Champagne
Champagne, the epitome of elegance and celebration, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of sparkling wines. As one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Champagne has captured the hearts of wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs with its exceptional quality, refined craftsmanship, and iconic vineyards.
Historically, Champagne has been dominated by some world-acclaimed Champagne House, which source grapes and harvest from Champagne growers. These famous Grandes Marques include Louis Roederer (Cristal), Dom Pérignon, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Bollinger, all of them are revered for their notable names that display unrivalled winemaking prestige and pedigree.
In the recent decade, the emerging Grower Champagne trend in Champagne is shaking up the industry by challenging the dominance of the big Champagne houses. These small-scale producers, also known as "Récoltant-Manipulant" or RM, grow their own grapes and produce their own Champagne, showcasing the unique terroir and character of their vineyards. Jacques Selosse, Ulysse Collin, and Champagne Vilmart & Cie are among the most prominent names in this trend, producing some truly artisanal and terroir-driven Champagnes.
Champagne is primarily made from three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. These grapes are carefully selected and blended to create a harmonious and complex flavour profile. Chardonnay contributes elegance, freshness, and finesse, while Pinot Noir adds structure, depth, and fruitiness. Pinot Meunier brings a touch of roundness and vibrancy to the blend.
The region of Champagne is divided into several distinct sub-regions, including Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. Each sub-region has its unique terroir, characterized by variations in soil composition and microclimates, which influence the style and character of the wines produced.
Champagne offers various styles, from non-vintage blends to vintage cuvées and prestigious prestige cuvées. While Non-vintage Champagnes typically epitomise the house style, the vintage Champagnes are made from grapes harvested in one particular year (top vintages such as 1996, 2002, 2008 etc), in which these wines showcase the unique characteristics of the specific vintage.
The prestige cuvées, often the flagship wines of the renowned Champagne houses, are the pinnacle of excellence. These exceptional Champagnes are created using the finest grapes, the most meticulous winemaking techniques and often benefit from extended ageing to achieve unparalleled complexity and finesse.
Champagne is synonymous with celebration, elegance, and luxury. Its effervescent charm and timeless appeal have made it the drink of choice for countless special occasions and memorable moments. With its rich history, iconic vineyards, and unrivalled quality, Champagne continues to captivate wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
Champagne
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(6x75cl) 2006Hailing from the esteemed Champagne house of De Venoge in France comes De Venoge Blanc De Blancs 2006. This vintage is crafted purely from Chardonnay grapes, sourced from the premier grand cru vineyards of the renowned Côte des Blancs. The astute blend showcases the richness of 2006 vineyards, while expressing the individuality of this distinctive terroir perfectly. Aged in the De Venoge cellars for over twelve years, the wine encapsulates exquisite elegance and sublime depth of flavour.
The De Venoge Blanc De Blancs 2006 displays tantalising notes of citrus fruits, buttery brioche and delicate white flowers, succeeding in an ample, full-bodied palate with a refreshing line of acidity. Its impressive length and precise, mineral-driven finish are testament to its supreme ageing potential and distinguished lineage. De Venoge, esteemed for their dedication to tradition and quality, adds just another masterpiece to its prestigious portfolio.
$491.00 -
(6x75cl) 1995Wine Advocate (97)
Possessing a beautiful golden color with orange and even Amber reflections, the 1995 Louis XV Brut is a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from several grands crus—Verzenay, Ambonnay, Mailly and Bouzy for the Pinot and Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Chouilly for the Chardonnay. What a gorgeous bouquet is this! Vinous and slightly oxidative, with hints of figs and dates, toffee, Madeira, Vin Jaune, Sherry, biscuits, toasted rice, white mushrooms, earthy flavors, licorice, oriental spices, vanilla, dried oranges and apricots and a thousand more flavors. If you like matured Champagnes, you'd die for this. On the palate, however, this is a fascinatingly pure, fresh, tight and delicate Champagne that is lithe and perfectly balanced but also concentrated. The finish is again pure, fresh and mineral, with stewed apricot and peach flavors in the salty aftertaste. This is a great delicacy delivered onto the palate with sophisticated intensity and stunning tension. The wine was fermented in stainless steel, malolactic included, and disgorged in 2006 (!) with a dosage of seven grams per liter. With aging, the Chardonnay grand cru is always taking over the Pinot Noir, finds de Venoge's chairman Gilles de La Bassetière, whose 1995 was still made by Eric Lebel, the winemaker chez Krug since 1998. If you have opened the 1995, please share it, or at least, drink it the same day! The wine loses a bit of its charming creaminess the second and third day, whereas the acidity remains fresh and gives the wine a more austere character then.$1,505.00 -
Wine Advocate (96)
The assemblage of the 2006 Louis XV Brut Millésimé is about the same as the 1995 and 1996—composed of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all from grand cru villages. The only difference is that the Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (10% of the assemblage) spent 12 months in oak barrels. Disgorged in January 2017 (dosage: six grams per liter), the 2006 has a golden color and opens with a deep, ripe, elegant and vinous bouquet with toasty and chalky lemon and fresh white fruit flavors. On the palate, this is an intense, round, fresh and complex Louis XV with great purity and finesse. The wine opens on the palate like a soufflé, coating the whole palate without any pressure or weight—gorgeous! This is a delicate and fresh yet well-structured and persistent Louis XV whose intense and long but weightless finish reveals lovely, almost juicy fruit concentration with perfectly integrated freshness and lasting minerality that seems to give additional structure. The 2006 shows a lot of Chardonnay features right now and drinks perfectly today; however, it can be kept under perfect conditions for decades. Just keep it in the box, because the bottle is white and nothing makes a Champagne age faster than exposure to daylight. (Tasted in November 2017 from Lot LL15067017BT.)$1,345.00 -
Regarded as one of the premium vintages of the decade, the De Venoge Champagne Louis XV Brut 2012 is a true testament to the winemaking finesse honed by the House of De Venoge. This Reims-established Champagne house, famed for its exceptional cellars, has indeed outdone itself with this distinct Brut, which finely balances delicacy and boldness. It's composed of grand Cru Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs, expertly aged for a minimum of six years before disgorgement, resulting in a golden champagne with an expressive, mineral nose and sublime floral notes.
The producer's tradition of responsible viticulture attitudes towards their terroir ensures top-grade grapes for every bottle. On tasting, the De Venoge Champagne Louis XV Brut 2012 unveils complex layers of stone fruit and honey, beautifully rounded by a harmonious yet crisp acidity. Its finish is filled with an enveloping creaminess and a cool mineral flourish. It's a lustrous Champagne that resonates luxury and elegance.
$389.00 -
Wine Advocate (97)
The 2006 Louis XV Brut Rosé Millésimé is almost the same assemblage as the white, with 50/50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, but it gets its marvelous color from the 6% of red Pinot Noir from 40-year-old vines cultivated in the single vineyard La Forêt in Les Riceys. The wine displays a beautifully intense and slightly cloudy/milky pink color. The pink Louis XV is intense yet pure and complex on the nose, with toasty mocha, nougat and concentrated yet chalky/mineral flavored red fruit and paté de fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a round, intense, almost smooth but elegantly pure, dry and fresh, perfectly balanced, structured and charmingly vinous Rosé Champagne with a dominant Pinot Noir character at the moment, although its freshness and tight mineral elegance is driven by the Chardonnay part. The finish is intense yet finessed, with vibrant red currant flavors, very fine tannins, good grip and impressive length. Wild strawberries, raspberries and cherries emerge in the aftertaste. This is a gorgeous food Champagne but you can also meditate with it. I guess I have rarely had better Rosé Champagnes. Tasted November 2017 from Lot LL150 6R5153BT, which was disgorged in February 2016 (dosage: six grams per liter).$381.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93)
A bright medium yellow hue, the NV Champagne Blanc de Blancs Princes Brut shows linear tension and drive, with more chalky austerity. A very pretty wine, this release is crafted from the 2019 vintage, with 10% from 2018 added. On opening, it reveals a floral bouquet of orange blossom and lemon confit, and it’s vertical and straight on the palate, with a refined mousse and a zesty core of energetic acidity. It was sourced predominantly from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, along with 20% from Trépail. Disgorged in 2024.$455.00 -
Matured within the esteemed Maison De Venoge's centuries-old wine cellars in the heart of Champagne, France, comes the exquisite De Venoge Cordon Bleu Brut 2002. As a highly respected blend of 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, and 25% Pinot Meunier grapes, it showcases the superior craftsmanship of De Venoge's winemakers. Each grape is meticulously selected from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards within the Montagne de Reims and Côtes de Blancs regions, thus guaranteeing exceptional quality.
The De Venoge Cordon Bleu Brut 2002 unveils an aromatic symphony of honeyed apricot and brioche, harmonized with a sublime buttery character. The palette is further tantalised with nuances of fresh almonds and pear, elevating the complexity of this divine vintage. A captivating cascade of finely tuned bubbles and luminous golden hues, it elegantly embodies the timeless sophistication of De Venoge's Champagne legacy.
$539.00 -
Presenting the illustrious de Venoge Grand Vin des Princes Rose Millesime Champagne 2014. This luxurious champagne, hailing from the famed House of de Venoge in Champagne, France, is a testament to the meticulous craftsmanship of this historic champagne producer. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from premier Grand Cru vineyards are expertly combined to create a harmonious blend that captures the vintage's unique character. Each bottle is made using traditional methods with secondary fermentation in the bottle, offering a rich, complex profile with mature red fruit aromas, refined minerality, and a stunning crystalline pink hue. The champagne's opulent mousse, well-balanced structure, and distinguished long, lingering finish represent the pinnacle of de Venoge's artistry. This superb vintage rose champagne bears the emblem of de Venoge’s prestigious ‘Princes’ line, encapsulating elegance and prestige in every sip. Relish the de Venoge Grand Vin des Princes Rose Millesime Champagne 2014 - a true crown jewel in the world of effervescence.
$659.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)
The NV Extra Brut Oeil de Perdrix is fabulous. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, this impresses with its persistence, cut and overall complexity. There's so much to discover in this striking, layered Rosé. Mint, white paper, chalk and jasmine linger on the articulate, vibrant finish. The Dehours Oeil de Perdrix is 84% Meunier and 16% Chardonnay, based on the 2022 vintage. Dosage is 1.1 grams per liter. Disgorged: December 2024.$323.00 -
Wine Advocate (94+)
Shortly to be released in magnum, Delamotte's 2012 Blanc de Blancs continues to perform very well, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp orchard fruit, buttered toast, white flowers, fresh bread and orange oil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's racy and concentrated, with an elegant mousse and a long, mineral finish. This is well worth seeking out.$166.00 -
(3x150cl) 2012Wine Advocate (94+)
Shortly to be released in magnum, Delamotte's 2012 Blanc de Blancs continues to perform very well, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp orchard fruit, buttered toast, white flowers, fresh bread and orange oil. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's racy and concentrated, with an elegant mousse and a long, mineral finish. This is well worth seeking out.$628.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Delamotte’s 2007 Blanc de Blancs Millésimé Collection, disgorged in early 2023 without dosage (analytically containing around three grams of residual sugar), is showing beautifully. A high-acid vintage that often delivered rather austere wines, it has matured very well and is now drinking at full generosity. Exploding from the glass with aromas of lemon tart, burnt sugar and roasted hazelnut, it is medium to full-bodied, laden with racy acidity and chalky extract and concludes with a defined, toasty finish. It drinks so well that there is little reason to lay down the bottles. The only regret is that Delamotte keeps so little for late release.$604.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Disgorged in early 2024 without dosage yet carrying three grams of residual sugar, the 2008 Blanc de Blancs Collection unfurls in the glass with a deep bouquet of lemon oil, Granny Smith apple and smoke, mingled with iodine, roasted cacao bean and burnt buttered toast. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied and concentrated, textural yet incisive, with impressive depth at its tightly knit core, underpinned by a bright spine of acidity and culminating in a long, chalky finish. Already highly pleasurable, it nevertheless possesses the structure to withstand the test of time. The cuvée incorporates fruit sourced from the six grand cru villages of the Côte des Blancs.$712.00 -
Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (95)
5 Star Wine. Another fine release from Delamotte. Stone-fruits to the fore, with emerging toasty aromas. Vivacious, mouth-watering and devilishly moreish. This is one of the finest Grand Marque expressions of the macro terroir of the Cote des Blancs and a relative bargain.$441.00 -
The Wine Independent (94+)
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2014 is an assemblage of six Grand Cru terroir that was disgorged October 2022 and finished with a seven gram per liter dosage. Light burnished gold with a pinpoint, vibrant bead, the 2014 flaunts alluring aromas of lemon confit, poached yellow apple, white flowers, and brioche with hints of white pepper. Medium-bodied with a textured, open-knit palate of plush orchard fruit and racy acid vibrancy, it has a long, mineral finish.$560.00 -
The Wine Independent (94+)
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2014 is an assemblage of six Grand Cru terroir that was disgorged October 2022 and finished with a seven gram per liter dosage. Light burnished gold with a pinpoint, vibrant bead, the 2014 flaunts alluring aromas of lemon confit, poached yellow apple, white flowers, and brioche with hints of white pepper. Medium-bodied with a textured, open-knit palate of plush orchard fruit and racy acid vibrancy, it has a long, mineral finish.$406.00 -
Jancis Robinson (17)
100% Chardonnay. One of Champagne’s more ancient houses, founded in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger back in 1721. A blend of six grands crus – Le Mesnil (20%), Avize (20%), Oger (20%), Cramant, Chouilly and Oiry. Dosage 5 g/l. Cool, crisp and unmistakably Chardonnay on both nose and palate. A touch of oak adds to the complexity on the palate. Savoury finish. Precise, lingering aftertaste, plenty of upside ageing potential.$521.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (93)
A bright silver/yellow color, the NV Champagne Blanc De Blancs Brut is based on the 2020 vintage and was aged for 48 months sur latte. Coming from Avize, Mesnil, and Oger, it has a very pretty and inviting, open feel with notes of green apples, pretty flowers, lemon-lime citrus, and chalky powder. Medium-bodied, it boasts a refined and elegantly rounded mousse, complemented by a clean and saline finish. Drink over the coming 10-15 years,$301.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (91)
From the heart of La Côte de Blancs, the NV Champagne Brut is based on the 2021 vintage and features a classic blend of 60% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and the remainder Meunier grown on chalky soils at different orientations and altitudes. A brilliant pale yellow hue, it’s very pretty on the nose, with inviting aromas of green apples, pears, and citrus. The 2021 vintage offers good freshness and bright acidity, along with nice tension. Open and approachable, with notes of fresh flowers and citrus blossoms as well as the mouthwatering crispness of Pinot Noir, it has a lively, fine mousse, a pithy, chalky texture, and a clean, powdery finish. It’s ready to enjoy as an aperitif now and will drink well over the next 10 years.$205.00 -
(1x600cl) 2000Wine Advocate (94)
The 2000 Brut Millesime Amour de Deutz is a rare Blanc de Blancs made from vineyards in Mesnil (60%), Avize (35%) and Villers Marmery (5%) that the estate uses exclusively for charity events and/or gifts, which is a shame since that means only a few people will ever have an opportunity to taste it. The Amour de Deutz bursts from the glass with endless layers of mineral-infused fruit, showing marvelous intensity and richness. Pears, apples and flowers linger on the finish. Disgorged 12/10/2009. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2022.$3,295.00 -
(1x600cl) 2005Vinous (92)
(100% chardonnay grown in Le Mesnil, Avize and Villers-Marmery; disgorged October 12, 2011; LA109D29111): Bright yellow-gold. A heady, complex bouquet evokes dried citrus fruits, quince, white flowers and iodine, with a hint of truffle in the background. Shows both power and finesse, offering lively Meyer lemon, orange pith and fresh fig flavors. The floral quality builds with air and carries through a very long, mineral-accented finish.$3,265.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
The citrus-colored 2008 Amour de Deutz Brut Millésime is still yeasty on the nose, but very clear and elegant on the palate. This is a super pure and mineral, well-balanced Millésime with a long, intense and persistent finish. This is full of tension and finesse. A great wine.$1,020.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2011 Brut Amour de Deutz is a gorgeous Champagne, especially for the year. Lemon confit, tangerine oil, brioche and tropical accents give the 2011 its extroverted personality. I would prefer to drink the 2011 sooner rather than later, just in case the vegetal notes typical of the year emerge, but today it is quite expressive. All the elements are nicely balanced in this rather slender vintage Champagne.$999.00 -
Wine Advocate (95)
Harvested in October, the 2013 Amour de Deutz—disgorged in September 2022 with a dosage of seven grams per liter—has evolved beautifully with additional post-disgorgement maturation. Based heavily on the Côte des Blancs fruit, it offers a profound bouquet of candied lemon, peach, pear, roasted pineapple and gooseberry layered with roasted cacao bean and smoky accents that underscore its subtly reductive signature. These olfactory impressions transition seamlessly onto the medium- to full-bodied palate, which is unusually generous in context of the vintage: fleshy, multidimensional and with a sweet fruit core enlivened with pinpoint mousse. This Blanc de Blancs culminates in a lingering, toasty finish, rendering it irresistibly approachable even at this early stage.$800.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
Alongside the superb Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs, the 2013 Amour de Deutz Rosé—disgorged in December 2022 with a dosage of seven grams per liter—stands as the crown jewel of the cellar this year. It unfurls from the glass with a hauntingly complex bouquet of rose petals, cranberry and blood orange, entwined with accents of burnt buttered toast. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied yet tensile, defined by a taut musculature, a vibrant fruit core and racy acids that carry it toward a persistent, chalk-inflected close. While its Blanc de Blancs sibling may rival it in complexity, the Rosé distinguishes itself as the most ethereal of all the house’s vintage-dated releases this year. It is composed of 42% Chardonnay and 58% Pinot Noir, incorporating 6% red wine obtained through cold maceration of Pinot Noir, with only the free-run juice retained.$871.00 -
(1x75cl) 1989$353.00 -
(1x75cl) 2008Wine Advocate (94)
Deutz's delicate 2008 Blanc de Blancs Brut has a brillant citrus yellow color with lime green reflections and opens with a corresponding clear and noble bouquet displaying white fruits, lemon juice and dashes of limes, nuts, flowers, herbs, brioche and crushed limestones. On the palate this is a light and highly elegant, finesse-full and delightfully fresh Champagne with a firm and persistent (mineral) length without getting big, dramatic or loud. This is a very distinguished, serious style of top class Champagne – a true classic you should not miss (at least at this price!). Le mousseux est très délicieux.$140.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2017 Brut Blanc de Blancs is bright and focused, with lovely persistence and energy throughout. Lemon peel, white flowers, mint and white pepper all grace this taut, mid-weight Blanc de Blancs from Deutz. Drink it over the next handful of years.$481.00 -
(1x150cl) 1990Vinous (91)
Oily, soil-inflected aromas of flowers, caraway seed and tropical fruit. Big, rich, nutty and fresh, with a lovely suave texture; a harmonious, medium-bodied wine with a firm acid structure lifting the flavors. Complicating yeast autolysis notes add to its complexity. Vibrant, quite dry and long on the finish. A terrific showing today, and approachable now.$641.00 -
(3x150cl) 1990Vinous (91)
Oily, soil-inflected aromas of flowers, caraway seed and tropical fruit. Big, rich, nutty and fresh, with a lovely suave texture; a harmonious, medium-bodied wine with a firm acid structure lifting the flavors. Complicating yeast autolysis notes add to its complexity. Vibrant, quite dry and long on the finish. A terrific showing today, and approachable now.$1,375.00
