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.
Decanter, 94 points: The nose opens with the fresh ripeness of yellow apple and highlights of Granny Smith. It has beautifully subtle autolysis on the palate, deepening into notes of creamy apple crumble, Golden Delicious and Mirabelle plum...
Decanter, 97 points: This long awaited new prestige cuvée, Hemera - named after the ancient Greek goddess of daytime - is a perfectionist creation of Henriot’s villages, all grands crus. It's a brilliant medley of top Chardonnay from cooler...
jamessuckling.com, 91 points: This super, non-vintage cuvée has plenty of lemons and guava on the nose with some flinty reduction. The palate has a richer, sweeter feel and delivers peach and melon flavors, in an accessible mode. Drink now.
Decanter, 95 points: A hint of chalk appears even before subtle notes of autolysis become apparent. The slender palate comes with disarming freshness and poise, revealing edges of fresh lemon, subtle patisserie, more chalk and richer hints of...
jamessuckling.com, 92 points: A creamy and fresh NV with lightly cooked apple, some brioche, lemon rind and a fresh finish. Drink now.
jamessuckling.com, 93 points: This has a core of fresh, extremely fleshy and attractive peaches and lemons from a ripe year. The delicacy and purity of this Champagne is stunning, as is its gently powerful nature. Such great purity here. In great...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: This vibrant rosé is tightly knit and racy, with a floral overtone and flavors of peach skin, white cherry, whole-grain toast and chalky mineral showing finely honed precision as they ride the creamy, detailed mousse...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: This is really complex, old Champagne with puff-pastry, dried-apple, spice and salted-nut aromas and flavors. Full body. Ultra fine bubbles with an extremely fine and creamy mouth feel. Extreme edge to it. This spent 21...
Wine Spectator, 93 points: A core of mineral-accented smoke, spice and honey notes is wrapped with flavors of glazed apricot, lemon preserves and candied ginger in this vibrant and well-balanced version. Creamy, with a lasting finish. Drink now...
View From The Cellar, 96 points: The 2007 Gosset Cuvée Celebris Rosé is equally magical. The cépages is fifty-nine percent chardonnay and forty-one percent pinot noir, with seven percent of the pinot being red still wine to give this wine its delicate...
Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: Billecart-Salmon's style is dry, so an Extra Brut will be almost bone-dry. This wine is crisp and tight, bringing out grapefruit and citrus flavors and a steely, mineral character. It is still young, with freshness...
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: Bollinger's 2009 Millésime Edition Limitée 007 has a very clear, fine and fruity bouquet that reflects a perfect blend of Grands Crus dressed with Pinot Noir (68%) and Chardonnay (32%). Fermented in small used barrels and...
Wine Spectator, 92 points: A mouthwatering Champagne that's finely balanced and carries rich notes of Honeycrisp apple, toast, lemon curd and glazed apricot on the lively mousse, while a streak of chalky mineral lingers on the finish. Drink...
jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Extremely fleshy, fresh and exuberant with unashamedly expressive red cherries, raspberries and strawberries, with cinnamon and other baking spices, too. Sleek, vinous and tangy. A clever wine for the playful fruit...
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