Champagne
727 products
From a simple name of a French province, Champagne has become a magic word that needs no translation. It is synonymous with elegance and savoir vivre, style and refinement. We continue to ship directly from small and large producers, bringing lesser known labels to the attention of Australian Champagne enthusiasts. We also frequently offer very special deals from bigger houses. Browse our top rated Champagnes here.
- Champagne, FRANCE$370.00$370.00Bottle$4,440.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.
Adrien started this solera in 2013, and is 100% Verzy Pinot Noir. First released in 2021, the wine spends 24 months on lees in bottle prior to disgorgement.
Other Reviews....
Disgorged in March 2021 with one gram per liter dosage, Renoir's new NV Solera Les Années derives from a solera established in 2013. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of pear, dried white flowers, mandarin orange, white cherries and freshly baked bread, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and vinous, with a bright spine of acidity, a pretty pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. Youthfully tightly wound, I can't wait to see how it performs with a few years on cork. Drink 2021 - 2035.
93+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Feb 2022) - Champagne, FRANCE$340.00$340.00Bottle$4,080.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Adrien Renoir is one the brightest new talents to emerge from Champagne in recent years. Working with his father Vincent for several years at their 7 hectare domaine in Verzy, in 2019 the wines were re-launched under his name, and in quick time has caught the attention of educated Champagne drinkers the world over. One of the first changes he insisted on was abandoning herbicides completely, and the estate vineyards are certified organic as of 2020. Oak use too has increased, along with more focus on specific parcels for his lieu-dits bottlings. In the cellar fermentations occur with native yeasts, lees stirring is practiced, and there is no sulphur used at bottling.
Les Epinettes is 100% Pinot Noir from a vineyard planted selection massale in 1971 where the soils are primarily clay-limestone with some chalk. Raised 100% in older barrels, the wine spends 36 months on lees before disgorged at very low Extra Brut levels around 1g/L.
Other Reviews....
Entirely Pinot Noir, the 2018 Champagne Les Epinettes has a rich straw hue and a seductive cologne of bergamot, clove, currants, and kirsch. Continuing to the palate, it is saturated and full-bodied, with its pillowing mousse creating a weightless feel before it becomes more savory, with notable salinity, a glycerol-rich texture, and notes of citrus oils. A serious wine, it will hold up over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2024-2040.
94 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com - 95
- 94
- Packaging may vary
2018 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$899.00$899.00Bottle$10,788.00DozenClosure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The wine spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3g/L.
Other Reviews....
The 2018 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral, disgorged in August 2024 with three grams per liter dosage, introduces the range of vintage wines. Defined by poor soils with just about 50 centimeters of topsoil, it comes from two chalk-based, old-vine parcels: Le Champ Bouton in Avize (vinified in tank) and Les Bionnes in Cramant (vinified in an old 600-liter barrel). “In 2017, we lost about 50% to 60% due to frost, then in 2018 we harvested three times the volume of 2017,” reveals Ambroise Agrapart, who is now making the wines, though his father is still very much present. More generously structured compared to the 2016 yet more precise than the 2017, it wafts from the glass with notes of tangerine zest, green apple and dried white flowers. Nakedly chalky with electric-like acidity, it maintains its reputation as the most tensile wine in the range, capturing the freshness much better than many other wines of this vintage. Drink 2024-2044.
94+ points
Kristaps Karklins - Wine Advocate (Dec 20, 2024)This must be one of the most beguiling and refined 2018s from the Côte des Blancs, managing to retain a tensile, nuanced and detailed complexity in a year that can sometimes be a bit simple. From some of the estate’s chalkiest, shallowest soils, Minéral impresses by setting white peach, bitter almond and dried flowers in a lithe, persistent frame full of leapfrogging details of slate, umami savour and apricot kernel richness, dancing over a long, detailed finish. Terrific. Drink 2024 - 2028.
95 points
Tom Hewson - Decanter- Packaging may vary
2017 Pascal Agrapart Mineral Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$850.00$850.00Bottle$10,200.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChampagne Pascal Agrapart is one of the great grower producers, based at the heart of the Cote des Blancs in the grand cru village of Avize. Pascal has the reputation for being a grape grower first and Champagne producer second; a philosophy shared with his son Ambroise who is now in charge of production. Ambroise and the team works an astonishing 70-plus micro-plots in the Cote des Blancs, mostly in Avize, but also in Cramant, Oiry, Oger, Avenay-Val-d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus and Mardeuil. All of these parcels are ploughed, and no chemical pesticides, fertilisers or herbicides are ever used. Production is very small, with no more than 6,000 cases produced in any given year.
Mineral is blended from two adjacent vieilles vignes plots (50-plus years old) on the border between Avize and Cramant, where the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The fruit from Le Champ Bouton in Avize fermented in tank, while the component from Les Bionnes in Cramant was vinified in 600-litre oak casks. The wine spent just over five years on lees and was dosed at 3g/L.
- Champagne, FRANCE$699.00$699.00Bottle$8,388.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Other Reviews....
The 2014 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Minéral is a powerful, intense Champagne that captures all of the natural power of these old vines in Avize and Cramant. Aptly named, the Minéral is infused with tremendous mineral and soil inflections that give a real feeling of gravitas. Crushed rocks, slate, chalk and citrus accents are some of the many nuances that emerge with a bit of time in the glass. This release is fabulous. It is also a reticent wine, though, so at least a year or two in bottle will help soften. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: April, 2020.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - 96
- Packaging may vary
Pascal Agrapart Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne Grand Cru Magnum (1500ml)Champagne, FRANCE$575.00$575.00Bottle$6,900.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkUnlike most so-called prestige cuvées, Terroirs is produced from only great sites and is 100% Grand Cru. The fruit comes from four villages in the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Cramant, Oger, and Oiry. The vines average 40 years of age, and Agrapart uses between 50-60% reserve wine. After a natural fermentation, half of the wine is matured in large format, neutral oak and then spends up to 48 months on lees. Dosage is limited to 5g/l and disgorgement is carried out by hand.
A plentiful mousse sits comfortably over a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold edges and is finely threaded by a delicate bead that shows great persistence as it rises to the surface. The nose exemplifies a classic Champagne sniff featuring rich, toasty notes of oily baked bread, yeast lees, honeyed cashew, roast almonds and hints of citrus. Remarkably fresh and possessing an elegant creaminess, mouthfilling toasty baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours show great richness over a back drop of light oily characters, traces of honeyed cashew and roasted almonds. Dry crisp finish with a long oily toast, baked bread, yeast lees, citrus and roasted almond aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12%- Champagne, FRANCE$245.00$245.00Bottle$2,940.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
The NV Extra Brut Grand Cru Complantée emerges from a parcel in Avize interplanted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Arbane, Petit Meslier and Chardonnay. Exotic and beguiling in the glass, the Complantée is absolutely gorgeous. Kirsch, red plum, rose petal and spice give the wine striking aromatic intensity and lovely inner perfume. The red grapes seem especially expressive in this release. The Complantée is not an obvious wine, rather it is a Champagne of translucent finesse. This release is a blend of equal parts 2017 and 2016, vinified in neutral oak. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: April, 2020. Drink 2020-2028.
94 points
Antonio Galloni - VinousThis has a pretty nose of white flowers, daffodils, blanched almonds, lemons, white grapefruit and salted peanuts. Bright and full of personality with very fine bubbles. Open and vibrant. Made from a field blend of 6 varieties, co-fermented in barriques. Chardonnay, pinot noir, pinot meunier, arbanne, petit meslier and pinot blanc. 80% 2019 and 20% 2018. 5g/L dosage. 26 months on the lees. Disgorged May 2022. 4,000 bottles made. Drink now.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$155.00$155.00Bottle$1,860.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Agrapart's 7 Crus is a blend of seven Cote des Blancs villages; Avize, Cramant, Oger, Oiry, Avenay Val d’Or, Bergeres-les-Vertus, and Mardeuil. This cuvee is the only wine in the range to not be 100% Chardonnay, coming in at 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir, all from their estate owned vineyards.
Other Reviews....
Agrapart’s NV Brut 7 Crus is simply gorgeous. Rich, creamy and inviting, the 7 Crus hits all the right notes. The 7 Crus doesn’t quite have the focus or energy of the top wines here, but it is incredibly delicious, approachable and relatively easy to find. This may very well be the finest release of the 7 Crus I have ever tasted since this cuvée debuted a few years ago. The 7 Crus is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir. This release is equal parts 2015 and 2014. Don’t miss it! Dosage is 7 grams per liter.
93 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - Champagne, FRANCE$160.00$160.00Bottle$1,920.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
When it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.
The Andre Clouet Spiritum 96 Brut Champagne Rosé marries the vibrant freshness of a young rosé with the rich, mature complexity of a legendary vintage. This balance is achieved through a unique, low-concentration dosage crafted from a 1996 Bouzy Grand Cru, allowing a higher proportion of aged wine to elevate the final blend.
- Champagne, FRANCEReduced from
$199.99$180.00$180.00Bottle$2,160.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkWhen it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.
Made from a Pinot Noir base this blend is aged on lees for a period of 36 months and includes 30% reserve wines. It pours with a fluffy white mousse which gradually evaporates to reveal a pale straw coloured base with pale gold tinged edges that's threaded by a fine, persistent bead. Delightful aromas of baked bread and yeast lees combine with pear, baked apple and brioche notes. Rich, mouth filling favours of baked bread, pear and brioche linger over a subtle roasted hazelnut and yeast lees back drop. Full, creamy like feel with chalk tinged acidity. Finishes dry, long and expansive.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
The effusive nose of candied citrus, ripe pear and brioche pulls you into this fresh and creamy champagne that hits all the pleasure buttons for a non-vintage Brut. Then the chalky freshness at the finish pulls you back for another sip. Excellent balance! 100% pinot noir. Drink now.
93 points
JamesSuckling.comIncredible value for a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grower Champagne from the grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. It shows gorgeous aromas of stone fruit, citrus and strawberry, with complex brioche nuances, remarkable balance, ongoing elegance and a rich, refined, persistent finish.
92 points
Stacy Slinkard - Decanter (March 2021) - 95
- 93
- Packaging may vary
- Reduced
Andre Clouet Silver Brut Nature ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$99.99$84.99$84.99Bottle$1,019.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkWhen it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.
Silver Brut Nature is a rich yet elegant 100% Pinot Noir expression, bottled with Zero Dosage to highlight the wine's precision. It includes 35% reserve wines, with 10% of the maturation taking place in barrel. A plentiful mousse dissipates to reveal a pale straw to straw coloured base with gold tinged edges. A nimble stream of bubbles flowing to the surface. Bready yeast lees top notes are trailed by oily toast like notes, citrus, almond and subtle brioche. Tense and sculptured yet full and rich across the palate with riveting acidity, flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus overlay a roasted almond and chalky mineral back drop. Bone dry and crisp it finishes long and chalky.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
A bold and generous champagne for Brut Nature, the bone-dry finish mellowed by the ripe-apricot character, plus hints of toast and melted butter. Not super-elegant, perhaps, but gives a lot of pleasure and has entirely its own style. 100% pinot noir. Drink now.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com- Champagne, FRANCEReduced from
$185.00$149.99$149.99Bottle$1,799.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkWhen it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.
Un Jour de 1911... is a call back to the golden age of France in the early 20th century. Inspiration comes from a precious few bottles of Clouet Champagne that were uncovered after spending 80 years hidden in a small cellar.
Other Reviews....
The NV Un jour de 1911... is another 100% Bouzy Pinot Noir with an ancient label design. The shining golden-colored cuvée combines ripeness, complexity and finesse with intensity and elegance on both the nose and palate. It's a powerful and rich yet very fine and balanced Champagne with great freshness and complex length. It is juicy and intense but also highly delicate, and its mineral tension and persistent finish make it a first-class wine for elaborate dishes. A great Champagne, with a label that doesn't give any more detailed information regarding vintages or disgorgement date, but we know it's always a 50/50 blend of three vintages (including one great millésime at least 10 years old) and reserve wines from a solera system. I tasted the wine as a Brut with Clouet's German importer in Bremen. You shouldn't drink it too early, as it would be a waste of its talents. Drink 2021 - 2033.
96 points
Stephan Reinhardt - Wine Advocate (Apr 2021)A rich and expansive champagne with tons of mature aromas of dried fruit (apricots!) and candied orange. Teeters on the edge of decadence, but has enough vitality to stay on the right side of that line. Plenty of textural complexity on the palate and a long, chalky finish that keeps giving and giving. Spot-on balance. Drink or hold.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com - 93
- Not gift boxed
- Reduced
Andre Clouet Chalky Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$140.00$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkChalk soils have long been considered one of the key resources enabling the Champagne region to produce such intense and refined wines. Aiming to highlight this relationship, Andre Clouet have released a new wine in their range further dialling up the crisp and salty flavours so prevalent in wines from these chalk rich soils. As a 100% Chardonnay cuvee, this initial release of "Chalky" is entirely from the outstanding 2013 vintage, with vineyard sources one third from the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims, and two thirds on the Cote de Blancs. After pressing, fermentation takes place in small stainless steel tanks before being aged for seven years in the bottle, disgorged early in 2021 with 6g/L dosage. Expect a lively, salty, mineral inflected wine that is a perfect aperitif or wine to drink alongside fresh oysters.
Other Reviews....
Brimming with fresh apple, lemon and wild-berry aromas underlined by a note of freshly baked baguette, this begins so charming, then it turns in a fascinating mineral direction with a pronounced saline quality. The excitement comes from the tension between these two sides of this very distinctive champagne. Very long, chalky finish. 100% chardonnay from the 2013 vintage. Drink now.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com- 95
- 92
- 93
- Reduced
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$89.99$79.99$79.99Bottle$959.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkWhen it comes to Pinot Noir in Champagne, the grand cru villages of Bouzy and Ambonnay rank amongst the greatest in the region. And one of the most talented exponents from here is the Clouet family based in Bouzy. Champagne Andre Clouet have been producing Champagne for over two centuries, and under the guidance of Jean Francois Clouet the wines have never looked better. While his wines are exuberant and concentrated, Jean Francois manages to counter this with immaculate finesse and detail on the palate.
Made from a Pinot Noir base this blend is aged on lees for a period of 36 months and includes 30% reserve wines. It pours with a fluffy white mousse which gradually evaporates to reveal a pale straw coloured base with pale gold tinged edges that's threaded by a fine, persistent bead. Delightful aromas of baked bread and yeast lees combine with pear, baked apple and brioche notes. Rich, mouth filling favours of baked bread, pear and brioche linger over a subtle roasted hazelnut and yeast lees back drop. Full, creamy like feel with chalk tinged acidity. Finishes dry, long and expansive.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
The effusive nose of candied citrus, ripe pear and brioche pulls you into this fresh and creamy champagne that hits all the pleasure buttons for a non-vintage Brut. Then the chalky freshness at the finish pulls you back for another sip. Excellent balance! 100% pinot noir. Drink now.
93 points
JamesSuckling.comIncredible value for a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grower Champagne from the grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. It shows gorgeous aromas of stone fruit, citrus and strawberry, with complex brioche nuances, remarkable balance, ongoing elegance and a rich, refined, persistent finish.
92 points
Stacy Slinkard - Decanter (March 2021)- Champagne, FRANCE$89.99$89.99Bottle$1,079.88DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam Cork
Found in 1860, Ayala Champagne was purchased by the house of Bollinger in 2005. Investing heavily in the estate they built a new state of the art winery and embarked on a comprehensive modernization program, focusing on quality and precision winemaking. Today both estates continue to run independently of each other maintaining their own identity and style.
Backed by the House of Bollinger, this rich, full yet quite airy Champagne delivers outstanding value.
A blend of 70 different Crus comprised of 55% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 15% Pinot Meunier with 43% Reserve wines included. Aged for a minimum of 3 years on lees.
Pours with a frothy mousse that holds well over a pale straw coloured base that has flashes of gold around the edges and a fine, persistent bead. Engulfing the nostrils are aromas of yeast lees, baked bread and citrus followed by some brioche and delicate cashew notes. Rich and full yet quite airy in it’s flow, the palate features mouth filling flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and subtle brioche. Some citrus and cashew nuances also chime in. Vivid acidity with a long, dry chalk tinged finish.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Complex, fresh, layered and classic, a fascinating bouquet with layers of sweet citrus and a deep centered autolysis, white strawberry and white fleshed stone fruits. A delicious wine on the palate with fine a mousse texture, a whisper of white spice and white stone fruits. The acid line is perfect carrying flavours and highlighting the complexities of autolysis. Delicious and lengthy with best drinking from day of purchase through 2032. Outstanding value!
96 points
CamDouglasMS.comA layered wine with spicy, almost stony, minerality. Salted lemons and oranges. Crisp on the palate with light to medium body and flavors of strawberries and restrained pastry. Chalky mineral aftertaste. Dosage 6 g/L. Disgorged November 2024. Drink or hold.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$159.99$159.99Bottle$1,919.88DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2025-2033)ABV: 12%Closure: Diam Cork
Airy, expansive and highly finessed with a satiny feel to the long stimulating finish.
Buoyant fluffy white mousse with a pale straw coloured base that has a fine persistent bead coursing through it. Wonderfully refined nose with aromas of baked bread, citrus, yeast lees, pear, delicate honeyed cashew and chalk flowing through the nostrils with plenty of intensity. Airy and expansive across the palate, highly finessed flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus are featured over subtle cashew, pear and chalky characters. Crisp sculpturing acidity with a satiny feel to the long stimulating finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews….
Always coming from the Grand Crus of Côte de Blancs, the 2018 Champagne Le Blanc De Blancs A/18 Extra Brut includes fruit from the Montagne de Reims. This was Julien Gout's first vintage with Ayala as Chef de Cave, and he added the extra fruit to give the wine a bit more depth. On the nose, it’s delicate and floral with its notes of white flowers, baby powder, fresh pear, and lemon candies. Medium-bodied, it has more intensity but remains all about finesse and elegance, with a delicate, rounded mid-palate, a pillowy, fresh mousse, a delicate structure that frames the wine, and a clean, stony finish, closing with a hint of spice. It’s another step in the right direction for this estate and very nicely done. Drink over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2024-2040.
93+ Points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.comLemony and pristine with aspirin-like tension. Light-bodied, showing superzesty tangerine flavors with bright fruit definition and good length. It might lack complexity at the moment but is poised to develop lots of energy, elegance and nerviness. Drinkable now but best in two or three years.
93 Points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$120.00$120.00Bottle$1,440.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Superb white creamy mousse showing excellent hold. Pale straw base wine colour with exceptionally fine bead showing outstanding persistence. On the nose strong baked bread and yeast lees characters combine with some toastiness, cashew and citrus. The palate possesses good richness with yeasty baked bread flavours dominate followed by some creamy cashew, toast and a faint touch of hazelnut. Creamy mouthfeel with a clean dry finish. Long rich yeasty baked bread, toast and light hazelnut aftertaste.
Alc 12% - 94
- Nicks Import
Bauchet Origine Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$69.99$69.99Bottle$839.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkA great alternative to the big Champagne houses that delivers exceptional value.
Established in 1920 the Bauchet family estate covers 34 hectares spread out on 7 different terroirs. The vineyards are located in the Côte des Blancs, the Montagne de Reims and in the Côte des Bar. These direct imports are a great alternative to the big houses of Veuve Clicquot, Moet & Chandon and the like, with their distinctive packaging, quality and keen pricing making them exceptional value for Champagne.
Sourced from vineyards in the Côte des Bar, Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims Bauchet's Origine Champagne is made from a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay (25% of which are reserve wines). It spends a minimum of 24 months on lees before being disgorged.
A very frothy mousse sits atop a pale straw coloured base that possesses an exceptionally fine bead and persistent bead. Aromas of pear and yeast lees meld into baked apple and bready cashew like notes. Rich pear, bready characters and yeast lees have a creamy feel with cashew and subtle baked apple characters ensuing. Dry refreshing finish with a bready yeast lees, citrus, apple and cashew aftertaste. Great value.
Alc. 12.5%- Champagne, FRANCE$79.99$79.99Bottle$959.88DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Made from 100% Pinot Noir this is a racy, sculptured Champagne.
Made with a low dosage from 100% Pinot Noir, 20% being reserve wines, Contraste sees a minimum of 24 months ageing before being disgorged and is sourced from vineyards in the Côte des Bars and the Montagne de Reims.
Good foamy mousse with a pale straw, pale gold coloured base finely threaded by a very persistent bead. Rich, toasty yeast lees aromas merge into baked bread notes with subtle winter strawberry, citrus and brioche also evident. Slightly tighter and leaner as well as drier than the Origine, the palate features a complex flavour profile of oily baked bread, yeast lees, citrus, subtle toasty characters and pear within an elegant airy mouthfeel. Very dry, racy and tightly knit finish with a sculptured medium to long aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5% - Champagne, FRANCE$67.99$67.99Bottle$815.88DozenABV: 12%
What was one of the best value non vintage Champagnes on the market has just got even better. Previously labelled as Brut Reserve, the team at Billecart, have made a number of quality improvements to the core elements of this Cuvee and have rebranded it ‘Le Reserve’. The key changes being as follows:-
- Extended aging on lees, increased from an average of 30 months to 50 months.
- Reduced dosage (extra brut, 3g/l) for greater purity and expression of terroir.
- More depth with 15 different vintages in the bottle
- Larger proportion of wines vinified in barrels, adding richness and density.
A rich, mouthfilling yet tense and stimulating Champagne that delivers remarkable complexity for the price.
A blend of 43% Meunier, 29% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Noir with over 50% reserve wines included in the blend. A buoyant, satiny mousse floats over a pale straw to straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges. Fine, nimble bead with alluring aromas of baked bread, yeast lees, oily toast, citrus and brioche wafting through the nostrils. Rich and mouth filling yet simultaneously tense and stimulating, the palate is laden with baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours which sit over an oily toast and almond back drop. Crisp acidity finishing very dry, long and remarkably complex for a house non vintage cuvee. A definite step up on its previous incarnation.
Alc. 12% - Champagne, FRANCE$370.00$370.00Bottle$4,440.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Billecart-Salmon Le Rose is considered the reference point for non vintage Rose Champagne. It consistently outshines other houses in terms of both quality and value for money. Previously labelled as simply Brut Rose Champagne, the blend has been fine tuned and now consists of 45% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. Aging takes place on lees for 36 months and the blend includes 50% reserve wines (an increase of 10% on it’s former incarnation) sourced across 15 different vintages. It is also slightly drier with the dosage reduced down from 9 g/l to 4.7 g/l
Your go-to Rose Champagne for this festive season.
Pours with a frothy mousse that slowly subsides into a salmon pink coloured base that’s finely threaded by a steady stream of bubbles. Buoyant aromatics of strawberry, yeast lees and citrus fill the nostrils followed by hints of baked bread and chalky mineral notes. A chorus of mouth watering yeast lees, strawberry and white peach flavours are sculptured by vivid acidity which lends a racy feel. Baked bread, delicate almond, ginger and mineral elements sit in the background. The lingering dry, chalk tinged finish providing plenty of stimulation for the senses.
Alc. 12%
Other Reviews......
Vinous, very floral and pure, showing violets and strawberries. Medium-bodied, zesty and focused, with energy and fruit-driven length. One of the best rosé cuvees. Made with 39% reserve wines. 100% stainless steel. Disgorged April 2025. Drink now.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$94.99$94.99Bottle$1,139.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam Cork
Billecart-Salmon Le Rose is considered the reference point for non vintage Rose Champagne. It consistently outshines other houses in terms of both quality and value for money. Previously labelled as simply Brut Rose Champagne, the blend has been fine tuned and now consists of 45% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. Aging takes place on lees for 36 months and the blend includes 50% reserve wines (an increase of 10% on it’s former incarnation) sourced across 15 different vintages. It is also slightly drier with the dosage reduced down from 9 g/l to 4.7 g/l
Your go-to Rose Champagne for this festive season.
Pours with a frothy mousse that slowly subsides into a salmon pink coloured base that’s finely threaded by a steady stream of bubbles. Buoyant aromatics of strawberry, yeast lees and citrus fill the nostrils followed by hints of baked bread and chalky mineral notes. A chorus of mouth watering yeast lees, strawberry and white peach flavours are sculptured by vivid acidity which lends a racy feel. Baked bread, delicate almond, ginger and mineral elements sit in the background. The lingering dry, chalk tinged finish providing plenty of stimulation for the senses.
Alc. 12%
Other Reviews......
Vinous, very floral and pure, showing violets and strawberries. Medium-bodied, zesty and focused, with energy and fruit-driven length. One of the best rosé cuvees. Made with 39% reserve wines. 100% stainless steel. Disgorged April 2025. Drink now.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$175.00$175.00Bottle$2,100.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam Cork
Exquisitely balanced yet powerful with a weightless, airy like feel to its flow.
A 100% Chardonnay cuvee sourced from the Grand Crus of Cotes des Blancs - Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger. It’s aged on lees for 5 years and includes anywhere from 20% to 50% reserve wines in the final blend.
Carries a satiny mousse which gradually fades into a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges and an exceptionally fine bead. Delightful pear, citrus, brioche and yeast lees aromas fill the nostrils with whiffs of roasted cashew and dried honey also evident. Refined with a weightless, airy like feel to its flow, mouth filling flavours of pear, yeast lees and baked bread are layered across the palate. Exquisitely balanced yet powerful, it has a back drop of citrus and roasted cashew, crisp acidity and a long, gently creamed finish.
Alc. 12% - Champagne, FRANCE$175.00$175.00Bottle$2,100.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam Cork
Billecart-Salmon Le Rose is considered the reference point for non vintage Rose Champagne. It consistently outshines other houses in terms of both quality and value for money. Previously labelled as simply Brut Rose Champagne, the blend has been fine tuned and now consists of 45% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. Aging takes place on lees for 36 months and the blend includes 50% reserve wines (an increase of 10% on it’s former incarnation) sourced across 15 different vintages. It is also slightly drier with the dosage reduced down from 9 g/l to 4.7 g/l
Your go-to Rose Champagne.
Pours with a frothy mousse that slowly subsides into a salmon pink coloured base that’s finely threaded by a steady stream of bubbles. Buoyant aromatics of strawberry, yeast lees and citrus fill the nostrils followed by hints of baked bread and chalky mineral notes. A chorus of mouth watering yeast lees, strawberry and white peach flavours are sculptured by vivid acidity which lends a racy feel. Baked bread, delicate almond, ginger and mineral elements sit in the background. The lingering dry, chalk tinged finish providing plenty of stimulation for the senses.
Alc. 12%
Other Reviews....
Vinous, very floral and pure, showing violets and strawberries. Medium-bodied, zesty and focused, with energy and fruit-driven length. One of the best rosé cuvees. Made with 39% reserve wines. 100% stainless steel. Disgorged April 2025. Drink now.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$399.00$399.00Bottle$4,788.00DozenABV: 12%
Aged on lees for 9 years this excellent vintage Champagne is comprised of 40% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay and 27% Pinot Meunier grapes sourced from predominately (73%) Grand Cru and Premier Crus.
A frothy white mousse forms over a pale straw/pale gold coloured base that’s finely threaded by a very persistent bead. Pronounced aromatics of pear and yeast lees meld into brioche, citrus, oily toast like notes, dried honey and almond. The rich, powerful palate is caressed with baked bread, pear, yeast lees and citrus flavours which have a full creamy like feel. Elements of roasted almonds, subtle oily cashew and dried honey characters chime in on the dry, crisp finish. Long, complex aftertaste.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews….
Comprises 40/33/27% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier, 73% grands and premiers crus. The low dosage of 2g/l and the warm vintage allow the fruit-based flavours free rein - white peach, Granny Smith apple and nectarine. The finish and aftertaste remain fresh and long. A house in grand form.
96 points
James Halliday – Australian Wine Companion - Champagne, FRANCE$399.00$399.00Bottle$4,788.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Other Reviews....
Disgorged during the second quarter of 2022 with a dosage of 3.75 grams per liter, the 2009 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Louis Salmon reveals aromas of pear, lemon oil, mandarin oil, white pepper, pastry and almonds. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and long, it has a crystalline yet vinous texture with a fresh, salty finish. It is a quintessential representation of Billecart's style, characterized by racy acids and a lively palate. It derives from Chardonnay grapes sourced from the villages of Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly and Cramant and was aged exclusively in steel tanks. Drink 2023 - 2040.
95 points
Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Nov 17, 2023)This is showing an array of almonds, frangipani, dried lemons, apricots, pastries and white chocolate, evolving to salted caramel. Fantastic complexity and all in balance, with firm focus yet open and delicious. Creamy, very fine bubbles. Salty, turning chalky and mineral at the end. Drink or hold.
96 points
JamesSuckling.comThe 2009 Champagne Blanc De Blancs Louis Salmon Brut comes from Mesnil, Cramant and Chouilly and was all fermented in stainless steel tank. Since 2009 was a warmer vintage, they did not use wood, as they were looking to preserve the freshness of the wine. A seductive wine that’s almost identical in appearance to the 2017 Blanc de Blancs, this 2009 jumps from the glass with a buoyant personality in its perfume of lemon custard, honeysuckle, fresh brioche, a hint of almond, and juicy pear. Full-bodied, its wonderfully rich texture coats the palate with citrus oils, and it has a finish that won’t quit. It balances its warmth and solar feel with a lovely embrace and retains a powerful yet balanced finish. Drink 2024-2040. 3.8 grams per liter dosage.
97 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com - Champagne, FRANCE$110.00$110.00Bottle$1,320.00DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2021-2025)ABV: 12%Closure: Cork
A blend of 30% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, 30% Chardonnay sourced from some of the best Crus in the Champagne and 40% Pinot Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Epernay. Vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks with 50% to 60% of the blend made up of reserve wines. Aged on lees for 48 months with no sugar added to the dosage.
An exuberant mousse holds well over a pale straw, pale gold tinged base that’s threaded by an ultra fine and very persistent bead. Heady baked bread and yeast lees aromas fill the nostrils with hints of citrus and pear fruits also present. Subtle oily toast and roasted almond like notes ensue. Racy yeasty baked bread and citrus flavours are both sculptured and tense. Oily toast like characters, chalky oyster shell and roasted almond characters fill out on the back half. Finishes very dry and crisp with a chiselled feel to the long aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc 12%
Other Reviews….
A dense, layered Champagne with a full body and lots of creamy texture. Lovely cooked apple and pie crust. 40% pinot meunier, 30% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir. The base was 2015, but in total it contains 10 harvests. It was bottled at the beginning of 2016 and disgorged in March 2020. Four years on lees. Fantastic release. Drink or hold.
94 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$999.00$999.00Bottle$11,988.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Created in 1988 as a tribute to the co-founder Elisabeth Salmon, this cuvee is an elegant and refined rosé composed of 55% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, along with 45% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs. Less than 10% of the Pinot Noir is vinified as a red wine, with these old vine grapes sourced from the south facing slopes of the Valofroy vineyard located in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. This 2008 rendition shows all the traits from this magnificent year, a highly refined wine with wonderful delicacy of texture and flavour. Dosage is 7g/l.
Other Reviews.....
Disgorged with seven grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon is one of the finest wines I've tasted from Billecart in recent years. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of peach, mandarin oil, warm bread, red berries and petals, it's full-bodied, deep and vinous, with lovely mid-palate amplitude, terrific concentration and bright girdling acids. In what is quite a tightly wound vintage and from a house whose style is rather understated, this is a dramatic, fleshy wine that concludes with a long, flavorful finish. Drink 2022 - 2048.
97+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2021)This is very vinous with aromas of iron, strawberries, old roses and geraniums. So aromatic. Full-bodied, really intense and layered with super dryness and depth. Lots of saline and spicy character at the end, such as clove and pepper, as well as hints of flowers and melted butter. Strawberry tart at the end. 17% in aged oak casks. Blend of 55% pinot noir from six villages (Mareuil sur Ay, Ay, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzenay and Verzy) and 45% chardonnay from three Grand Crus (Mesnil sur Oger, Cramant and Chouilly). 9% of the blend is red wine from a parcel in the village of Mareuil sur Ay. Bottled June 2009 and disgorged July 2019. Drink or hold.
98 points
JamesSuckling.comThe 2008 Brut Rosé Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon explodes from the glass with a mesmerizing array of aromas, flavors and textures. Blood orange, cinnamon, mint and dried flowers. The 2008 is incredibly young, but it is also incredibly tempting. Patience will be rewarded. In the meantime, readers might enjoy adding a few bottles of the stellar 2007 to their cellars, as the nervy, taut 2008 needs time. The 2008 is 55% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay and Mareuil) and 45% Chardonnay (from Chouilly, Avize and Cramant), with 9% still wine from Mareuil. It is the first vintage that includes a portion of wines (17%) done in barrel and the first vintage in which the magnums were aged on the cork rather than on crown seal. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Drink 2028 - 2043.
97+ points
Antonio Galloni - VinousA superb vintage of this renowned prestige cuvée, this is made from a base of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, to which is added 9% of red wine. Despite ageing on its lees for 10 years, it remains almost shockingly youthful, its vividly primary flavours of red cherry, strawberry and nectarine wrapped up in a taut, tense frame. It’s silky in texture and intricately complex on the long, elegantly harmonious finish, underlined by a saline chalkiness, and it demonstrates all the requisite completeness and character for long ageing, promising a slow and dignified evolution to come. Drinking Window 2021 - 2050.
98 points
Peter Liem - Decanter - Champagne, FRANCE$175.00$175.00Bottle$2,100.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam Cork
Entirely vinified in oak this Champagne pours well with a white frothy mousse followed by a deep straw pale gold base wine colour with a very fine bead that has excellent persistence. The nose is quite rich and full exhibiting aromas of toasty yeast lees, almond, baked bread and hazelnut. Reflective of the nose the palate possesses big rich flavours of toast, yeast lees, almonds and baked bread finishing with some nutty hazelnut like characters on the back palate. Clean dry finish with a nice creamy mouthfeel. Long aftertaste of toasty yeast lees, almond and hazelnut.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc 12%Other Reviews....
The complex bouquet reflects the primary fermentation in oak casks; the palate no less so thanks to the quality of the premier and grand cru reserves, also matured in oak. But it’s all a question of degree; there’s a core of citrussy acidity underwriting the freshness and length of the wine. 7 years on lees; disgorged December ’20, 7g/l dosage.
95 points
James Hallidays Top 100 2021Composed of 48% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, and the rest Meunier, the NV Champagne Sous Bois is always aged on lees for five years. Made with 26% reserve wine and two grams per liter dosage, it pours a touch deeper golden straw color and is aromatic of fresh baked bread, marzipan, peaches, and marmalade. It’s not as oaky as I’d remembered it from previous tastings, with the blend feeling more harmonious and integrated. Full-bodied but not overly opulent, it fills the palate with a supple richness although it’s fully dry, and its nuttiness is still present but doesn’t dominate the wine. It would be paired exceptionally well with Comte cheese. 2 grams per liter of dosage, disgorged the second quarter of 2023. Drink 2024-2040.
94 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.comFragrant, with hints of graphite, cherry blossoms and spices, revealing a firm frame of vivid acidity that's tightly meshed with flavors of blackberry tart, lemon granita and salted Marcona almond. Shows a raw silk–textured mousse that carries a chalky note on the finish. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Disgorged spring 2022. Drink now through 2026.
93 points
Wine Spectator - 96
- Packaging may vary
- Reduced
Billecart-Salmon Le Reserve Champagne Extra BrutChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$114.99$104.99$104.99Bottle$1,259.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkWhat was one of the best value non vintage Champagnes on the market has just got even better. Previously labelled as Brut Reserve, the team at Billecart, have made a number of quality improvements to the core elements of this Cuvee and have rebranded it ‘Le Reserve’. The key changes being as follows:-
- Extended aging on lees, increased from an average of 30 months to 50 months.
- Reduced dosage (extra brut, 3g/l) for greater purity and expression of terroir.
- More depth with 15 different vintages in the bottle
- Larger proportion of wines vinified in barrels, adding richness and density.
A rich, mouthfilling yet tense and stimulating Champagne that delivers remarkable complexity for the price.
A blend of 43% Meunier, 29% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Noir with over 50% reserve wines included in the blend. A buoyant, satiny mousse floats over a pale straw to straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges. Fine, nimble bead with alluring aromas of baked bread, yeast lees, oily toast, citrus and brioche wafting through the nostrils. Rich and mouth filling yet simultaneously tense and stimulating, the palate is laden with baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours which sit over an oily toast and almond back drop. Crisp acidity finishing very dry, long and remarkably complex for a house non vintage cuvee. A definite step up on its previous incarnation.
Alc. 12%- Champagne, FRANCE$165.00$165.00Bottle$1,980.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
A blend of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier, Billecart-Salmon Brut Rose is considered the reference point for non vintage Rose Champagne. It consistently outshines other houses in terms of both quality and value for money. Aging takes place on lees for 36 months and the blend includes 40% reserve wines.
A frothy white mousse holds well over a salmon pink coloured base that has a very fine and persistent bead flowing through it. Streaming out of the glass are delightful aromas of peach and strawberry which are followed by hints of brioche, yeast lees and ginger. Racy pear, strawberry and yeast lees flavours meld into subtle baked bread and mineral characters. The satiny textured mid palate counterpointed by crisp nervy acidity on the finish which lends a vividly refreshing effect to the long aftertaste.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews….
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. Drink 2022-2037.
94 points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.comBillecart-Salmon is one of my favorite Champagne houses, and their non-vintage Rose (Lot #L85547401905M) is a consistent winner. A delicate pink color is accompanied by gorgeous sweet cherry, strawberry, and mineral-like scents, assertive medium-bodied flavors, a delicate, crisp personality, and surprising depth as well as persistence. A beautiful berry character in the finish adds to this impeccable rose’s captivating style.
94 points
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate #162 (Dec 2005)Composed with 30 per cent from each of pinot noir and pinot meunier, and 40 per cent chardonnay. It has 40 per cent reserve wine, and spends three years on tirage. It is the go-to rosé for wine professionals, with nuances of juicy/poached red berry fruits, yet finishes dry and fresh.
96 points
James Halliday's Top 100 Wines of 2022
Billecart-Salmon has long been at the forefront of the rosé champagne field, their supremely elegant and gloriously fragrant style counting its fans in legions. A beautifully bright rose gold in the glass. Dried strawberries, fading pink petals, ginger and raspberry danish notes. Softy curvy, graceful and elegant through a gently zippy finish. Pink perfection.
95 points
Nick Ryan - Weekend Australian 2024 - Champagne, FRANCE$160.00$160.00Bottle$1,920.00DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2023-2029)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam Cork
A buoyant fluffy white mousse slowly subsides to reveal a pale straw coloured base with pale gold tinged edges that has a steady flow of tiny bubbles running through it. Richly scented the nose is filled with baked bread and yeast lees scents which are complimented by oily toast like notes, brioche and subtle honeyed cashew. The mouth filling palate is engulfed with rich baked bread, yeast lees and brioche flavours which provide the front half with a full creamy feel. Lingering through the back half are honeyed cashew elements, toast and chalky characters. Finishes dry with sculptured acidity providing structure. Concludes long and decadent.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
The mousse is vigorous and the bead really persistent and fine: it looks fabulous. Toasty, brioche, honey, citrus and baked apple aromas, so much going on here. Rich, layered, mouth-filling, creamy and long. There’s lovely weight and real complexity on the palate. A very complete Champagne. Drink 2023-2030.
96 Points
Aaron Brasher – The Real Review - Champagne, FRANCE$115.00$115.00Bottle$1,380.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam Cork
Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes. Pours with plenty of exuberance to the mousse which sits over a pale salmon pink tinged base that has a generous stream of delicate bubbles flowing through it. Alluring rose petal, strawberry and cherry scents are intermeshed with pear, light baked bread and lees notes. The refined palate combines tension and concentration with strawberry, yeast lees and raspberry flavours framed by sculptured acidity. Some chalky mineral characters lie underneath. Finishes dry and crisp with a taut racy aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5% - Champagne, FRANCE$160.00$160.00Bottle$1,920.00DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2020-2024)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Made from 100% Pinot Noir using the Saignee method and aged for 11 years on lees.
Re-tasted on 17/01/2020
A rich, toasty Rose made from 100% Pinot Noir. A fine satiny mousse dissipates to reveal a rose gold coloured base that has a steady stream of delicate bubbles flowing through it. Powerful aromatics of baked bread, yeast lees, strawberry and blood orange marry into roasted almond notes. Rich mouthfilling flavours of baked bread, subtle dried orange and yeast lees show superb concentration overlaying a back drop of toast and dried almonds. Finishes dry and slightly oily with crisp acidity and a lingering nuttiness on the long aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Medium to full rose-gold colour. Rich bouquet of spiced honey, roasted nuts, smoked charcuterie and autumnal 'forest floor' nuances; hints of boronia. The same panoply of flavours reappears in the mouth where it is full-bodied, rich and generous, long-lasting and ultra-satisfying. The texture is creamily lovely. Marvellous wine. (100% pinot noir)
96 points
Huon Hooke - Champagne, FRANCEReduced from
$120.00$105.00$105.00Bottle$1,260.00DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2018-2024)ABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkA Blanc de Blanc (100% Chardonnay), multi-parceled Champagne from 3 different vineyards: Montgeux, Vindey and Mesnil sur Oger that spends a minimum 5 years on lees.
A fine, plentiful white mousse shows excellent hold over a pale straw, pale gold edged base wine that’s finely threaded by an exceptionally persistent bead. Wonderfully rich aromatics of oily baked bread, citrus and yeasty lees flow out of the glass followed by cashew, notions of dried honey and toast. The richness of the nose is reflected in the mouth with concentrated flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus sitting over dried honey, brioche and roast nut like elements. Oily, creamy like textural feel finishing dry with refreshing acidity. Excellent power with a long oily baked bread, yeast lees, cashew, dried honey and roasted almond aftertaste. A rich, creamy Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5% - 96
- 94
- 94
- 94
Bollinger PN VZ 19 ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$220.00$220.00Bottle$2,640.00DozenCellar: Drink now - 6 Years (2025-2031)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkRich and expansive with a long, tense yet mouth filling finish.
PN VZ 19 is an assembly of 100% Pinot Noir, predominantly from the Verzenay cru. The base year is 2019 which is blended with older reserve wines.
Pours with an airy mousse that holds well over a mid straw coloured base that has a fine persistent bead coursing through it. Intense baked bread, yeast lees and strawberry scents fill the nostrils followed by some citrus, brioche, hazelnut and chalk notes. Stimulating, rich and expansive, the palate is decorated with yeast lees, citrus, strawberry and baked bread flavours. Sculptured chalky feel with some subtle oily toast and almond elements in the background. Crisp acidity with a long, tense yet mouth filling finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews….
Something new in the range, the NV Champagne PN VZ19 is 100% Pinot Noir from Verzenay. It’s assertive on opening, with aromas of raspberries, fresh baked bread, black cherries, violets, wet stones, passionfruit, and sweet citrus. It brings forward a good deal of intensity on the palate, with a lot of purity and a distilled feeling, its black cherry fruit gliding through a long finish with a saline flourish. This lovely wine has a lot to offer now but will improve with time and is going have 15 or more years of longevity. There’s a fresh umami feel through this wine. Drink 2024-2040.
94 Points
Audrey Frick – JebDunnuck.comThe latest rendition of Bollinger's blended blanc de noirs bottling is the NV Brut Blanc de Noirs PN VZ19; it is based on the 2019 vintage, which represents 52% of the blend, and the village of Verzenay, which accounts for the origin of 40% of this bottling's components. 2019 is complemented by fully 48% reserve wines, and above all, fully a quarter derives from 2009; and it has the tension of Verzenay by Aÿ, Avenay-Val-d'Or, Tauxières and Mutigny. If all that sounds complicated, the wine's appeal is easier to see, as it offers up a demonstrative bouquet of yellow stone fruit, mandarin and praline, followed by a medium to full-bodied, pure and pillowy palate that's charming, even giving, but also attractively racy, concluding with a saline finish. It was disgorged with six grams per liter dosage. This doesn't tower above its 2018-base counterpart (perhaps unsurprisingly, as the percentage of reserve wines in this bottling is so high), but it does seem to be marginally the strongest iteration of this cuvée to date. Drink 2024-2040.
94 Points
William Kelley – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateThe NV (2019) PN VZ is another terrific wine in this new range of Champagnes from Bollinger that is now in its fifth release. Exotic floral and spice notes play off a core of Pinot fruit in this captivating, mid-weight offering. Time in the glass accents the wine's inner sweetness and perfume. Pear, mint, jasmine and white pepper linger. In this release, the (2019) PN VZ is like a mini-Vieilles Vignes Françaises. It's an incredibly racy, sexy Blanc de Noirs. This release is based on 2019, with 50% reserve wines back to 2009. About half of the reserve wines were aged in magnum. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Drink 2024-2049.
94 Points
Antonio Galloni – Vinous- Champagne, FRANCE$395.00$395.00Bottle$4,740.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Other Reviews....
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.
97 points
WineSpectator.com
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. Drink 2024-2045.
96 points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate
This elegant, medium-bodied rosé includes select plots of pinot noir from the Cote Aux Enfants vineyard. It shows a medium orange-amber color, dark cherry-skin and candied-plum aromas followed by vivid strawberry and blood-orange flavors. Marked by finesse, light but very flavorful, complex and layered. Drink or hold.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.comThis rosé has much in common with the forward, bold release of La Grande Année blanc, as the wines share 95% of their blend. The 5% red wine from La Côte aux Enfants that goes into this rosé, though, adds a light touch of red apple, strawberry and rosehip, playing on some of the bay leaf spice in the blend while adding an extra dose of structure and apple skin bite on the palate. This is a structured but engaging rosé that could promise its best – and reveal a little more of its creamy, nougat richness - with further ageing. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims, Grande Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, with 5% red Pinot Noir addition, all fermented in small oak barrels and disgorged in May 2023 after seven years on lees. Drink 2025 - 2034.
93 Points
Tom Hewson - DecanterBase wine, the same as the white Grande Année 2015 tinted by 5% still red wine from the famous Côte aux Enfants vineyard, was all aged in oak. Blend of 11 crus, 62% Pinot Noir predominantly from Verzenay, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ and 38% Chardonnay from Chouilly and Avize. Disgorged July 2023.
Pale, slightly gris salmon pink (a little paler than the Billecart 2012 Elisabeth Salmon rosé tasted alongside). Heady, mushroomy, off-dry, sumptuous Bollinger gloriousness on the palate. I wonder what the dosage is, and whether the richness comes mainly from the fruit and oak? Finishes dry, but with wonderfully soothing impact on the palate. Relatively gentle mousse. Really gets to the deepest part of the throat. Sensational! Drink 2024 – 2038,
18.5 / 20 Points
Jancis Robinson MW - 97
- 94
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- Reduced
2015 Bollinger La Grande Annee ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$299.00$250.00$250.00Bottle$3,000.00DozenCellar: Drink now - 8 Years (2024-2032)ABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkA blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay sourced from 11 different crus, mainly Ay and Verzenay for the Pinot Noir whilst for the Chardonnay Chouilly and Avize. Fermented entirely in aged oak barrels.
Pours with a fine satiny mousse which sits over a pale straw to straw coloured base that has gold tinged edges and a fine, energetic bead flowing through it. Heady aromatics of baked bread, oily toast like characters and yeast lees waft through the nostrils, seamlessly integrating with notions of brioche, subtle honeyed almond and citrus notes. Rich, voluminous and full across the palate yet remarkably fresh and energetic, mouth filling flavours of pear, baked bread and oily toast like elements are shaped by vivid acidity. Flashes of citrus, cashew and chalky mineral accents linger across the back half. Concludes long, expansive and satiny with a buttered toast element to the finish.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews...
Bollinger's 2015 Brut Grand Année is an intriguing wine in that is clearly reflects the decision to pick on the later side in order to avoid vegetal notes derived from the mismatch of alcoholic and phenolic ripeness. "Balance was hard to achieve in 2015," Chef de Cave Denis Bunner notes. "At 10% in sugar, the fruit was simply not ripe. We had to wait to reach the optimal window of ripeness." Bunner also opted to increase the Chardonnay, so the blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, as opposed to the more typical 70/30 blend, with more Verzenay than Aÿ in the Pinots. Dried citrus peel, sage, menthol, sage, tangerine peel and spice build with some coaxing. Light tropical overtones develop with aeration. There's real density and textural richness here. This will be a fascinating vintage to follow. Stylistically, it is the complete opposite from the much more linear 2014 that precedes it. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.
96 points
Antonio Galloni – VinousThis expressive Champagne features a rich, well-spiced range of flavors chiseled by well-honed, integrated acidity, which lends a racy feel to the ripe black cherry and mulberry fruit and notes of salted almond, pink grapefruit granita, crystallized honey and pickled ginger that ride the raw silk–like mousse. Hints of chalk and spring blossoms play on the clean-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged May 2023. Drink now through 2040.
96 points
WineSpectator.comThe 2015 Brut La Grande Année was disgorged last year with eight grams per liter dosage. The wine has turned out beautifully, exhibiting a more muscular, old-school Bollinger profile in contrast to the unusually racy, fine-boned 2014 that preceded it. Wafting from the glass with notes of pear, orange oil and white flowers mingled with notions of mocha, toasted hazelnuts and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with a dense core of fruit framed by chalky structuring extract, concluding with a long, sapid finish. Drink 2025-2045.
95+ points
William Kelley – Robert Parker’s The Wine AdvocateEnticing, fragrant aromas of toast, lemon zest and an earthy-smoky nuance lead to a palate of subtle Bosc-pear, mango, papaya, even pineapple flavors. Lifted by fresh acidity on the medium-bodied palate, the wine keeps unfolding in toasted walnuts, honey and a dash of bitter marmalade. It’s mouth-filling, alive with acidity and full of finesse. Drink or hold.
96 points
JamesSuckling.comA forward vintage for La Grande Année, with warmth evident in its roasted orange, Comice pear and Mirabelle plum, all polished with a sense of savoury maturity that is very Bollinger at heart. There’s a little more oxygen influence seemingly at play than in the 2014, with brine, nuts and a little dried leaf character already taking this far beyond fruit. The food-friendly chewiness of 2015 is there, but the mousse is supple and the Chardonnay brings the wine to a close with a fine, cooked lemon snap. This will start to show its best integration from 2025 onwards, although it is open for business now. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims, Grande Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, all fermented in small oak barrels and disgorged in May 2023 after seven years on lees. Drink 2025 - 2034.
94 points
Tom Hewson - Decanter- Champagne, FRANCE$69.99$69.99Bottle$839.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Bollinger’s trademark depth and richness are on full show here. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier with over 85% of the blend sourced from Grand and Premier crus.
Pours with a fluffy white mousse.The base colour is pale straw with tinges of gold around the edges. Very fine bead with a steady stream of bubbles. The nose exhibits Bollinger’s hallmark richness with pronounced aromas of baked bread, yeast lees and oily toast like characters followed by cashew, almond and citrus notes. Rich, mouthfilling flavours of baked bread, yeast lees, oily toast like characters, citrus and cashew. Creamy textural feel with good freshness on the finish. Long aftertaste of baked bread, oily toast like characters, yeast lees and cashew.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc 12%Other Reviews....
Surely the most underpriced champagne on the market today, yet one of the most complex. The 60/25/15% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier blend is of scant importance compared with the 400 components with 60% reserves, the oldest 8+ years old. Majestically complex and layered in a jewelled crown of freshness.
96 points
James Halliday's Top 100 2020This harmonious Champagne is wonderfully vibrant as it dances across the palate, with the satinlike mousse carrying flavors of white cherry, Marcona almond and ground coffee that show accents of candied kumquat, ginger, aromatic verbena and graphite. A streak of racy salinity emerges on mouthwatering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2025
93 points
Wine SpectatorBollinger’s NV Special Cuvée knocks it out of the park. Made from 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, with 30% of the blend brought up in barrels, it boasts a rich, deep, medium to full-bodied style as well as terrific notes of lemon curd, crème brûlée, caramelized stone fruits, and hints of toasty nuttiness that develop with time in the glass. It’s a big, rich Champagne that stays balanced and pure. Beautiful stuff. Drink 2018-2028.
93 points
JebDunnuck.comFine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.
92 points
JamesSuckling.com - 96
- 94
- 93
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Bollinger Rose ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$140.00$140.00Bottle$1,680.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam CorkRich, full flavoured and luxurious in it's feel yet wonderfully finessed.
Produced from a blend of 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, 14% Meunier with only 5-6% red wine added. Over 85% coming from Grand and Premiers Cru vineyards.A pillowy mousse slowly subsides to reveal a salmon pink coloured base that has a nibble stream of bubbles flowing through to the surface. Delightful strawberry, cherry, baked bread and yeast lees aromas fill the nostrils with hints of blood orange, toast and brioche also evident. Rich and full flavoured yet wonderfully finessed, the palate is engulfed with strawberry, cherry, yeast lees and brioche characters which are complimented by some delicate toast and chalky elements. Creamy textured it finishes dry with invigorating acidity and a long airy aftertaste. A wonderful Rose Champagne to savour through the summer months.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews….
Very attractive aromas of strawberry pie with the crust nicely crispy. Copper and iron too. Medium-bodied with real pinot noir character as well as salted butter, hints of barrel and a juicy finish. 64% barrel-fermented pinot noir (5% still red wine), 28% chardonnay and the rest pinot meunier. Rosé just keeps getting better. Drink now.
94 Points
JamesSuckling.comThere’s a sense of precision to this elegant rosé Champagne, with its chalky base note and crisp, lacy mousse supporting a finely woven range of crushed white cherry and white raspberry fruit, smoked almond, ground ginger, anise and saffron. Long and refreshing, with finely honed acidity defining the finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
94 Points
Wine SpectatorFirst released in 2008, the NV Champagne Brut Rosé is the release based around the 2021 vintage. A medium salmon hue (only 5% red wine is added to the blend), the nose is beautiful and has a lovely touch of opulence in its notes of preserved Amarena cherries, ripe red fruit, toasted brioche, and fresh roses. The palate offers a luxurious feel, with power and elegance that suggest decadence, but it’s not sweet. It has a refined mousse, with a chalky and pithy, orange-tinged structure, wonderful length, and a good core that will easily age another 10 or more years.
93+ Points
JebDunnuck.comThe latest release of Bollinger's NV Brut Rosé is showing especially well, offering up complex aromas of sweet stone fruit, honeycomb, freshly baked bread and orange oil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, pillowy and vinous palate. Layered and concentrated, with a pretty pinpoint mousse and ripe but racy acids, it concludes with a long, expansive finish.
92 Points
William Kelley - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate- 96
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Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$110.00$110.00Bottle$1,320.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: CorkBollinger’s trademark depth and richness are on full show here. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier with over 85% of the blend sourced from Grand and Premier crus.
Pours with a fluffy white mousse.The base colour is pale straw with tinges of gold around the edges. Very fine bead with a steady stream of bubbles. The nose exhibits Bollinger’s hallmark richness with pronounced aromas of baked bread, yeast lees and oily toast like characters followed by cashew, almond and citrus notes. Rich, mouthfilling flavours of baked bread, yeast lees, oily toast like characters, citrus and cashew. Creamy textural feel with good freshness on the finish. Long aftertaste of baked bread, oily toast like characters, yeast lees and cashew.
Alc 12%Other Reviews....
Surely the most underpriced champagne on the market today, yet one of the most complex. The 60/25/15% pinot noir/chardonnay/pinot meunier blend is of scant importance compared with the 400 components with 60% reserves, the oldest 8+ years old. Majestically complex and layered in a jewelled crown of freshness.
96 points
James Halliday's Top 100 2020
A lovely Champagne, with a sense of elegant tailoring as the satiny mousse caresses the palate and well-honed acidity creates a mouthwatering impression that carries flavors of ripe black currant, grilled almond, pickled ginger and clover honey. A chalky base note echoes on the finish, joined by fragrant anise and cumin. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
94 points
Wine SpectatorA rich though youthful golden hue, the NV Champagne Special Cuvée Brut is classic and ripe with lush, rounded, and complex aromas of golden apricot, hazelnut, wet stone, and black cherry. Made with 45% of the wine coming from the 2019 vintage, with 55% reserve wine, it’s full-bodied yet elegant and light on its feet, with a ripe and luxurious feel and just a hint of warmth on the finish. The mousse is refined and rounded. Long on the palate, it's inviting now but will have plenty of life ahead of it if stored property. This exceptional cuvée with its distinctive personality continues to be one of the best entry wines to the range from this house and is a benchmark wine for them.
93 points
Audrey Frick - JebDunnuck.comFine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.
92 points
JamesSuckling.com- 96
- 96
- Reduced
Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$170.00$140.00$140.00Bottle$1,680.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: StelvinIncludes 25% reserve wines. A buoyant lacy mousse floats over a pale straw coloured base that has hints of green to the edges. Flowing thru the core is a nibble stream of bubbles. Powerful and complex, the nose is filled with baked bread, yeast lees and citrus scents which meld into notions of oyster shell, cashew and faint dried honey. Graceful and airy across the palate with a satiny feel, vivid pear, citrus, baked bread and yeast lees flavours are complimented by subtle dried honey and cashew nuances. Finishes dry with mouth watering acidity and long refined aftertaste.
Alc. 12%
Other Reviews....
“Charles” came through a near-death experience in 2012, emerging stronger than ever. The glistening green hue announces a luscious 100% chardonnay with a full hand based on 10 crus, all eagerly sought. It’s a balancing act between youth and age, a wine of finesse and length, the dosage of 10g/l hidden in the magician’s hat.
96 points
James Halliday's Top 100 2023- Champagne, FRANCE$499.00$499.00Bottle$5,988.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires is a rare gem among Champagnes, showcasing the house’s mastery of Chardonnay. Crafted only in exceptional vintages, its creamy texture and remarkable depth set it apart from the crowd.
Other Reviews....
The eighth rendition of this cuvée, the 2014 Brut Blanc de Blancs Blanc des Millénaires evokes a complex, sweet bouquet of candied lemon, confit citrus, blanched almonds, brioche, honeycomb and ripe orchard fruits. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and ample, it features a velvety attack and a vinous, fleshy core of fruit, with a textural mid-palate that leads to a spicy, long and delicate finish. This is a stunning new release of this cuvée, showcasing its depth and elegance. Drink 2024-2044.
95 points
Yohan Castaing - Wine Advocate (Oct 25, 2024)A compacted, dense blanc de blancs with real intensity, showing tarte tatin and sliced white peaches. Full-bodied. A lovely combination of dried apples, pie crust and underlying acidity. Some subtle brioche. Hints of cream and salted butter. From the villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Vertus, Cramant and Avize. 8.5 years on the lees. Dosage 9 g/L. Disgorged 2023. Drink now.
97 points
James SucklingEntirely Chardonnay, the bright straw/silver-colored the 2014 Champagne Blanc Des Millénaires has light reduction with beautiful smoky framing as well as notes of white peach, tangerine, fresh flowers, and chalky salinity. Medium-bodied, it has a refined mousse, a silky texture, and a long, elegant finish. It’s not an obvious wine at this stage, but it’s pleasing. It will benefit from time in bottle and drink well over the next couple decades. I like the fruitiness and freshness on the palate. It should pair well with shellfish. Drink 2024-2044.
96 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.comThe only Blanc des Millénaires made during Thierry Roset's brief tenure as cellar master of Charles Heidsieck before his untimely death after the 2014 harvest. The wine was blended by Cyril Brun. It has seen less time on lees than the previous 2007 and 2006 wines – between eight and nine years rather than 12 – but the decision feels apt for this beautifully delicate, bright and serene edition of one of Champagne's top, if lesser-known, prestige Blanc de Blancs, emphasising purity over creamy richness. There are plenty of ripe aromatics, with fuzzy fragrant apricots, mandarin and even some fresh mango playing with hazelnut and coffee macaron complexity just starting to fire up. There's a quiet, calm insistence to the palate, more similar to the 2004 than the tension and drama of the 2007 or the generosity of the 2006. It seems set to be one of the vintage's top performers. Chardonnay from Cramant, Avize, Oger, Le-Mesnil-sur-Oger and Vertus, entirely vinified in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation. Dosage: 9g/L. Drink 2025 - 2038.
95 points
Tom Hewson - DecanterChardonnay from the crus of Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, Cramant, Vertus. Nine years on the lees, disgorged 2023. Only the 8th time this wine has been made in over 40 years. Dosage 9 g/l.
Masses of very fine bubbles on first pouring. Inviting, almost ethereal chalky citrus aroma. Masses of mouth-watering tension and freshness, with great precision. Tightly wound but not lean because it is so well balanced. Pure, chalky, crisp and very long. Elegant, gently complex, with only subtle creamy/yeasty autolytic character. The crisp citrus fruit still dominates after all this time on the lees, though the lees ageing shows in the rich texture. Drink 2024-2032.
18/20 points
Julia Harding MW - JancisRobinson.com - Champagne, FRANCE$1,099.00$1,099.00Bottle$13,188.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires is a rare gem among Champagnes, showcasing the house’s mastery of Chardonnay. Crafted only in exceptional vintages, its creamy texture and remarkable depth set it apart from the crowd.
The 1996 Blanc des Millenaires La Collection Crayères hails from the kind of vintage that makes champagne lovers pause in admiration. 1996 is unanimously recognised as one of the most spectacular vintages of modern times, characterized by optimal ripeness, intense freshness, and flavour concentration. After nearly a quarter of a century of maturation, this late release Blanc des Millenaires (known as La Collection Crayeres) will display layered complexity and timeless elegance. A rare release that's a true collector’s dream.
Other Reviews....
A perfect, aged blanc de blancs with superb aromas of chalk, pie crust, limes and green apples with buttered popcorn, jasmine and hints of green tobacco. Medium-bodied, this has a compacted palate of dense dried fruit, turning to caramel and pie crust with an energized, vivid finish. Goes on for a minute. Aged almost 25 years on the lees. Released July 24, 2024. Drink now. Only 4,000 bottles made.
100 points
James SucklingThis is the follow-up to the legendary 1995, and is only just being released. Intense roasted hazelnut and nougat bouquet, lots of aged characters and very, very complex. An extraordinary wine, beautifully balanced and the acidity which kept it in the cellar for so long is no longer obvious. Drink 2024.
97 points
Huon Hooke - The Real Review - Champagne, FRANCE$280.00$280.00Bottle$3,360.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Expansive yet refined and racy with a long, energetic finish.
This blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier is sourced from up to 60 different Crus in order to maximise complexity and is made up of 50% reserve wines, many of them more than 10 years old to provide additional richness. 5% to10% of wine is vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels.Pours with an exuberant mousse which gracefully fades into a pale straw pale gold tinged base that has a nimble stream of bubbles coursing through it. Elevated citrus and pear scents combine with yeast lees, chalky mineral, faint baked bread and subtle honeyed cashew notes. Rich and expansive yet refined and racy, the palate has mouth filling flavours of pear, yeast lees and roasted almond which are sculptured by chalky acidity. Some citrus and baked bread characters line the back half. Lacy yet tense and stimulating it finishes long and energetic.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
Charles Heidsieck might be nicknamed Poor Man’s Krug given the astonishing number of vintages in the reserve wines, their age (10 years in tank), and the seven years the wine spends on lees once blended and bottled. It is an exceptional wine in the mouth, supple, layered, complex and long.
96 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine CompanionReally fine bubbles. Extremely intense, showing dried apples, peaches and light apricots with brioche and pie crust. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a long, long finish. Very subtle. A blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier. 10% of the 2020 base wine fermented and aged in barrel. Dosage 8 g/L. Drink now.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$69.99$69.99Bottle$839.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Expansive yet refined and racy with a long, energetic finish.
This blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier is sourced from up to 60 different Crus in order to maximise complexity and is made up of 50% reserve wines, many of them more than 10 years old to provide additional richness. 5% to10% of wine is vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels.Pours with an exuberant mousse which gracefully fades into a pale straw pale gold tinged base that has a nimble stream of bubbles coursing through it. Elevated citrus and pear scents combine with yeast lees, chalky mineral, faint baked bread and subtle honeyed cashew notes. Rich and expansive yet refined and racy, the palate has mouth filling flavours of pear, yeast lees and roasted almond which are sculptured by chalky acidity. Some citrus and baked bread characters line the back half. Lacy yet tense and stimulating it finishes long and energetic.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
Charles Heidsieck might be nicknamed Poor Man’s Krug given the astonishing number of vintages in the reserve wines, their age (10 years in tank), and the seven years the wine spends on lees once blended and bottled. It is an exceptional wine in the mouth, supple, layered, complex and long.
96 points
James Halliday - Australian Wine CompanionReally fine bubbles. Extremely intense, showing dried apples, peaches and light apricots with brioche and pie crust. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a long, long finish. Very subtle. A blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier. 10% of the 2020 base wine fermented and aged in barrel. Dosage 8 g/L. Drink now.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCEReduced from
$180.00$145.00$145.00Bottle$1,740.00DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2018-2022)ABV: 12%Closure: CorkThis excellent Rose Champagne is typically composed of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes from a single vintage which makes up 80% of the blend. The remaining 20% is made up of reserve wines with an average age of 5 years.
A salmon pink base, interspersed by an exceptionally fine and persistent bead, carries a buoyant lacy mousse well. On the nose delicate peach and winter strawberry aromas meld into elements of toast, yeasty baked bread and citrus notes. Very refined and long there’s a subtle creaminess to the winter strawberry, peach, toast, baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours. Crisp acidity lends itself to a dry refreshing finish. Long winter strawberry, peach, citrus, baked bread, light toast and yeast lees aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12% - Champagne, FRANCE$109.99$109.99Bottle$1,319.88DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
Expansive yet refined and racy with a long, energetic finish.
This blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier is sourced from up to 60 different Crus in order to maximise complexity and is made up of 50% reserve wines, many of them more than 10 years old to provide additional richness. 5% to10% of wine is vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels.Pours with an exuberant mousse which gracefully fades into a pale straw pale gold tinged base that has a nimble stream of bubbles coursing through it. Elevated citrus and pear scents combine with yeast lees, chalky mineral, faint baked bread and subtle honeyed cashew notes. Rich and expansive yet refined and racy, the palate has mouth filling flavours of pear, yeast lees and roasted almond which are sculptured by chalky acidity. Some citrus and baked bread characters line the back half. Lacy yet tense and stimulating it finishes long and energetic.
Alc. 12%Other Reviews....
Charles Heidsieck might be nicknamed Poor Man’s Krug given the astonishing number of vintages in the reserve wines, their age (10 years in tank), and the seven years the wine spends on lees once blended and bottled. It is an exceptional wine in the mouth, supple, layered, complex and long.
96 Points
James Halliday - Australian Wine CompanionReally fine bubbles. Extremely intense, showing dried apples, peaches and light apricots with brioche and pie crust. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture and a long, long finish. Very subtle. A blend of pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier. 10% of the 2020 base wine fermented and aged in barrel. Dosage 8 g/L. Drink now.
95 Points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$380.00$380.00Bottle$4,560.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Chartogne-Taillet is the home of some of the most exciting wines in Champagne. Alexandre Chartogne is a perfectionist in his approach to viticulture and winemaking, something he picked up from his mentor Anselme Selosse. Key to his approach is the importance of expressing terroir above all else. With that in mind, Alexandre separately vinifies a myriad of plots spread across 11 hectares of vineyards in Merfy and the neighbouring villages of Chenay and Saint-Thierry. Over half the parcels are ploughed by horse, and no pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers are used. In the winery, all fermentations are wild, and malolactic fermentation is not blocked. Alexandre favours wooden barrels or demi-muids for fermentations, and low dosage levels are used which allow the grapes to speak of their place.
Unlike the main stable of Merfy-sourced wines, this is grown on a cadre of plots in Avize and Oger in the Côte des Blancs. The patchwork of seven plots, located on both the plains and the slopes, contributes to the overall harmony. Chemin de Châlons, Pierre Vaudon, Fosse le Prêtre and Mont Chenevaux, located on the plain, have plenty of sun exposure and a chalky soil profile with very thin (20cm) topsoils. Mont de Cramant is located at the beginning of the slopes, with deeper soils that are likewise rich in chalk. Les Roches Hautes and Les Barmonts are higher again and experience cooler conditions, resulting in taut, linear wines. The wines rests in 228-, 350- and 600-litre barrels before maturing on lees for 4-5 years and receiving a dosage of 1-3 g/L.
Other Reviews....
Chartogne’s 2019 Blanc de Blancs Hors Série hails from several parcels in Avize, predominantly situated on the lower slopes where the topsoil is thinnest—ranging from a mere 20 centimeters to one meter in some plots. These southeast-facing vineyards benefit from generous sun exposure, with soils composed of sand, clay and silt layered over a chalky bedrock. In the cellar, the wine is matured in a combination of 228- and 600-liter oak barrels. Already expressive—shaped by a sunny vintage in a rich terroir—it unfurls in the glass with a bouquet of honeysuckle, pear, white peach and lemon oil. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated yet vividly vibrant, energized by mouthwatering acidity that lends both balance and tension. Combining muscularity with structural finesse, it was disgorged in June 2024 with a dosage of just one gram per liter. This wine promises to evolve gracefully over time. Drink 2025-2039.
95 points
Kristaps Karklins - Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate - Champagne, FRANCE$99.99$99.99Bottle$1,199.88DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Aged for a minimum of 4 years on lees. A buoyant mousse rises to the top of the glass eventually subsiding to reveal a salmon pink coloured base that has an exceptionally fine bead flowing through it. Lifted strawberry and yeast lees aromas intermingle with baked bread, citrus and brioche. Satiny in its feel, bready yeast lees flavours mix with hints of strawberry, citrus and delicate ginger. Dry, refreshing finish with a slightly chalky strawberry and yeasty baked bread aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5% - Champagne, FRANCE$79.99$79.99Bottle$959.88DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam Cork
An excellent entry level Champagne that’s rich and quite full in style yet airy in its flow.
Made from a blend of 50% Meunier, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir with 35% reserve wines included. Fine satiny mousse with a pale straw pale gold tinged base that has a very fine and persistent bead flowing through it. Elevated aromas of citrus, baked bread and yeast lees fill the nostrils with hints of brioche, cashew and chalk also evident. Rich and quite full in style yet airy in its flow, baked bread, citrus and yeast lees flavours are interwoven with brioche and delicate cashew. Crisp acidity with a dry, slightly chalky feel across the long mouth watering finish. An excellent entry level Champagne.
Alc. 12.5% - 93
- Biodynamic
- Organic
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
De Saint-Gall Le Blanc de Bio Champagne Premier CruChampagne, FRANCE$130.00$130.00Bottle$1,560.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkA crisp, refreshing Champagne that has a dry, finely sculptured finish.
A well formed mousse slowly dissipates to reveal a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges and a fine nimble bead. Pear, yeast lees and red apple skin aromas drift from the glass followed by some oily baked bread notes. Refreshing pear and citrus fruits drive the mouth watering palate over a back drop of yeast lees, baked bread and a chalky minerality. Crisp acidity with a dry, finely sculptured finish.
Alc. 12.5%- Champagne, FRANCE$69.99$69.99Bottle$839.88DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam Cork
A delightful entry level Champagne with well meshed flavours, an airy feel and refreshingly crisp finish.
The largest vineyard owners in the Cote des Blancs, Champagne de Saint-Gall is the creation of the Cooperative Union Champagne, founded in 1966, which consists of growers who only hold Premier & Grand Cru Vineyards. Produced from a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir.
A buoyant and fluffy mousse holds well over a pale straw coloured base that has flecks of gold around the edges. A very fine bead showing good persistence. Excellent aromatics with baked bread, citrus and yeast lees leading the way. Subtle toast and almond notes ensue. Well meshed flavours of yeast lees, baked bread and citrus overlay an oily toast and almond back drop. Airy feel with good tension, crisp acidity and a refreshingly savoury aftertaste.
Alc. 12.5%
Other Reviews....
De Saint-Gall is a grower-led Champagne house founded in 1966 and now the largest vineyard owner in the Côte des Blancs, with holdings in both premier and grand cru sites. This is a blend of 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir.Light straw-gold colour. Rich nose of bruised pears, honey and butter on toast. A full style, quite weighty with its rich golden fruits and toasty lees development all on show. Great length; there’s ample acidity to keep it driving while the fine mousse ensures both creaminess in texture along with refreshing lift to the dry finish. A complex delight to enjoy and will be equally at home with food as without. (Diam)
95 points
Stuart Knox - The Real Review
Mineral and tense with chalky, stony aromas, green apples and lemon peel with butter. Light-bodied, zesty and polished with fine and persistent mousse. Chalky again in the finish. Drink or hold.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com - Champagne, FRANCE$199.00$199.00Bottle$2,388.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
In 1986, Eric Dhondt and Edith Grellet decided to stop selling off grapes to negociants and started Dhondt-Grellet. Their focus on farming translated into honest Champagnes from great holdings across the Côte des Blancs. Now with their son, Adrien, assuming a larger role, they are refocusing their efforts and producing some of the best Champagnes they ever have. Nowadays the company is lead by Eric and Adrian.
The vineyard is situated primarily in Grands and Premiers Crus of Cote des Blancs namely Cramant, Chouilly, Cuis but also Sézanne for their Chardonnays. They also cultivate some Pinot Noir in the Vallée the la Marne. Mainly located in mid hillsides on easy to work, very lightweight calcareous soils, their plots enjoy an outstanding location and a southeast exposure. The average age of the vines is 40 years. They also have their own cellars in Flavigny to age the wines before bringing them on the market. Les Terres Fines is their 100% chardonnay from premier cru vineyards from Cuis.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
Disgorged in June 2021, the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Les Terres Fines (2018) offers up aromas of ripe citrus fruit, green apple, fresh bread, peach and toasted nuts. Full-bodied, ample and vinous, it's fleshy and generous, with lively acids and an enlivening pinpoint mousse. Seamless and complete, it concludes with chalky grip. Drink 2021 - 2028.
94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sept 2021)The NV Champagne Blanc de Blancs Les Terres Fines Extra Brut was vinified in barriques and is more vinous in its aromas of toast, baked apple, and Meyer lemon. The palate is dry and ripe, with notes of pear, peach, smoke, and white flowers. It has underlying tension and is persistent in its length. Its assertive style will need some time to unwind and harmonize to its full potential. Disgorged July 2021. Drink 2024-2036.
93 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com - 98
- 96
- 95
- Reduced
2017 Dom Perignon ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$425.00$370.00$370.00Bottle$4,440.00DozenOther Reviews….
Dense and layered with dried apples and pears as well as candied lemons, grilled lemons and lemon meringue. It's full-bodied, rich, tangy and flavorful. March 2026 release. Tiny production. Smallest ever for Dom Pérignon. A blend of 61% chardonnay and 39% pinot noir. Dosage 4.5 g/L. Drink now.
96 Points
JamesSuckling.comThe 2017 Dom Pérignon is just as stunning as it was last year, if not more so. What a wine! Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers and chalk soar out of the glass. The 2017 is like a slightly more refined version of the 2002, another year in which the Chardonnays were quite opulent. In 2017, Chardonnay accounts for 61% of the blend, very high for Dom Pérignon. Over the last year, the 2017 has gained mid-palate creaminess and has just come together beautifully. Sadly, production is tiny, so much so that the 2017 is expected to be in the market for just a few months before the maison transitions to the 2018. Drink 2026-2057.
98 Points
Antonio Galloni – VinousOf the two releases—the 2017 and the 2018—the 2017 Dom Pérignon is the deeper and more structurally endowed wine, unfurling from the glass with a complex bouquet of orange peel, dried apricot and burnt buttered toast, mingling with nuances of dried flowers, toasted hazelnut and cacao bean, all strongly singed with the house’s signature smoky reduction. On the palate, it is full-bodied and concentrated, with a rich core of fruit. Its darker, open-knit profile is animated by a pillowy mousse, vibrant acidity and attractively bitter, structuring phenolics that assert themselves on a long, resonant finish. This is a superb achievement for a vintage that required uncompromising selection, as acetic rot began to intrude upon the Pinot Noir grapes despite otherwise favorable conditions until mid-August. The fact that it represents the smallest Dom Pérignon release by volume should not mislead readers into complacency; indeed, I would much sooner own several bottles of the 2017 than divide my allocation with the 2018. A blend of 61% Chardonnay and 39% Pinot Noir, it was disgorged in March 2024 with a dosage of five grams per liter and will offer considerable complexity and generosity out of the gates. Drink 2026-2041.
95+ Points
Kristaps Karklins – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate- 94
- Special Order Product – Delayed Dispatch
Duval Leroy Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCE$79.99$79.99Bottle$959.88DozenCellar: Drink now - 4 Years (2021-2025)ABV: 12%Closure: CorkPours with a frothy white mousse that holds well. A very persistent and exceptionally fine bead threading its way through a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold edgings. Pear, citrus and yeast lees aromatics combine with baked bread and subtle brioche notes. Quite creamy and airy in its feel the palate is layered with baked pear, yeast lees and citrus flavours with some bready characters and oily toast like nuances in the background. Finishes crisp with a long lacy aftertaste.
Drink over the next 3-4 years.
Alc. 12%- Champagne, FRANCE$1,399.00$1,399.00Bottle$16,788.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
The Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature. As usual with Francis Egly's millesime, the blend is 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay from the same 40-year-old vines in Ambonnay, aged in barrel until bottling.
Other Reviews....
The 2015 Champagne Millésime is a bright straw color and is ripe and fruity on the nose, with aromas of black cherries, fresh violets, savory saline, and a hint of umami richness. The palate is full-bodied, with no phenolic bitterness, and never feels overtly savory. Pure, juicy, and inviting, it’s lovely and long on the palate, with a very pretty finish and a refined mousse that just frames the wine. It has a delicate note of toast that it needs time to harmonize, but I love what they have done with this vintage. Drink 2025-2045.
96 points
Audrey Frick - jebdunnuck.com - Champagne, FRANCEReduced from
$930.00$860.00$860.00Bottle$10,320.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkThe Ambonnay based Egly-Ouriet are a reference point for grower producers in Champagne, known for their impeccable vineyard management and fastidious winemaking skills. Much of their production is raised in oak barrels, with extended aging on lees a feature. Blanc De Noirs is the flagship wine from Egly-Ouriet, and the one that first captured the attention of the wider Champagne public. This 100% Pinot Noir cuvee comes from the Les Crayeres vineyard in Ambonnay that was planted in 1946.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
A blend of the 2015 and 2014 vintages, Egly's emblematic NV Brut Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Les Crayères was disgorged this year with only one gram per liter dosage. Bursting with aromas of mirabelle plum, Anjou pear and green apple mingled with notions of freshly baked bread, honeycomb and praline, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, its satiny attack segueing into a deep, layered mid-palate of striking texture and concentration. Concluding with a long, intensely saline finish, it's another brilliant wine from a great producer at the top of his form. Drink 2023 - 2043.
98+ points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)The NV Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Crayeres Grand Cru explodes from the glass with a range of Pinot aromas and flavors that is just breathtaking. Bright acids and beams of saline intensity offer striking contrast. Even though it has just been Disgorged:, the Crayeres is just stunning. For readers who want to know what Pinot from Ambonnay tastes like, well, this is it. Hints of Mirabelle plum, red plum and dried flowers linger on the substantial finish.
96+ points
Antonio Galloni - VinousAged 72 months on lees, fermented in barrel with full malo, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Les Crayeres Vieilles Vignes Brut is just a heavenly bottle, offering a kaleidoscope-like nose of buttered citrus, orange blossom, flowers, green almonds, and salty minerality. These flow to a full-bodied, rich, deep, and incredibly layered palate Champagne that flirts with perfection. It’s stunning today yet it should easily evolve for another 20 years. Drink 2020 - 2040.
99 points
Jeb Dunnuck - Champagne, FRANCE$140.00$140.00Bottle$1,680.00DozenABV: 17%
Ratafia de Champagne is liqueur apéritif, made with the juice of freshly-picked Champagne grapes, and fortified immediately after pressing (to prevent fermentation commencing) with grape spirit distilled from Champagne grape skins. It belongs to the same family as Cognac's Pineau des Charentes.
As with anything that is bottled by this great grower, this is not your average example of the genre! Apart from the renowned work in the vineyard, Egly uses only 100% Grand Cru, Estate-grown Pinot Noir. The fruit is sorted and pressed gently and only the finest grape spirit is added.
When you consider that most Ratafia comes from a Champagne producer's weakest fruit, you can begin to understand that we are not talking about a standard example here! As we have come to expect, this perfectionist grower refuses to aim for anything less than greatness. It comes from a particular harvest and after four years mellowing in barrel, it is a stunningly pure and intense expression of this rare style that can be drunk on its own, over ice, with soda or used to make a wonderful alternative to a kir. It also stays fresh in the fridge for months. - Champagne, FRANCE$84.99$84.99Bottle$1,019.88DozenCellar: Drink now - 5 Years (2023-2028)ABV: 12%Closure: Cork
A heady mousse sits well over a straw pale gold edged base. Streaming through its core is a very fine and persistent bead. Invigorating scents of baked bread, yeast lees and subtle dried honey fill the nostrils with hints of ginger, brioche and roasted almonds also chiming in. Rich and mouth filling with a creamy texture the palate is generously endowed with baked bread, yeast lees and brioche flavours which overlay a back drop of roasted almonds and citrus. Crisp acidity with some lingering oily toast like accents to the long, full aftertaste.
Drink over the next 4-5 years.
Alc. 12% - Champagne, FRANCE$550.00$550.00Bottle$6,600.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
While the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Les Hautes Chevres is a tiny selection of old vine Pinot Meunier planted in 1930, 1947, 1965, and 1971. Unfortunately the 1930 parcel needed to be replaced following the 2014 harvest, yet these are still some of the oldest Meunier vines in the area. Situated at the top of the slope within the Cumieres vineyard, this tiny parcel sits on a layer of fine clay over a firm limestone bedrock base, and produces Meunier with a rich and multi-dimensional profile, further heightened as the wine ages in bottle. This micro-cuvée is one of the rarest and most sought after in the region. Bottled with zero dosage.
- Champagne, FRANCE$485.00$485.00Bottle$5,820.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Cork
While the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Vincent produces one of the most singular expressions of Rosé Champagne, very much in the style of red Burgundy with bubbles. A rough split of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier are picked as whole bunches and carefully crushed by foot with a healthy amount of skin contact leading to a bold, vibrant red colour. Expect a rich, layered, and unquestionable detailed rosé unlike anything else you will have encountered.
- Champagne, FRANCE$550.00$550.00Bottle$6,600.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
While the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Les Chenes is Vincent Laval's dense and powerful 100% Chardonnay cuvée from a lieu-dit of the same name, made only in exceptional years. After harvesting fully ripe grapes, the wine spends around 10 months in barrel before another 4 years in bottle prior to disgorgement with zero dosage.
- Champagne, FRANCE$240.00$240.00Bottle$2,880.00DozenClosure: Cork
While the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Cumieres Brut Nature is a blend of 57% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 10% Pinot Meunier, and is fermented in oak before three years in bottle prior to disgorging with no dosage.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
The NV Brut Nature Cumières (2017) makes me feel like I am in the cellar, tasting with Vincent Laval. A Champagne of tremendous purity and nuance, the NV captures all of the flavor intensity, drive and nuance that make the wines of Cumières so alluring. This release, based on 2017, sizzles with nervy energy. Time in the glass brings out layers of perfume and a whole range of red-toned fruits. In a word: terrific. Disgorged: February 21, 2020. Drink 2020-2028.
91 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - Champagne, FRANCE$199.00$199.00Bottle$2,388.00DozenABV: 11.5%Closure: Cork
While the Laval family has been growing vines for four generations, it was not until 1971 that Georges Laval began producing estate-bottled Champagne. Now under the direction of George's son Vincent, this is one of the great under the radar properties in the region. Laval’s vineyard holdings comprise just 2.5 hectares, most in the premier cru village of Cumières. Across the seven parcels the average vine age is over 30 years, with the oldest vines of the estate over 70 years of age. Organic viticulture has been practiced since 1971, and despite the challenges of this approach in Champagne, they are now certified by Ecocert. Laval’s wines are harvested ripe and almost never chaptalized, and fermentation takes place in barrel, with indigenous yeasts. The wines are bottled late, usually about ten months after the harvest, and they are neither fined, filtered nor cold-stabilized.
Please note: Disgorgement dates can vary. Please contact the store if you would like to check which disgorgement is currently available.
Other Reviews....
The NV Extra-Brut Garennes is rich, ample and inviting, with all of the textural intensity that is the signature of Vincent Laval’s wines. Readers should expect a rich, boisterous Champagne laced with generous Meunier intensity. Dried pear, hazelnut and crushed flowers are some of the many notes that develop with a bit of air. The Garennes bottling continues to gain in complexity. This is the best edition yet. This release is based on 2016, with 40% reserve wines from 2015, 2014 and 2013. The blend is 90% Meunier with 5% each Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink 2020-2028.
90 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - Champagne, FRANCE$230.00$230.00Bottle$2,760.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Georges Remy is a young, third generation vigneron crafting exciting Champagnes from his base in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. While his formative years following wine study were spent in Bordeaux, upon returning to his home and making some notable Bouzy Rouge (still red wine), Georges now produces a range of Champagnes from vineyards predominantly located in Bouzy, with a small part in Tauxieres. The dark clay soils here are rich in silica and gypsum, and produces wines with enormous power and complexity. Their vineyards have been certified organic since 2015, and while not prescriptive, Georges does use herbal treatments as well as some biodynamic preparations to minimize the use of sulphites following vinification. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in barrel and after aging on its lees bottling takes place following the lunar cycles.
Le Mont de Tauxieres is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay from this single vineyard based in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. Disgorged in April 2022 with no dosage, there are a scant 1500 bottles available from the 2016 vintage.
- Champagne, FRANCE$199.00$199.00Bottle$2,388.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Cork
Georges Remy is a young, third generation vigneron crafting exciting Champagnes from his base in the Grand Cru village of Bouzy. While his formative years following wine study were spent in Bordeaux, upon returning to his home and making some notable Bouzy Rouge (still red wine), Georges now produces a range of Champagnes from vineyards predominantly located in Bouzy, with a small part in Tauxieres. The dark clay soils here are rich in silica and gypsum, and produces wines with enormous power and complexity. Their vineyards have been certified organic since 2015, and while not prescriptive, Georges does use herbal treatments as well as some biodynamic preparations to minimize the use of sulphites following vinification. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in barrel and after aging on its lees bottling takes place following the lunar cycles.
Les Muits is made from a single parcel of 100% Chardonnay from the Premier Cru village of Tauxieres. While it's rare to find Chardonnay planted here, these specific vines are from a portion of the parcel which sits at the top of the hill planted over a bedrock of pure chalk. Vines here face south-east, and the parcel is made up of two massale selection plantings from 1971 and 1973. Production is a tiny 700 bottles.
- Champagne, FRANCEReduced from
$270.00$240.00$240.00Bottle$2,880.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChampagne Guiborat is based in the grand cru village of Cramant, right in the heart of the Cote de Blancs. Much of their vineyards are planted in the deep chalk soils of Cramant and Chouilly grand crus, along with a parcel in the Marne near Epernay where they have some Pinot Meunier. While they own 8 hectares of vineyards, three quarters of their production is sold off to Laurent-Perrier, keeping only the best parcels for their own label.
In certain years Richard Fouquet will release a wine solely from the Mont-Aigu parcel (planted 1970), however in the warmer years he chooses to combine fruit from this warm site with the cooler exposure of the Caures vineyard (planted 1946). This 100% Chardonnay cuvee is vinified in stainless steel and rests on lees for 6 months, before a further 68 months on lees in bottle prior to being disgorged with 1.5g/L dosage.
Other Reviews....
Incorporating some 16% of lieu-dit Caurés to temper the richness of Montaigu in sunny vintages, Guiborat's 2015 Extra-Brut De Caurés à Montaigu offers up aromas of crisp green apple, white flowers, citrus oil, freshly baked bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seamless, it's racy and charming, with a pure core of fruit, a pillowy mousse and a chalky finish. Drink 2023 - 2038.
94 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023) - Champagne, FRANCEReduced from
$175.00$150.00$150.00Bottle$1,800.00DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: CorkChampagne Guiborat is based in the grand cru village of Cramant, right in the heart of the Cote de Blancs. Much of their vineyards are planted in the deep chalk soils of Cramant and Chouilly grand crus, along with a parcel in the Marne near Epernay where they have some Pinot Meunier. While they own 8 hectares of vineyards, three quarters of their production is sold off to Laurent-Perrier, keeping only the best parcels for their own label.
Prisme is a 100% Chardonnay cuvee exclusively from old vine parcels owned by the family, namely Les Bergeries (Cramant, planted in 1984), Le Mont Aigu (Chouilly, planted in 1970 and 1979), and Les Caurés (Chouilly, planted in 1946 and 1988). The emphasis with Prisme is to display the transparent nature that the chalk soils of Cramant and Chouilly lend to these wines. Vinification occurs in 96% stainless steel, with the balance in neutral oak barrels. Following 7 months on lees the wine is assembled and sees a further 44 months on lees in bottle, and 12 months resting in the cellar before release. Dosage is a very low 1.5g/L.
Other Reviews....
The NV Extra-Brut Prisme . 17 is a taut, chiseled wine, based on the 2017 vintage with 13% reserve wines. Offering up notes of citrus zest, verbena, warm bread and fresh herbs, it's medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive, with racy acids underpinning an attractive core of ripe fruit. Drink 2023 - 2029.
92 points
William Kelley - Wine Advocate (Dec 15, 2023) - Champagne, FRANCE$135.00$135.00Bottle$1,620.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam Cork
A highly finessed Blanc de Blancs Champagne.
Made from 100% Chardonnay with 30% to 50% reserve wines included in the blend and aged for a minimum of 3 years. Pours with a fluffy white mousse which sits atop a pale straw coloured base that has pale gold tinged edges. Fine nibble stream of persistent bubbles. Baked bread, pear and yeast lees aromas rise through the nostrils with good authority followed by some oily brioche and citrus like scents. Highly finessed, the palate carries a mildly creamed, airy like feel with baked bread, yeast lees and citrus flavours detailed over a subtle pear, cashew and oily toast back drop. Finely meshed it has mouth watering acidity and a long, refined finish.
Alc. 12% - Champagne, FRANCE$120.00$120.00Bottle$1,440.00DozenABV: 12%Closure: Diam Cork
Rich and airy with a dry chalk tinged finish.
Made from a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier using 30-50% reserve wines with ageing on lees for a period of 3 years. A fine, lacy mousse slowly dissipates to reveal a pale straw coloured base with gold tinged edges and a nimble bead. Aromas of citrus, yeast lees and baked bread drift through the nostrils followed by subtle oily toast like notes and chalk. Rich, airy flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus meld into an oily toast and almond background. Dry, chalk tinged finish with crisp acidity and a gently creamed aftertaste of ample length.
Alc. 12% - 95
- 96
- 94
- Reduced
Jacquart Mosaique Brut ChampagneChampagne, FRANCEReduced from$79.99$59.99$59.99Bottle$719.88DozenABV: 12.5%Closure: Diam CorkFounded in 1964 by a collective of Chardonnay growers, Champagne Jacquart has grown to become the region's largest grower-producer. Today, the brand maintains complete control over its production, sourcing 100% of its fruit exclusively from vineyards owned by its members.
Typically made from a blend of around 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier, Jacquart’s Mosaique generally includes 25-35% reserve wines and is matured for at least 3 years on lees.At less than $60, a Champagne of this quality is a rare find in today’s market.
Pours with a buoyant frothy mousse that overlays a pale straw coloured base with pale gold tinged edges. Very fine, energetic bead. Delighting the olfactory senses are aromas of baked bread, yeast lees and citrus which are complexed by whiffs of brioche and oily toast like notes. The palate beautifully meshes flavours of baked bread, yeast lees and roasted almond which carry an airy feel. Citrus, toast and faint ginger elements sit in the background. Crisp, refreshing acidity with a long enveloping finish that has a gentle creaminess to it.
Alc. 12.5%Other Reviews....
Effortlessly composed with an abundance of sunny stone fruit, ripe apples, honeysuckle and a backbone of nutty praline; focussed and expressive with a fine-spun, silky mousse.
96 Points
Decanter World Wine AwardsA famous old Champagne house, this is a non-vintage release from them, representing both flavour and value. How soon before we lament the days when we could find a good bottle of champers for under one hundred bucks? The blend sits around 35 to 40% each of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with the remainder Meunier. Dosage sits around 10 grams/litre, reasonably standard, or perhaps fractionally on the upper edge for these days, and around 20% of the blend is reserve wines. Deep yellow gold in colour, the nose has those lovely biscuity notes, along with peaches, figs, stonefruits and hints of hazelnuts. Richly flavoured and excellent length, this has fresh acidity and impressive length. Very attractive and an exciting cellaring prospect – if you think good Champagne can’t age and improve in the cellar, give it a shot. Lots to like here.
94 Points
Ken Gargett – WinePilot.com
The World’s Finest Champagnes Delivered.
The sensation of fine bubbles dancing across the tongue elevates one's senses. Centuries ago, the Champagne sensation had already positioned itself with exclusivity, royalty and good times. Its relative scarcity ensured that the price was high and thus reserved for special occasions. Its connections with the lustful French Court ensured it remained the preferred drink of high rollers, a situation that seems to have persisted.
The place to shop when you need some bubbly for a special occasion.
Whether it's a birthday, anniversary or wedding, or perhaps just enjoying a glass of bubbly with some friends and family over dinner, you'll discover many of the finest options in our online store. Nicks Wine Merchants taste most of the Champagnes we offer and give a 100% money back guarantee.
Much of the art of great Champagne lies in blending: marrying wines from particular years, plots or grape varieties. Each grape variety has its own characteristics. Chardonnay gives wine with a greenish-gold tinge, refined and long on the palate; rather assertively crisp when young but more expansive once it has acquired its sparkle. Pinot Noir vinified as a white wine (not red as in Burgundy) gives a pale gold wine with a sustained but ingressive nose, full-bodied and generous - a wine for keeping. Meunier is slightly pink and lacks the backbone of Pinot Noir, but has a fruity, well-rounded flavour.
Place your order today.
When you buy Champagne online at www.nicks.com.au, you can have it shipped to most of Australia free of charge for orders over $200. If you have any questions, contact us on 1800 069 295 to speak to a member of our staff.