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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Champagne | 4 | - | $413.00 | |||||
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The Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Vintage 2012 is an exquisite choice for connoisseurs, reflecting the timeless excellence of the esteemed Joseph Perrier Champagne House, based in Châlons-en-Champagne, France. It derives its unique profile from the house's distinctive ageing process in chalk cellars. Selectively harvested from premier cru vineyards in Montagne de Reims, the blend presents an authentic taste of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties. The Chardonnay gives it a vibrant, citrusy charm while the Pinot Noir adds a structured body and rich, fruity finish. On the palate, the Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Vintage 2012 greets with a beautifully balanced acidity, underpins a fragrant bouquet of blossoms and white fruits, proceeding towards an impressive finish of almond and toasted brioche notes. With its beautifully designed bottle, it's more than just a wine; it's an homage to France's centuries-old viniculture tradition. |
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Champagne | 10 | - | $388.00 | |||||
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Our curated choice is the magnificent Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Vintage 2013, hailing from the historic region of Champagne, France. Embodied in the glass is the rich heritage of the Joseph Perrier House, operating since 1825. The complexity and balance of this vintage rely on a delicate blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, exquisitely matured for seven long years in Joseph Perrier's chalk cellars. An initial aromatic nose of honey and brioche gives way to vibrant notes of peach and pear on the palate, finished with elegant minerality. A testament to the exceptional year of 2013, it reflects the carefully preserved methods and relentless pursuit of excellence by Joseph Perrier's cellar master, Hervé Tarin. A bottle of Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Vintage 2013 is more than just wine; it's an invitation to partake in an unparalleled legacy of winemaking tradition. Ideal for any occasion that requires a touch of opulence. |
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Champagne | 10 | - | $329.00 | |||||
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As the epitome of luxury, the Joseph Perrier Royale Cuvee Rose 1000 NV captivates with its blend of sophistication and elegance. This extraordinary cuvée hails from Chalons-en-Champagne, honing its taste under the mastery of Joseph Perrier, a revered traditionalist of Champagne making. Sumptuously made with a blend of 20% Chardonnay, 60% Pinot Noir and 20% Meunier, matured in the cellars for 3 to 4 years, it boasts a sublime complexity. Vibrant notes of ripe red berries, acute savoury undertones and a lively mineral edge are enveloped within its intricate profile. This spirited wine not only emanates delicacy and finesse but also expresses a rich, full-bodied structure. A testament to the craftsmanship of the House of Joseph Perrier, the Royale Cuvee Rose 1000 NV bestows an unforgettable gastronomic journey, beautifully encapsulating the exquisite allure of true Champagne. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96.0 | $1,310.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | 98.3 | $5,480.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (WS) | $2,685.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (98)A profound wine of great depth and complexity. Its detailed flavors range from citrus and ginger to whole grain bread and woodsy richness, with accents of honey and nuts. Retains its focus thanks to a vibrant structure, all the time carrying its weight with authority and grace. Fine, smoky finish. Drink now through 2020. 15017000 cases imported. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (WS) | $1,120.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (98)A profound wine of great depth and complexity. Its detailed flavors range from citrus and ginger to whole grain bread and woodsy richness, with accents of honey and nuts. Retains its focus thanks to a vibrant structure, all the time carrying its weight with authority and grace. Fine, smoky finish. Drink now through 2020. 15017000 cases imported. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (WS) | $4,000.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (98)A very youthful '95. Delicate. Intense aromas of ginger, citrus, candied berry and multigrain bread turn to honey, roasted almonds and graphite on the palate. It's all underscored by a precise structure and creamy texture. Its structure keeps it persistent through the long finish. A picture of precision and intensity. Drink now through 2025. 1,700 cases imported. -BS |
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Champagne | 1 | 99+ (VN) | $1,340.00 | |||||
Vinous (99+)Light gold. Remarkably perfumed nose projects an exotic bouquet of deep, leesy yellow fruit, minerals, honeycomb, smoked meat and flowers, with Asian spices building expanding in the glass. Almost painfully concentrated, offering a surreal parade of orchard and pit fruits, smoked meat, toasted brioche and marrow braced by intensely salty, stunningly incisive minerality. Imagine a Frankenstein's monster of Chablis Le Clos and Clos Ste. Hune-but one with perfect balance, of course-and you get an idea of what I found in my bottle. The energetic, stony character builds exponentially on the finish, which didn't seem to, well, finish. The best analogy I can come up with for the intensity, focus and clarity of this Champagne is liquefied barbed wire. Utterly hallucinatory and one of the most amazing wines I've ever been fortunate enough to drink. At the risk of sounding completely out of touch with reality, this is a value. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99+ (VN) | $3,480.00 | |||||
Vinous (99+)Light gold. Remarkably perfumed nose projects an exotic bouquet of deep, leesy yellow fruit, minerals, honeycomb, smoked meat and flowers, with Asian spices building expanding in the glass. Almost painfully concentrated, offering a surreal parade of orchard and pit fruits, smoked meat, toasted brioche and marrow braced by intensely salty, stunningly incisive minerality. Imagine a Frankenstein's monster of Chablis Le Clos and Clos Ste. Hune-but one with perfect balance, of course-and you get an idea of what I found in my bottle. The energetic, stony character builds exponentially on the finish, which didn't seem to, well, finish. The best analogy I can come up with for the intensity, focus and clarity of this Champagne is liquefied barbed wire. Utterly hallucinatory and one of the most amazing wines I've ever been fortunate enough to drink. At the risk of sounding completely out of touch with reality, this is a value. |
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Champagne | 4 | 98 (WS) | $507.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (98)This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (WS) | $3,610.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (98)This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WS) | $394.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (97)Rich and mouthwatering, this powerhouse Champagne is driven by vivacious acidity, with an expansive palate featuring flavors of glazed apricot, toasted brioche, candied kumquat and ginger, espresso crème, fleur de sel and cognac. The well-spiced finish is long and lingering. Disgorged summer 2013. Drink now through 2030. 949 cases made. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WS) | $2,155.00 | |||||
Wine Spectator (97)Rich and mouthwatering, this powerhouse Champagne is driven by vivacious acidity, with an expansive palate featuring flavors of glazed apricot, toasted brioche, candied kumquat and ginger, espresso crème, fleur de sel and cognac. The well-spiced finish is long and lingering. Disgorged summer 2013. Drink now through 2030. 949 cases made. |
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Champagne | 1 | 100 (JS) | $1,140.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond. |
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