Though total Champagne exports dipped barely in 2023, over 26 million bottles have been shipped to the US, which stays the highest export marketplace for French wine and spirits. Growers and cooperatives account for 14% of the Champagne area’s whole export income, and the rise of grower Champagnes is reshaping the market.
Celebrated for his or her authenticity, sustainable practices and connection to custom, these artisanal wines are championed by sommeliers and embraced by wine lovers.
For these in search of new style experiences and a departure from typical selections, small producers and lesser-known manufacturers supply authenticity – winemakers who undertake sustainable, environmentally-friendly practices and proudly promote certifications comparable to Haute Valeur Environnmentale (HVE) and Viticulture Sturdy en Champagne (VDC). Many of those producers load up their again label with particulars on these practices.
Scroll down for tasting notes and scores for boutique Champagnes,
together with new additions tasted in Could 2025
Customers attempting to find grower Champagne ought to search for bottles labelled ‘RM’ (Récoltant Manipulant), which signifies they’re made by the grower. Ask your native wine store to suggest producers with restricted manufacturing and a concentrate on terroir. On-line, seek for specialised retailers or importers that spotlight grower Champagnes and supply detailed tasting notes. Being curious and asking questions on winery practices and winemaking can even lead you to hidden gems.
The next three producers are grower Champagne homes with an increasing presence within the US market. Scroll down for critiques of those thrilling Champagnes now making waves in North America.
Proprietor and winemaker Philippe Glavier. Credit score: Champagne Philippe Glavier
Champagne Philippe Glavier
Homeowners: Philippe & Véronique Glavier
Based: 1995
Location of vineyard: 82 Rue Nestor Gaunel, Cramant
Winery data: completely Champagne Grand Cru Chardonnay, sourced from 4.7ha (52 totally different plots). HVE Stage 3 licensed since 2017
Present Champagnes produced:
- La Grâce d’Alphaël Further Brut et Brut Nature
- La Grâce d’Hakamiah Further Brut
- Genesis Further Brut
- Idylle Celeste Rosé Further Brut
- Cramant Emotion 2015
- Mesnil Emotion 2015
- Folie de Cramant 2015
- Folie du Mesnil 2015
- Ratafia 2018
With Chardonnay plots spanning 4 villages – Cramant, Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger – every is outlined by distinct soils, as Véronique Glavier explains: ‘We predict when it comes to terroir, not grapes.’ She and her husband Philippe craft further brut and brut nature wines, specializing in precision, rigidity and magnificence.
Harvest dates are rigorously tailor-made to every terroir, and small vats are used to protect their distinctive expressions. Mixing is guided by press cuts: ‘Cuvée A’ comes from the primary and second press, ‘Cuvée B’ from the third and fourth and the ‘Taille’ from the fifth and sixth. Ageing on advantageous lees for a number of months provides complexity.
‘It’s like high fashion versus prêt-à-porter,’ says Glavier, ‘With out massive monetary sources, making high fashion isn’t straightforward, however our ardour drives us to be ingenious.’
4 Philippe Glavier Champagnes to attempt
Philippe Glavier, La Grace d’Alphael Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV
97pts
Glavier works solely with Chardonnay, and this mix of Grand cru plots from Cramant, Avize, Le Mesnil and Oger is known as after the angel of information. The latest disgorgement of this wine affords distinctive worth at its worth level. The nostril is charming, with wealthy, toasty brioche, orchard fruit and white flowers. A good looking, chalky minerality frames flavours of baked apple and nougat. Beneficiant but balanced, with 4.5g/L dosage countered by vivid acid rigidity, the wine contains 34% reserve wine and spends 26 months ageing on the lees.
Alc 12.5%
Philippe Glavier, Genesis Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV
95pts
Genesis consists of 47% reserve wines and aged for 50 months on the lees. It opens with a beautiful bouquet of camomile, toasted almonds, citrus rind, wet-stone minerality and a refined trace of black truffle. The palate affords a properly assertive mousse with laser-focused acidity. Mid-palate, the wine reveals great richness and roundness, all completely balanced by its cleaning acidity.
Alc 12.5%
Philippe Glavier, La Grace d’Hakamiah Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV
95pts
This cuvée, named after the guardian angel overlooking the vineyard, is crafted with 40% reserve wines. Sourced from Cramant, Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, it leads with a vivid, citrusy and creamy mousse that’s assertive but refined. Notes of confected butterscotch and toffee are complemented by poached pear and baked apple. The end is spherical and wealthy, with a touch of sweetness superbly balanced by recent acidity.
Alc 12.5%
Philippe Glavier, Idylle Céleste Rosé Grand Cru NV
93pts
A mix of 34% reserve wines and 6% vin rouge crafted by their son from a Grand cru winery in Aÿ, this rosé is aged for 18 months on the lees. The nostril is pleasantly inviting, with notes of white peach, chalky minerality, cherry blossom and stone fruits. The mousse builds gracefully, framed by vivid, crunchy grapefruit acidity that enhances the wine’s magnificence and clear end.
Alc 12.5%
Proprietor and winemaker Florian Gondé. Credit score: Champagne Gondé Rousseaux
Champagne Gondé Rousseaux
Proprietor: Florian Gondé
Based: 1976
Location of vineyard: 47 A Rue des Ailettes, Taissy
Winery data: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from AOC Champagne and AOC Coteaux Champenois
Present Champagnes produced:
- Chapter 1: The Champagne produced within the largest quantity
- Chapter 2: Classic-dated Meunier and Pinot Noir
- Chapter 3: Classic-dated Coteaux Champenois white
- Chapter 4: Champagne Further Brut Rosé
- Chapter 5: Classic-dated Chardonnay aged in American oak barrels
Champagne Gondé Rousseaux was based by Édith Rousseaux and Didier Gondé. Since 2013, their son, Florian Gondé, has managed the property and moved farming towards biodynamics (with out certification). This producer constantly crafts Champagnes of energy, authenticity and fragrant depth, with a signature saline end. The key, explains Florian, lies in his meticulous small-scale practices. Harvesting is completed utilizing 20kg crates to make sure entire berries attain the press, the place batches are restricted to 2,000 kg for optimum management. ‘Ageing in American oak barrels is one among our secret weapons,’ Florian reveals.
This small dimension permits for micro-vinification and progressive methods, comparable to utilizing pure chilly for stabilisation: by taking barrels outside throughout early morning chilly spells, he utilises ambient temperatures to crystallise tartaric acid, naturally lowering acidity and enhancing readability by precipitating undesirable proteins.
‘Our greatest problem is gaining recognition to make sure the profitability of our manufacturing,’ Florian admits, ‘Our prices are a lot larger than estates producing 10 or 100 occasions our quantity. However our dimension additionally permits us to deepen our practices, like strengthening biodiversity, which is crucial to what we do.’
5 Gondé Rousseaux Champagnes to attempt
Gondé Rousseaux, Chapter 2 Episode 2 Blanc de Noirs Milesime Brut Premier Cru 2018
95pts
That is impressively expressive, distinctive Champagne from the 2018 classic – one for sommeliers who recognize the interaction of upper dosage balanced by crisp acidity. Regardless of its 6g/L dosage, the strain and brightness make it really feel nearer to 2g/L. On the palate, there’s an exquisite, warming richness with spicy character, baked orchard fruit, floral notes and apple pores and skin nuances. Granny Smith apple and vivid allspice add vibrancy, whereas the end stays remarkably recent, vivid and dry. This Champagne delivers opulence however stays superbly balanced by a racing vein of crisp acidity, making a dynamic and exhilarating ingesting expertise.
Alc 12%
Gondé Rousseaux, Chapter 5 Blanc de Blancs Brut Premier Cru 2017
95pts
An excellent-complex, expressive and structured Champagne, this Blanc de Blancs carries a 6g/L dosage, but its steadiness is so exact that the sweetness stays practically imperceptible. The richer, nearly baked orchard fruit character is complemented by refined nougat notes, pressed spring flowers and a touch of mocha. Medium-bodied, it encompasses a constructing creamy mousse that rapidly resolves into chalky, vivid minerality, superbly counterbalanced by warming, fleshy orchard fruit and spice notes. A splendidly layered and refined expression of Blanc de Blancs, showcasing depth, vitality and magnificence.
Alc 12%
Gondé Rousseaux, Coteaux Champenois Blanc Le Haut Des Roncières 2020
95pts
This nonetheless wine from Domaine Gondé-Rousseaux, produced beneath the Coteaux Champenois designation, comes from the Le Haut des Roncières lieu-dit. Fermented in American oak with native yeasts, it undergoes partial malolactic fermentation and is aged in barrels for 18 months. Tightly wound and crammed with rigidity, it bursts with reductive qualities that soften with air, revealing crisp citrus, pine, straw and camomile, with a fragile contact of honey. Completely bracing on the palate, it delivers citrus oil, pressed wildflowers and a flinty-chalky minerality that lingers on the lengthy end.
Alc 12%
Gondé Rousseaux, Chapter 4 Rosé, Cuvée TS 14, Further Brut Premier Cru NV
94pts
This Champagne delivers toasty richness intertwined with herbes de provence and a spicy, full-bodied profile. It’s wealthy and luscious, with great fruit sweetness balanced by ripe apricot and white peach, but it finishes bone-dry, pushed by its exact 2g/L dosage. Tart pink berry fruit provides vibrancy, whereas the super-spicy, lengthy end enhances its depth and complexity. A dynamic and expressive wine that masterfully balances richness and rigidity with outstanding precision.
Alc 12%
Gondé Rousseaux, Chapter 1 Creation TS 17, Further Brut Premier Cru NV
93pts
A mix of 30% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 35% Meunier, with 5% reserve wine, this Further Brut Champagne (2g/L dosage) affords beautiful, pure aromatics of briary orchard fruit, nougat, vanilla, tangerine peel and a refined toasted character with a contact of mocha. The palate is wealthy and textural, with a creamy mousse filling the mid-palate, whereas baked apple and pear spherical out the profile. The end is riveting, pushed by acid-mineral rigidity balanced by a palate-coating viscosity that provides depth and intrigue. A superbly structured and expressive Champagne with each precision and complexity.
Alc 12%
Hand-riddling at Champagne Gounel Lasalle. Credit score: Champagne Gounel Lasalle
Gounel Lassalle
Proprietor: Arnaud Gounel
Based: 2002 in its present kind; though it’s a household venture spanning a number of generations
Location of manufacturing services: 6 Rue Nicolas Jobert, Chigny-les-Roses
Winery data: 5ha unfold over 29 parcels: Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay from Grande Montagne de Reims (Premier Cru), Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne. HVE and VDC licensed.
Present Champagnes produced:
- Cuvées parcellaires (eg: three Blancs de Noirs of solely Meunier)
- Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blends
- Non-dosed Champagnes vinified in oak barrels
Manufacturing at Gounel Lassalle is really small: as much as 3,000 bottles per cuvée. It’s each a bonus and a problem, as a result of competitors with greater Champagne homes means a combat for visibility and market share. However 4th-generation winemaker Arnaud Gounel is optimistic: ‘At this time’s new customers are more and more drawn to experimentation past the large manufacturers, and there’s a rising want to find distinctive, artisanal merchandise that replicate particular terroirs and distinct manufacturing strategies.’
Gounel Lassalle has undertaken geo-sensory soil mapping to higher perceive the connection between terroir and wine character. This guides its viticultural practices, comparable to grassing and tillage, that are used to encourage deep rooting. ‘Parcel-by-parcel vinification in oak barrels and the usage of pure corks for ageing improve the complexity and depth of our Champagnes,’ explains Gounel.
Six Gounel Lassalle Champagnes to attempt
Gounel Lassalle, Les Agneaux Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Premier Cru NV
96pts
This Champagne showcases richness on the nostril, with aromas of bruised yellow apple, moist river stone, Indian spices and refined brown sugar and cinnamon. On the palate, these parts flip pure and centered, with a tart vibrancy from just-picked orchard fruits. The wine is layered with a superb tannin spine and mineral rigidity, carrying by to an extended, refreshing and centered end. A superbly structured and expressive Meunier, providing each depth and precision.
Alc 12.5%
Gounel Lassalle, Les Nouses Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature Premier Cru NV
95pts
This 100% Meunier Champagne (the property’s major selection) comes from outdated vines planted in 1968. Aged in a mixture of massive and small barrels for 8–10 months, with stirring 3 times, it was bottled with zero dosage. Beautiful pink apple pores and skin aromatics mingle with nougat and coriander cream, whereas the mousse is electrical, hovering with fabulous depth and verve. The saline-acid end is epic, mirroring the nostril’s lifted qualities. A palate-coating richness is completely balanced by laser-focused rigidity, making this an exhilarating and deeply expressive Meunier Champagne.
Alc 12.5%
Gounel Lassalle, Le Haut Belai Brut Nature Premier Cru NV
94pts
This Champagne delivers spectacular rigidity and grippy acidity, showcasing a beautiful, pure vinous character intertwined with aromatic stone fruit and wildflower aromatics, candied minerality and a contact of straw grass. The bracing mid-palate, sharpened by zero dosage, fuels a prolonged end marked by moist river stones and camomile. Clear, centered and pushed by energy and vitality, it is a Champagne finest loved alongside a meal, the place its construction and depth can really shine.
Alc 12.5%
Gounel Lassalle, Les Ruelles Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Premier Cru NV
94pts
Aged in oak barrels for 8–10 months, this wine showcases a charming rose-water character, complemented by kaffir lime and grapefruit zest. The palate is suave and textured, with balanced rigidity and centered acidity that drive its outstanding expression. Splendidly intricate, it reveals layers of nuance that improve its depth and size. Positively bone-dry, this wine is each expressive and distinctive, with refined variations from bottle to bottle that add to its allure and individuality.
Alc 12.5%
Gounel Lassalle, Esprit Voyager Brut Nature Premier Cru NV
93pts
A superbly linear and centered Champagne with lifted, oyster shell minerality, a kiss of Meyer lemon, white peach, apricot and beeswax, complemented by vivid, nutty aromatics. The mousse is super-fine, and regardless of the absence of dosage, there may be spectacular weight within the stone fruit character. Composed of 75% Meunier, 6% Pinot Noir and 19% Chardonnay from Premier cru websites, this cuvée delivers a tension-driven end marked by wet-stone minerality and a fragile array of dried spring flowers. Simply beautiful – elegant, exact and deeply expressive.
Alc 12.5%
Gounel Lassalle, Terre d’Ancêtres Brut Nature Premier Cru NV
93pts
A superbly centered Champagne, Terre d’Ancêtres delivers savoury notes of camomile and straw, with nougat nuances and delicate stone fruit. On the palate, it showcases loads of magnificence and nervy acidity, balanced by good barrel weight from its oak ageing and prolonged lees contact, which construct a beautiful autolytic character. The end is splendidly chalky and exact. Aged in oak casks and barrels, this Champagne underwent malolactic fermentation, with low SO₂ (34mg/L), no racking and mild stirring 3 times. With zero dosage, it stays pure, mineral-driven and exceptionally expressive.
Alc 12.5%
Proprietor and winemaker Arnaud Gounel. Credit score: Champagne Gounel Lasalle
Extra boutique Champagnes to hunt out
Boever A&S, Grand Classic Grand Cru Brut 2014
94pts
A 50/50 mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from two plots in Louvois and Bouzy, with a dosage of 8 g/L. Shiny and citrus-driven, it’s balanced by daring autolytic character on the nostril, with ripe apple and pear fruit alongside nougat notes. The mousse is creamy and assertive, resulting in a end marked by finely tuned mineral and acid rigidity. Don’t be delay by the 8 g/L dosage – any much less and this is able to be so bracing it might strip the paint off your deck (in case you have a ship).
Alc 12%
Roland Boulard & Filles, Cuvée Laurine Brut NV
94pts
A mix of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir, aged 4 years on the lees, with a dosage of 6.75 g/L. Clear and crisp, this Champagne is crammed with aromas of flaky French pastry, quince and chalky minerality. Tremendous lush, creamy fruit billows within the wake of the wealthy, velvety mousse, giving method to a refined thread of saline minerality. Agency acidity gives steadiness, bracing the richer dosage and lending construction to the wine’s beneficiant texture.
Alc 12%
Roland Boulard & Filles, Cuvée Roland Boulard Brut NV
93pts
A mix of 60% Meunier from the Marne Valley and 40% Pinot Noir from Massif de Saint Thierry, with 60% from the 2021 harvest and 40% reserve wine. It’s aged for 20 months on the lees, with a dosage of seven.3g/L. Terrifically wealthy and palate-coating, this Champagne delivers pure orchard and stone fruit flavours alongside wet-stone minerality and delicate spring flowers. The feel is tremendous creamy, with a richly silky fruit profile, all braced by chalky mineral-acid rigidity. Regardless of its depth, the wine stays remarkably recent and light-weight on its toes.
Alc 12%
Victor Charlot, 75/25 Intuition Premier Brut NV
93pts
Deeply umami-driven, with a saline richness counterbalanced by ripe honeydew. Broad and enveloping, with an opulent, creamy mousse. Vividly vivid, with refined, smoky stone nuances, earthy complexity and electrifying acidity.
Alc 12%
Collard-Picard, Essentiel Brut Nature 2012
96pts
A mix of fifty% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger, 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Meunier from the Marne Valley. Crafted with no chaptalisation, fermented with native yeasts in massive oak casks, with no malolactic fermentation and bottled with minimal filtration. Aged on advantageous lees in massive oak instances for 15 months, adopted by 10 years of bottle ageing within the cellar earlier than launch. That is a fully gorgeous Champagne – elegant and refined, main with wet-stone minerality, delicate camomile florals, poached pear and salted Parker Home rolls. The tremendous advantageous bead creates a creamy texture, unfolding into flavours paying homage to a full caviar service: salted potato chips, truffles, crème fraîche and chives. Lengthy, layered and extremely expressive – nearly past comprehension.
Alc 12.5%
Collard-Picard, Racines Autre Cru Blanc de Noirs Further Brut NV
96pts
100% Pinot Meunier sourced from the property’s prime holdings within the Marne Valley, between Épernay and Dormans. A mix of three totally different harvests (2016–2024), fermented with native yeast in massive casks, with no malolactic fermentation and aged on advantageous lees in massive casks for 12 months earlier than spending seven years within the cellar previous to launch. Gorgeously assertive, with a super-creamy mousse carrying notes of baked apple pores and skin, pressed flowers and camomile. The flavours are nuanced and pure, with yellow apple and lemon curd bringing a refined polish. Wealthy quince fruit builds alongside Asian pear nuances, resulting in an extended, layered and deeply expressive end, marked by salted honey. Dosage: 3g/L.
Alc 12.5%
Collard-Picard, Perpétuelle 12 Années Further Brut NV
95pts
A mix of 12 totally different vintages, with a 2008 base wine, this Champagne consists of fifty% Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and 25% Pinot Meunier and 25% Pinot Noir from Villers-sous-Châtillon. Fermented with native yeasts in massive oak casks with no malolactic fermentation, it’s aged on advantageous lees in massive oak instances for a median of 12–15 months, adopted by 4 years of bottle ageing within the cellar earlier than launch. The nostril is completely engaging, with beautiful toasty oak, buttered brioche and baked orchard fruit. Medium-bodied with outstanding richness and complexity, it’s each expressive and elevated. A surprising acid-mineral interaction brightens the palate, supporting layers of ripe, unique fruit and spice. Lengthy and spectacular. Dosage: 4g/L.
Alc 12%
Copin-Cautel, Vieille Branche Brut 2014
94pts
From the village of Vandières within the jap portion of Champagne, this mix of 51% Chardonnay, 39% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier carries a dosage of 8.8 g/L. Grapes are harvested at peak ripeness, leading to bracing acid rigidity that’s deftly balanced by the dosage – with out it, the acidity could be overwhelming. Right here, it’s superbly harmonised, with expressive orchard fruit, white flowers and nougat character, layered with flinty mineral notes and a contact of honeycomb on the prolonged end.
Alc 12%
Christophe Dechannes, Custom Brut NV
95pts
Vibrant citrus, orchard fruit and sea-spray minerality construct with quantity whereas the tension-driven palate relaxes by a floral-tinged end. Even with 8g/L dosage and 22 months on the lees there’s steadiness and brilliance right here.
Alc 12%
Fluteau, Coeur de Cuvée Further Brut NV
92pts
A trailblazer of the Côte des Bars, based in 1935. Vibrant and charming, with aromas of brioche and lemon tart. A advantageous, persistent mousse carries layered minerality, crisp orchard fruit and racy acidity. Sourced from estate-grown Pinot Noir vines on the slopes of the Seine Valley.
Alc 12%
Gallimard Père et Fils, Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Grande Reserve Chardonnay Brut NV
96pts
With 7g/L dosage and 26 months on the lees, it’s wealthy but exact, ending with magnificence and raise. French pastry, coriander cream and white pepper raise from the glass, whereas the wealthy mousse melts away into chalky minerality and candied lemon peel.
Alc 12%
Gallimard Père et Fils, Blanc de Noirs Cuvée de Reserve Brut NV
94pts
A vibrant interaction of red-toned fruit, saline minerals, white plum and peach. With 9g/L dosage, its creamy mousse envelops the palate, whereas nuances of black truffle and chalky minerality add depth and the lengthy end is surprisingly dry.
Alc 12%
JM Goulard, Particular Membership Further Brut 2017
97pts
A mix of 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier, with a dosage of 5 g/L. The nostril opens with sea spray and oyster shell minerality, layered with apricot, refined woodsy notes and a touch of black truffle. The palate delivers a wealthy, creamy mousse that builds right into a mid-palate full of loamy earth, black truffle and chalky minerality. There’s ample richness, but it stays remarkably recent, pushed by underlying verve and rigidity.
Alc 12%
Marteaux Guillaume, Ésprit Terroir Brut Nature NV
96pts
Sourced from biodynamic vines averaging 59 years outdated, this finely tuned mix of fifty% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Meunier was disgorged in March 2022 after spending six years on the lees. Hanging in its precision, it unfolds with crushed river stone, caramelised quince and toasted hazelnut, underpinned by heat, spiced brioche. The mousse is luxuriously creamy but fleeting, giving method to a brisk, citrus-charged acidity and even a contact of phenolic grip. The lengthy, refined end lingers with hints of porcini mud, crystallised ginger and chalk-lined salinity. Zero dosage.
Alc 12.5%
Marteaux Guillaume, l’Indigène Further Brut NV
96pts
This 100% Pinot Meunier (base classic 2017) is fermented with native yeast and aged for six years on the lees, with 5g/L dosage. Aromatically beautiful and deeply nutty, it exudes layers of baked apple, poached pear and honeycomb, underscored by expressive saline minerality. Splendidly wealthy and textural, the palate balances dense, orchard-driven fruit with caramelised almond, all resulting in an extended, truffle-tinged end.
Alc 12.5%
Marteaux Guillaume, Rosé Infusion Brut NV
96pts
80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, aged for six years on the lees with 6g/L dosage. It leads with delicate wild strawberry, redcurrant and cranberry, layered with smoky mineral depth and roasted hazelnut. The wealthy, textured midpalate is superbly counterbalanced by vibrant, mouthwatering acidity, preserving it each vigorous and structured.
Alc 12.5%
Marteaux Guillaume, Blanc de Blancs Le Météque Further Brut NV
95pts
A biodynamic 100% Chardonnay and aged for 60 months on the lees, this Champagne is vibrant, exact and electrical. Layers of rain-kissed limestone, dried camomile and crisp yellow plum unfold alongside poached Mirabelle and zesty bergamot, all pushed by razor-sharp acidity. A fragile trace of recent tarragon lingers on the end, including a savoury raise to the wine’s mineral core. Totally charming. Dosage: 1g/L.
Alc 12.5%
Carole Haudot, Blanc de Blancs Further Brut NV
95pts
Aged for 4 years within the cellar and completed with a dosage of three.5 g/L, this Champagne is sourced from the Côteaux Vitryats and primarily based totally on the 2019 classic. It bursts from the glass with notes of white truffle, nougat and apricot, layered over clear slate aromatics. The palate reveals spectacular density and weight, delivering a richly textured but finely balanced expression.
Alc 12%
Carole Haudot, Parcellaire Blanc de Blancs Further Brut NV
96pts
This cuvée comes from a named parcel, le Reduce-Crut on the Coteaux Vitryats, which is owned by Carole Haudot’s household and farmed organically. This Champagne carries a dosage of 5.5 g/L; from nostril to palate, it’s splendidly wealthy and expressive, providing notes of white truffle, yellow apple and poached pear, together with pressed white flowers. Underscored by chalky minerality and framed by a creamy, beneficiant mousse, it finishes lengthy with a refined observe of nougat.
Alc 12%
Carole Haudot, Rosé Brut NV
94pts
Very fairly brioche notes lead the nostril, joined by strawberry and cranberry fruit and a refined, chalky, mineral character. Medium-bodied with a silky mousse, the palate reveals wealthy, pink berry fruit alongside a vivid, saline edge that carries by the prolonged end. Simply 240 bottles have been exported to the USA.
Alc 12%
Camille Jacquet, Grand Cru Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Brut, Le Mesnil Sur Oger NV
94pts
This Grand cru wine was aged for 36 months on the lees with a dosage of 7g/L and contains half reserve wines. It affords elegant notes of buttery brioche and flinty minerality, enriched by the depth of the reserve wines. Balanced freshness carries ripe yellow apple, nougat and pear by to a wealthy, satisfying and creamy end. Camille Jacquet is a current addition to Maison Jean Pernet, a Champagne home based in 1959 by Jean and Huguette Pernet, now run by their kids. The vineyard sources grapes from esteemed Chardonnay communes within the Côte des Blancs, together with Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Vertus, Chouilly and Épernay.
Alc 12%
The vineyard at Champagne Philippe Glavier. Credit score: Champagne Philippe Glavier
Paul Launois, Portrait 2015 First Press Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Further Brut 2015
96pts
Aged in impartial barrels for over 4 years on the lees, bottled in Could 2016 and disgorged in September 2020. Aromatically intense and charming, this Champagne leans right into a placing minerality evocative of black truffle, pure white chalk and ginger spice, with high-toned dried herb nuances, together with turmeric and black pepper. A stunning, creamy mousse builds with outstanding depth, resulting in a bone-dry, irresistibly interesting end. Dosage: 2g/L.
Alc 12%
Paul Launois, Illustration No. 4 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV
95pts
Vigorous and chic, this Champagne is wealthy with Meyer lemon and delicate French pastry notes, accented by hints of caramel-toffee cream. A good looking basis of loamy, chalky minerality and earth grounds the wine, whereas its super-bright, super-fresh profile finishes with bone-dry, zesty mineral-acid rigidity. Oak ageing enhances its fragrant magnificence, additional brightening the savoury saline character.
Alc 12.5%
Paul Launois, Composition No 7 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Further Brut NV
94pts
This 100% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs comes from 6.5 hectares within the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Completely gorgeous stony mineral and sea spray depth raise from the glass, nuanced by beautiful biscuity and white truffle notes, with pressed flowers and refined nutty undertones. Splendidly full and luxurious, but gentle on its toes, it balances richness with a savoury character, ripe orchard fruit and refreshing acidity, ending completely dry. Dosage: 2g/L. Sourced from licensed natural vineyards.
Alc 12.5%
Paul Launois, Monochrome No. 7 Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Further Brut NV
94pts
Aged for twenty-four months, disgorged in June 2024. From its assertive mousse emerges an amazingly vivid and complex Champagne. Pure, stony mineral character is superbly balanced by crystalline sea salt, black truffle and chalky nuances. Medium-bodied on the palate, providing a bunch of crunchy orchard fruit and crisp apple pores and skin notes, additional enhanced by delicate pressed wildflowers. Dosage: 1g/L. From licensed natural vineyards.
Alc 12.5%
Paul Launois, Contraste No. 2 Blanc de Noirs Further Brut NV
93pts
Importer Desi Echevarrie loves pairing this Champagne with steak, as its richness and weight complement the dish superbly. Brimming with crunchy pink fruit, mountain strawberry and pomegranate, it additionally reveals notes of apple cider and pressed wildflowers. A stunning tannic grip, paying homage to apple pores and skin, provides construction, whereas the end is extraordinarily dry and vivid, carrying by all of the layered aromas and flavours. A definite salted red-rock mineral character, nearly colour-inspiring, provides additional complexity – assume pink Himalayan sea salt with a cranberry edge. Dosage: 1g/L.
Alc 12.5%
Monmarthe, Les Grimpants Further Brut Blanc de Noirs 2019
95pts
Beautiful lifted cherry blossoms, spiced plum and violets construct on the palate with its expansive richness, recent and centered acid-mineral rigidity. Aged 36 months on the lees after 9 months in barrel. Dosage 4 g/L.
Alc 12.5%
Odyssée 319, Blanc de Blancs Brut Grand Cru NV
95pts
100% Chardonnay from the Grand cru of Avize. Struck stone, citrus blossom and ocean breeze cleared the path. Beneficiant, opulent and silky, with a advantageous, lingering mousse. Vibrant kiwi, kaffir lime and crystallised ginger unfold alongside delicate earthy undertones. Dried apricots interwoven with vanilla custard deliver depth and intrigue.
Alc 12%
Régis Poissinet, Blanc de Noirs Les Clos Paillot Further Brut 2017
97pts
This biodynamic 100% Pinot Meunier is an ultra-limited launch. Aged for 75 months on the lees, a mere 628 bottles have been produced. A captivating interaction of briny sea spray and spiced golden plums unfolds, layered with cherry blossom, jasmine and crushed oyster shell. The intense, energetic mousse builds right into a floral-driven richness, laced with saline minerality. A protracted, satisfying end reveals hints of chai spice and salted caramel, making for a deeply textural and thought-provoking expression of Meunier. Dosage: 1.75g/L.
Alc 12%
André Robert, Blanc de Blancs Les Jardins du Mesnil Brut Nature Grand Cru NV
97pts
A wide ranging, full-bodied Champagne, crafted completely from Chardonnay sourced from the Les Musettes and Les Hauts d’Aillerand lieux-dits. A surge of ripe golden plum and yellow apple leads the way in which, adopted by hints of earthy porcini mushroom and crushed almonds, all wrapped in a core of chalky minerality and a flicker of candied ginger on the end. Regardless of present process no malolactic fermentation and having a zero-dosage profile, this wine boasts outstanding silken depth and textural richness, possible enhanced by the 40% reserve wine from the 2013 classic. Its autolytic character lingers, elevating the steadiness of rigidity and opulence.
Alc 12%
André Robert, Blanc de Blancs Terre du Mesnil Brut Grand Cru 2017
95pts
Sourced from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, this 100% Chardonnay is aged 10 months on the lees in small oak barrels. Aromatic and layered, it opens with roasted hazelnut, camomile and dried yuzu peel, underpinned by earthy limestone minerality. The medium-bodied palate carries a fragile sweetness, an intensely leesy depth and whispers of truffle and salted almonds.
Alc 12%
André Robert, Blanc de Blancs Les Horizons Grand Cru Further Brut NV
94pts
From Claire Robert and Jean-Baptiste Denizart, this wine hums aromatic citrus peel and toasted hazelnut with crunchy yellow apple and is grounded by notes of incense, constructing to a chalky mineral and perfumed end.
Alc 12%
Alexandra Sainz, Millesime Brut Grand Cru 2013
96pts
Aged on lees for eight years within the vineyard’s darkish, chalky cellars, this 2013 classic launch is one among simply 2,667 bottles ever produced, with just a few remaining on the earth. Extremely refined, it balances richness with beautiful saline-acid rigidity. The aromas are pure and centered, main with poached pears, baked yellow apple, moist slate and chalk. A superfine, beading mousse varieties a wealthy but assertive basis, evolving into savoury notes of white truffle, charcuterie, bruised apple pores and skin, nougat and earth. Heat spices flood the mid-palate, earlier than being washed away by bracing acidity and savoury nuances that gasoline the end, recalling buttered toast, sandalwood and cherrywood. A uncommon and charming Champagne, showcasing each precision and depth.
Alc 12%
Alexandra Sainz, Heritage Brut Grand Cru NV
94pts
A Bouzy Grand cru number of the highest-quality plots, blended with reserve wine and aged for six years on lees earlier than disgorging; 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, each from Bouzy Grand cru vineyards. Engaging French pastry aromas of almond croissant and chalky minerals interweave, drawing you in. The palate is framed by crunchy apple-skin tannins and richer nuances of walnut husk, cherrywood and toffee accents. A stark minerality fuels the bone-dry end, making this Champagne beautiful, complicated and endlessly intriguing.
Alc 12%
Alexandra Sainz, Brut Nature NV
93pts
Champagne Alexandra Sainz is a small household grower in Bouzy, crafting elegant, terroir-driven Champagnes with prolonged lees ageing and a concentrate on precision, depth and mineral expression. This 100% Pinot Noir Champagne is sourced from Essoyes, crafted with zero dosage and aged on the lees for 4 years. A vividly structured Champagne, it showcases centered minerality alongside a stunning show of tart pink berry fruit, a touch of chalky earth and delicate floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle. Prolonged lees ageing provides richness and creaminess to the assertive mousse, introducing layers of quince and almond croissant. On the palate, it affords balanced rigidity and chronic size, making for a refined and expressive Champagne with each precision and depth.
Alc 12%
Anthony & Clémence Toullec, Assemblage Further Brut Premier Cru NV
94pts
50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay from the 2019 and 2020 harvests with partial malolactic fermentation. A robust, wealthy and intense wine from 5 years of lees ageing, providing ripe orchard fruit, heat spices and pressed flowers. Targeted with nice size. Dosage 3g/L.
Alc 12.5%
Maurice Vesselle, Cuvée 53 Brut NV
94pts
A mix of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, with a dosage of 5 g/L. Shiny and recent, it delivers wonderful acid rigidity that actually pops, underscoring exact, clear notes of apple and pear. A creamy mousse carries by to a mouth-watering, centered end, with refined hints of toasted nougat and flinty minerality rounding it out.
Alc 12%
Florian Gondé within the cellar. Credit score: Champagne Gondé Rousseaux
Scores have been generated as a part of a non-blind tasting performed for the needs of the advertorial.
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