east-facing slopes. The vines’ roots penetrate deep into exposed chalk, giving the wine its defining combination of concentration, salinity, and mineral precision. B.C. Origine is the estate’s most uncompromising expression: fermented in seasoned oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation completely blocked to preserve acidity and tension, and aged under natural cork — a labor-intensive technique known as tiré bouché liège practiced here since the 1988 vintage. The 2012 spent approximately 12 years on its lees before being disgorged by hand in May 2025. Production was limited to roughly 2,000 bottles — the first time this vintage was offered in a standard 750ml format.

In the glass: lemon oil, crisp orchard fruit, dried citrus, green apple, and white flowers layered with biscuit, almond, toasted bread, green tea, smoke, and subtle reductive notes. The palate is concentrated and sharply defined — fine mousse, vibrant acidity, a powerful chalk-driven backbone — leading into a remarkably long, saline finish of flint, mouthwatering bitterness, and persistent mineral tension. Best served in a white-wine or Burgundy-style glass, not a flute.

Vinous 92 — “The 2012 Blanc de Blancs Les Chétillons is creamy, open-knit and very easy to like. Lemon confit, marzipan, spice and floral overtones capture all the exuberance and radiance of the year.”

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2012
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Vineyard: Les Chétillons, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
• Fermentation: Seasoned oak barrels; malolactic fermentation blocked
• Aging: ~12 years on lees under natural cork (tiré bouché liège)
• Bottled: February 2013 | Disgorged: May 2025
• Production: ~2,000 bottles
• Alcohol: 12.5% | Size: 750ml
• Serve: 48–54°F in a white-wine or Burgundy-style glass
• Best Paired With: Caviar, oysters, lobster, seared scallops, turbot, Dover sole, roasted poultry, aged Comté

A once-in-a-decade release from one of Le Mesnil’s most important growers — 12 years on the lees, ~2,000 bottles, and a chalk-driven precision that only Les Chétillons can deliver.

Guy Charlemagne Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grande Réserve — Le Mesnil-sur-Oger & Oger, Base 2022 

Important availability note:
The Guy Charlemagne Blanc de Blancs Grande Réserve Extra Brut Grand Cru, base 2019, is expected to arrive during the last week of August 2026. All other featured Guy Charlemagne Champagnes are currently in stock.

Guy Charlemagne is one of the Côte des Blancs’ most respected grower-producers, farming Grand Cru Chardonnay in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — the village that defines the benchmark for Blanc de Blancs Champagne. The Grande Réserve is the estate’s signature non-vintage expression, assembled from Chardonnay grown exclusively in the Grand Cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, with reserve wines blended in to add depth, complexity, and continuity across vintages. The Extra Brut dosage keeps the wine dry and focused, allowing the chalk-rich terroir of the Côte des Blancs to speak without interference. This is the entry point into the Charlemagne range — and it sets a remarkably high bar.

Pale golden with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose is fresh and expressive: lemon zest, crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, and crushed stone, followed by subtle brioche, almond, and fresh pastry from extended lees aging. On the palate, bright citrus fruit combines with a creamy mousse and a pronounced mineral core. The finish is long, clean, and saline — chalk, lemon, and toasted hazelnut lingering with precision.

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Villages: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger & Oger
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut (with reserve wines)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon zest, orchard fruit, white flowers, crushed stone, brioche, almond, saline chalk finish
• Serve: 46–50°F
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shellfish, sushi, smoked salmon, caviar, delicate white fish, soft-ripened cheeses

Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from the village that defines the category — Guy Charlemagne’s Grande Réserve is the benchmark grower Champagne at an honest introductory price.

Guy Charlemagne | Les Coullemets — Mesnillésimes | Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut | Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne | 2016

Guy Charlemagne is a celebrated grower-producer based in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger — one of Champagne's most prestigious Grand Cru villages, renowned worldwide for producing Blanc de Blancs of extraordinary mineral precision, tension, and longevity. The estate's vineyards average 58–60 years of age and are planted with massal selections, contributing depth, concentration, and a strong sense of place. Guy Charlemagne uses extended bottle aging and slightly reduced pressure for its parcel wines, creating a fine mousse and elegant, creamy texture while preserving clarity and tension.

Les Coullemets is part of Guy Charlemagne's distinguished “Mesnillésimes” series — single-vineyard, single-vintage expressions of individual Le Mesnil lieux-dits that showcase the unique character of each parcel. Les Coullemets is produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in the chalk-rich soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, reflecting the naturally firm structure, mineral precision, and saline depth for which the village is celebrated.

The 2016 vintage in Champagne produced wines of exceptional freshness, tension, and aging potential. The bouquet opens with white flowers, crisp apple, citrus peel, and ripe pear, followed by fresh pineapple, brioche, toasted nuts, gentle spice, and a subtle smoky quality. On the palate, taut and energetic — bright acidity with a refined mousse and a pronounced chalky mineral core. Lemon, white peach, almond, and orchard fruit lead into a long, fresh finish marked by bitter citrus, salinity, and finely etched minerality. The Extra Brut dosage keeps the wine dry and focused, allowing the purity of the Chardonnay and the distinctive character of Les Coullemets to remain at the forefront. Expressive now, with the structure and concentration to develop further with additional bottle age.

Serve as a sophisticated aperitif or pair with oysters, caviar, lobster, crab, seared scallops, grilled sole, halibut with lemon butter, sushi, and mild creamy cheeses.

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne
• Cuvée: Les Coullemets (Mesnillésimes series)
• Classification: Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Appellation: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Grape: Chardonnay (100%)
• Vintage: 2016
• Vine Age: ~58–60 years; massal selections
• Alcohol: 12.5% ABV
• Serving: 48–54°F; enjoy now or cellar for further development
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2016

• Vinous — 91 pts: Laced with hints of lemon oil, chalk, mint and dried flowers. Light on its feet and vibrant — a classic Champagne from Mesnil. Bracing saline notes support the mid-palate and finish.

Guy Charlemagne Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime — Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 2015

Guy Charlemagne's Mésnillésime is the estate's most serious statement — a single-vintage, single-village Blanc de Blancs drawn exclusively from old vines averaging 58 years of age, rooted in the chalk-rich Grand Cru soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The 2015 vintage delivered a warm, concentrated expression of Chardonnay, vinified partly in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation to preserve the wine's tension and mineral purity. After approximately six years of lees aging, it was disgorged with a dosage of just 3 g/L — firmly Extra Brut — allowing the terroir of Le Mesnil to speak without interference.

In the glass, pale gold with green highlights and a fine, persistent mousse. The bouquet opens with candied lemon, ripe apple, pear, acacia honey, and white flowers, deepening with air into brioche, toasted almond, flint, and a delicate iodine-like smokiness. The palate is rich yet precise — ripe orchard fruit and candied citrus layered with pastry, subtle oak, and chalky minerality, carried by bright acidity to a long, saline finish of citrus zest, flint, and vanilla. A gastronomic Champagne built for the table: oysters, caviar, lobster, roasted turbot, sole meunière, or aged Comté.

Wine Enthusiast 95 • Vinous 90 — "Done in a light-bodied, ethereal style. Dried lemon peel, crushed flowers, chamomile and dried herbs show the gentle patina of age."

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2015
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
• Cuvée: Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
• Vinification: Partially aged in oak; no malolactic fermentation
• Dosage: Approximately 3 g/L
• Lees Aging: Approximately six years
• Size: 750ml
• Serving Temperature: 48–54°F
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, lobster, roasted turbot, sole meunière, aged Comté
• Cellar Potential: Enjoy now or cellar for further development

A 95-point grower Champagne from one of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger's most dedicated estates — old vines, low dosage, and six years on lees make this one of the most compelling Blanc de Blancs available today.

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.

Egly-Ouriet | Les Crayères VV | Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut | Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | Practicing Organic

Egly-Ouriet is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims. Francis Egly farms his parcels with meticulous care — practicing organic viticulture, harvesting by hand, and working exclusively with indigenous yeasts — producing Champagnes of uncommon depth, vinous texture, and site-driven precision that have earned the domaine a cult following among collectors and sommeliers worldwide.

Among the rarest and most celebrated wines in the Egly-Ouriet portfolio, Les Crayères VV is a single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs made entirely from old-vine Pinot Noir. VV stands for Vieilles Vignes — old vines. The fruit comes exclusively from the legendary Les Crayères parcel, located just east of Ambonnay, planted largely in 1946 and 1947. The vineyard occupies a prized south-facing site with only a thin layer of topsoil above a deep bed of pure chalk — the name Les Crayères itself refers to this intensely chalky terroir. Very old vines, naturally low yields, and chalk-rich soils produce Pinot Noir of extraordinary concentration, minerality, and freshness.

Harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels (small proportion of new oak), with malolactic fermentation blocked to preserve energy and acidity. The wine spends approximately six years aging on its lees before disgorgement, and is finished with an exceptionally low dosage — bottled unfined and unfiltered, preserving its depth, texture, and individual vineyard character.

Deep golden in the glass. Aromas of ripe pear, dried apple, red berries, and bitter orange unfold alongside toasted brioche, roasted nuts, honey, cocoa, and warm baking spices. The palate is full-bodied and concentrated — fine, persistent mousse, layers of red fruit, ginger, cardamom, and toasted pastry, balanced by mouthwatering acidity, pronounced chalky structure, and a long, saline mineral finish. Although immediately impressive, this is a Champagne built to develop gracefully in the cellar.

An exceptional Champagne for the table — pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, lobster, roasted poultry, duck, charcuterie, wild mushrooms, richly flavored fish, aged Comté, Parmesan, and other firm, mature cheeses.

• Producer: Egly-Ouriet
• Cuvée: Les Crayères VV (Vieilles Vignes)
• Classification: Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut
• Appellation: Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Vineyard: Les Crayères single parcel, Ambonnay
• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vine Age: Planted 1946 & 1947
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Soils: Pure chalk with thin topsoil
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; French oak barrels (small % new)
• Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
• Lees Aging: ~6 years
• Dosage: Exceptionally low
• Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Base vintages, dosage, and disgorgement dates may vary by release.

Egly-Ouriet | VP (Vieillissement Prolongé) | Grand Cru Extra Brut | Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | Practicing Organic

Egly-Ouriet is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims. Francis Egly farms his parcels with meticulous care — practicing organic viticulture, harvesting by hand, and working exclusively with indigenous yeasts — producing Champagnes of uncommon depth, vinous texture, and site-driven precision that have earned the domaine a cult following among collectors and sommeliers worldwide.

One of the most distinguished cuvées in the Egly-Ouriet portfolio, VP stands for Vieillissement Prolongé — extended aging. This exceptional Champagne spends more than seven years resting on its fine lees before disgorgement, considerably longer than most non-vintage Champagnes and even many vintage bottlings. The extended maturation creates remarkable depth, complexity, and a beautifully integrated texture that sets VP apart as one of the great prestige cuvées of the grower Champagne world.

The blend is approximately 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, drawn from Grand Cru vineyards in Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzenay. Harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation blocked to preserve natural acidity and tension. A very low dosage preserves the wine's energy, precision, and distinctly chalky character — bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Rich and vinous yet exceptionally focused: aromas of red apple, spiced pear, yellow peach, and blood orange, followed by toasted brioche, roasted nuts, baking spices, and subtle floral notes. The palate is full and layered — fine, creamy mousse, vibrant citrus acidity, and pronounced mineral tension, with ginger, orchard fruit, toasted bread, and crushed chalk carrying through an exceptionally long, saline finish. Impressive upon release, yet built to develop beautifully with additional bottle age.

Powerful enough to accompany an entire meal — superb with scallops, lobster, crab, roasted poultry, duck, mushroom risotto, aged Comté, and other firm, nutty cheeses.

• Producer: Egly-Ouriet
• Cuvée: VP (Vieillissement Prolongé)
• Classification: Grand Cru Extra Brut
• Appellation: Ambonnay, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Villages: Ambonnay, Bouzy, Verzenay
• Grape Varieties: ~70% Pinot Noir, ~30% Chardonnay
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Soils: Chalk-rich
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; French oak barrels
• Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
• Lees Aging: 7+ years
• Dosage: Very low
• Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered
• Bottle Size: 750ml

As this is a non-vintage Champagne, base vintages, reserve-wine proportions, dosage, and disgorgement dates may vary by release.

Egly-Ouriet | Les Vignes de Vrigny | Premier Cru Extra Brut | Vrigny, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | Practicing Organic

Egly-Ouriet is one of Champagne's most revered grower-producers, based in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay on the Montagne de Reims. Francis Egly farms his parcels with meticulous care — practicing organic viticulture, harvesting by hand, and working exclusively with indigenous yeasts — producing Champagnes of uncommon depth, vinous texture, and site-driven precision.

Les Vignes de Vrigny is a rare and compelling single-vineyard Champagne made entirely from 100% Pinot Meunier — a grape variety most often used as a supporting component in Champagne blends, but here given a prestigious solo presentation. The fruit comes from a single east-facing parcel of vines more than 50 years old in the Premier Cru village of Vrigny, located in the northern Montagne de Reims. This sector's chalk-rich slopes provide the freshness, mineral character, and structure necessary to produce a serious, age-worthy Champagne.

Unlike most Egly-Ouriet cuvées, Les Vignes de Vrigny is fermented and matured in stainless steel to preserve the purity, brightness, and aromatic character of the Pinot Meunier. Malolactic fermentation is blocked to retain natural acidity and energy. The wine spends approximately 36 months aging on its lees before disgorgement, and is finished with a dosage of approximately 2 grams per liter — bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Expressive and inviting on the nose: wild strawberry, raspberry, red apple, and ripe orchard fruit, with dried flowers, fresh bread, hazelnut, and gentle spice. The palate is energetic and beautifully textured — fine mousse, vibrant acidity, and a distinctive combination of ripe fruit and chalky mineral tension, with red berries, pear, citrus peel, toasted grain, and savory spice leading to a persistent, dry, and gently saline finish.

An exceptional demonstration of the complexity Pinot Meunier can achieve when grown in a distinguished site and treated with the same care reserved for Champagne's most celebrated varieties. Excellent as an aperitif; pairs beautifully with charcuterie, smoked salmon, roast chicken, pork, duck, mushroom dishes, grilled fish, and moderately aged cheeses.

• Producer: Egly-Ouriet
• Cuvée: Les Vignes de Vrigny
• Classification: Premier Cru Extra Brut
• Appellation: Vrigny, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Vineyard: Single east-facing estate parcel
• Grape Variety: 100% Pinot Meunier
• Vine Age: 50+ years
• Farming: Practicing organic
• Soils: Chalk-rich
• Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Blocked
• Lees Aging: ~36 months
• Dosage: ~2 g/L
• Bottling: Unfined and unfiltered
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim

• Decanter — 93 pts: Fragrant and focused, with notes of fresh apricot, almond, ripe orange fruit, and bright citrus. Praised for its clarity, freshness, and precise, energetic character.
• Jeb Dunnuck — 93 pts: Fresh and energetic, offering notes of raspberry, strawberry, wet stone, and freshly baked bread. Finely textured, with chalky minerality, vibrant acidity, and a long finish.
• Wine Advocate — 92 pts: Aromas of green apple, white flowers, freshly baked bread, and crushed mint lead to a pure, vinous, and beautifully precise palate with lively acidity and a savory finish.

Critic reviews may refer to different base vintages and disgorgements of this non-vintage Champagne. Base vintages, reserve-wine proportions, lees-aging period, dosage, and disgorgement date may vary by release.

One of the rarest and most sought-after wines produced by Egly-Ouriet, the Cuvée des Grands Côtes Vieilles Vignes is a still red Coteaux Champenois made entirely from Pinot Noir. The fruit comes from a single south-facing vineyard in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay, situated directly below the domaine’s celebrated Les Crayères parcel.

The vineyard’s old vines, more than 60 years of age, are rooted in soils containing a higher proportion of clay than the neighboring chalk-dominant Les Crayères site. This warmer, clay-rich terroir is particularly well suited to producing deeply flavored, structured Pinot Noir. The vineyard is farmed according to practicing-organic principles, with meticulous attention to vine health, ripeness and naturally low yields.

The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels. The wine is then matured in barrel for approximately 22 months, with around 30% new oak. It is bottled individually by hand directly from barrel, without fining or filtration, preserving the wine’s natural concentration, texture and expression of its Ambonnay terroir.

The 2023 Cuvée des Grands Côtes is an intense yet beautifully refined expression of Pinot Noir. Aromas of ripe raspberry, red cherry and wild strawberry are joined by rose petals, savory spices, crushed stone and subtly toasted oak. The palate combines generous fruit with freshness and mineral precision, framed by finely textured tannins and a long, complex finish.

Although produced within Champagne, this is not a sparkling wine. Coteaux Champenois is the appellation reserved for the region’s rare still wines, and Egly-Ouriet’s Ambonnay Rouge is widely regarded as one of its most distinguished examples. Its depth, structure and ability to develop in the cellar frequently invite comparison with fine red Burgundy.

This exceptionally limited wine may be enjoyed after decanting or cellared for further development. Serve slightly cool with roast duck, game birds, veal, beef tenderloin, wild mushrooms, truffle dishes or aged cheeses.

Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Coteaux Champenois
Village: Ambonnay Grand Cru, Montagne de Reims
Vineyard: Single south-facing parcel below Les Crayères
Vine age: More than 60 years
Farming: Practicing organic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in French oak barrels
Élevage: Approximately 22 months in barrel, including around 30% new oak
Bottling: Bottled by hand directly from barrel; unfined and unfiltered
Wine style: Still red wine
Alcohol: 13% ABV
Bottle size: 750ml

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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Gamet Champagne Rosé Brut NV — Vallée de la Marne, Champagne (Base 2021)

Champagne Gamet is a fourth-generation grower-producer — récoltant manipulant — rooted in three villages on both banks of the Marne: Mardeuil on the left bank, and Fleury-la-Rivière and Damery on the right. Founded after World War I by Victoire Garnier and carried forward by Marianne Gamet today, the estate farms eight hectares of practicing organic vineyards and controls every step from vine to bottle. This Rosé Brut NV is a black-grape-only blend — 85% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir — with 8% red Meunier Coteaux Champenois vinified in foudre, built on a 70% 2021 base with 30% reserve wines back to 2014. Jeb Dunnuck awarded it 92 points. At $57.99, it is one of grower Champagne’s most compelling values.

The wine opens with bright red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper, and orange peel, lifted by vivid acidity. On the palate, it is powerful and vinous with a thick, creamy mousse, flavors of raspberry purée, juicy apricot, tea rose, and slivered almond, and a clay minerality that gives volume and structure. Aged 25 months on the lees, dosed at 5g/L, and disgorged January 2025. Festive, full-bodied, and built for the table.

"The NV Brut Rosé is a powerful, vinous Champagne. Bright red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, white pepper and orange peel fill out its layers, lifted by bright acids that wrap it all together. This Meunier-driven Rosé is particularly impressive." — Jeb Dunnuck, 92 Points

"A tightly meshed rosé Champagne set on a thick, creamy mousse, with firm acidity defining flavors of raspberry purée, juicy apricot, tea rose and slivered almond." — Wine Spectator, 90 Points

• Producer: Champagne Gamet, Mardeuil, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Cuvee: Rosé Brut NV (Base 2021)
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Sub-Region: Vallée de la Marne
• Blend: 85% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir (8% vin rouge in foudre)
• Farming: Practicing Organic
• Vinification: Stainless steel with 10% oak; yes malo; 25 months on lees; dosage 5g/L
• Disgorgement: January 2025
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Red cherry, chalk, mint, white pepper, raspberry, apricot, tea rose, creamy mousse
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2029
• Best Paired With: Oysters, lobster, salmon tartare, charcuterie, strawberry desserts

A 92-point grower Champagne Rosé from one of the Marne’s most dedicated family estates — Gamet is the benchmark for what practicing organic Meunier can deliver in a glass.

Gaston Chiquet | Tradition | Premier Cru Brut | Vallée de la Marne, Champagne | NV (68% 2021 Base) | Sustainable

Wine Spectator: 92 Points — Vivacious and well balanced, with integrated acidity and a refined mousse. Ripe black cherry, blackberry, Meyer lemon peel, biscuit and white flowers, followed by a lingering mineral finish. (Disgorged February 2024)

Vinous: 90 Points — Rich and expressive, showing dried pear, chamomile, spice, dried flowers, mint and marzipan. Meunier and Pinot Noir give the wine its generous texture and broad presence. (Disgorged February 2025)

Jeb Dunnuck: 90 Points — Bright and inviting, with notes of fresh berries, citrus, flowers and peach. Juicy and medium bodied, with a soft, pillowy mousse and a clean finish.

The Wine Advocate: 90 Points — Inviting aromas of yellow orchard fruit, fresh peach, honeycomb, citrus and warm biscuits lead to a fleshy, charming palate with a refined mousse, ripe fruit and lively balancing acidity. (Disgorged November 2019)

Gaston Chiquet is one of Champagne's most storied grower-producers. In 1919, brothers Fernand and Gaston Chiquet became pioneers among the region's independent growers by producing and selling Champagne from their own fruit — a tradition now carried forward by eighth-generation Nicolas Chiquet from the Premier Cru village of Dizy in the Vallée de la Marne. Tradition is the house's flagship non-vintage Brut, a classic three-grape blend that has defined the Chiquet style for generations.

The current release is composed of 40% Pinot Meunier, 35% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir, drawn entirely from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in Dizy, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Ay and Ay. The vines are rooted in clay and limestone soils over the region's underlying chalk. The base is 68% from the 2021 harvest, supplemented by reserve wines from 2018 through 2020 — a blend that maintains the estate's consistent house style while adding depth and complexity.

Grapes are harvested by hand and vinified entirely in stainless steel, preserving the purity of fruit and the character of each vineyard site. Malolactic fermentation is completed in full, softening the wine's natural acidity and contributing to its rounded, accessible texture. Following secondary fermentation in bottle, Tradition spends more than 48 months aging on its lees — an extended maturation that develops a fine, persistent mousse and layers of fresh bread, biscuit and toasted nut complexity. The wine is finished at a dosage of approximately 6 grams per liter, producing a dry but beautifully balanced Brut style.

Golden yellow in color, Tradition opens with aromas of ripe pear, golden peach, fresh apricot and red berries, followed by white flowers, citrus peel, chamomile and freshly baked bread. Subtle notes of almond, biscuit, ginger and crushed chalk emerge as the Champagne opens in the glass. The palate is lively, creamy and well balanced — Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir bring a generous, vinous texture, while Chardonnay provides freshness and lift. Flavors of peach, black cherry, blackberry, Meyer lemon and toasted pastry develop across the palate, leading to a persistent, dry and mineral-driven finish.

Approachable enough to serve as an aperitif but structured enough for the table. Pairs beautifully with oysters, shrimp, smoked salmon, sushi, roast chicken, pork, charcuterie, fried appetizers, mushroom dishes and moderately aged cheeses. Serve well chilled at 46–50°F in a white wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass.

• Producer: Gaston Chiquet
• Cuvée: Tradition
• Classification: Premier Cru Brut
• Appellation: Champagne, France
• Region: Vallée de la Marne
• Villages: Dizy, Hautvillers, Mareuil-sur-Ay and Ay
• Grape Varieties: 40% Pinot Meunier, 35% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir
• Base Vintage: 68% 2021 harvest
• Reserve Wines: 32%, from 2018–2020
• Farming: Sustainable
• Soils: Clay and limestone over chalk
• Vinification: Stainless steel
• Malolactic Fermentation: Yes
• Lees Aging: 48+ months
• Dosage: ~6 g/L
• Alcohol: ~12.5% ABV
• Bottle Size: 750ml

As a non-vintage Champagne, base vintages, reserve wine proportions, dosage, lees aging period and disgorgement dates may vary by release. Critic ratings may apply to different disgorgements of the same cuvée.