Champagne is a sparkling wine made from grapes coming from the Champagne region in north-central France. Producers must follow rules requiring the secondary fermentation of the wine in bottle to create the bubbly carbonation. Champagne is a blending of base wines which, ideally, create a whole greater than the sum of its parts. These “base” wines come from an assortment of wines—the Chardonnay white grape and Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier for red—from various villages and vineyards.
Two areas in the Champagne region are thought to be best for their superior grapes: the Montagne de Reims, which is perfectly located for producing the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier red grapes, and the Côte des Blancs, whose soils of limestone and chalk are excellent for Chardonnay. The Vallee de la Marne, which lies in a thin band along most of the region and is home to both red and white grapes, is the biggest area other than the Aube district, which lies further to the south.
Each decade, there are only four out of five harvests in the tough climate northeast of Paris that generate the needed ingredients to produce complete and balanced Champagne, vintage-designated, wines. They are, by definition, wines made entirely during the year indicated on the label. Because of this, most Champagnes also blend juice from two and more vintages.
This act of blending vintages is the means Champagnes producers employ to maintain their “house style” and provide their customers with a dependable, and consistent, product. With non-vintage wine accounting for about four out of five bottles of all Champagne produced, it makes sense that the status of most major houses depends on the quality and uniformity of their non-vintage offerings. Lucky for the Champagne-enthusiast, non-vintage bottles are often just as good as their vintage counterparts—and considerably less expensive.
jamessuckling.com, 98 points: This is a step up from the linear and fresh 2006. It shows subtle depth and power with a dense block of vivid fruit that's highlighted with lemon zest, green apples and hints of white peaches. Just the right amount of...
Decanter, 96 points: It is quite something to be invited to the launch of Champagne Veuve Clicquot 2008 at Clos des Lambrays, one of the finest grands crus of Burgundy's Côte de Nuits and acquired by LVMH in April 2014. It was rumoured to...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: A lovely rose in an almost vinous style, with mouthwatering acidity and a fine, lacy mousse carrying appealing flavors of ripe raspberry, white cherry fruit, star anise, mandarin orange peel and honeysuckle. Lightly...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: This is a DP that shows the ripeness of the 2009 vintage yet remains full of energy. Gorgeous aromas of cream, apple, mango, honeysuckle, and chalk follow through to a full body and super fine, tight texture. Dense and...
Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: Cellar Selection. Just beginning to mature, this balanced, ripe wine is complex, with bright acidity, toast and pear and green-plum fruits. It is rich, with a tight mouse that shows intensity as well as a stylish...
jamessuckling.com, 97 points: A very rich and full-bodied Cristal that harks back to 2006 or 1989 in style. It's round and rich, which underlies the ripeness of the vintage. Lots of dried-apple and pineapple character with bread dough and flan...
Antonio Galloni's Vinous, 97 points: 97+ The 2006 Comtes de Champagne is striking, especially in the way it brings together elements of ripeness and freshness in a hypothetical blend of the 2002 and 2004. Smooth and creamy on the palate, the 2006 is all...
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Some light toffee and lemon blossom aromas make for an attractive nose, with plenty of lemon citrus, white peach and grilled hazelnuts, too. The palate has a clean, dry and finely detailed texture. Lemon peel and fresh...
Wine Enthusiast, 92 points: Based in the Chardonnay region of the Côte des Blancs, it's no surprise that this producer has a dominance of that grape in its blend. The wine has great minerality as well as tight acidity and delicious citrus flavors...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: Fermented in oak barrels and aged under natural corks for almost 13 years, Bollinger's 2004 R. D. Extra Brut blends 66% Pinot Noir with 34% Chardonnay from 16 crus, 88% of which are classified as Grand Cru. The wine opens...
Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: This is the latest release of this legendary wine. A blend, although with a majority of Pinot Noir (Churchill's preference), the wine is rich, just beginning to show wonderful signs of maturity. It still has intense fruit...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 93 points: The NV Cuvée Rosé Brut is 100% Pinot Noir based on 2008 (90%). The color is an intense orange-colored pink and the nose offers beautifully subtle, but also deep, intense flavors of ripe and macerated Pinot Noir and lemon...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: A well-cut, minerally version, with a firm backbone of acidity and a lacy mousse, layered with flavors of baked currant, toast and lemon curd. Offers a racy, spiced finish. Disgorged January 2016. Drink now through...
Wine Enthusiast, 93 points: Cellar Selection. Produced exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs, this is a beautiful, dry wine. It has a chalky texture and ample acidity that frames the tight fruit. The pure line of citrus and...
jamessuckling.com, 91 points: A rich and classically complex style with boldly-stated, toasty, reserve wine drive. Grilled nuts, potpourri and dried red berries on the nose. The palate has lemon citrus punch amid a powerful pinot-esque frame. Drink...
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