6-bottle mixed case for only £240 with free delivery
With four of these Champagnes on tasting this Thursday
In Reims and in Epernay, in Ambonnay and in the Aube, the terroir is impeccable for the production of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The Champenois have perfected the art of the vinification of sparkling wine. The process of méthode champenoise (known outside the region as méthode traditionnelle) involves two fermentations, with the second in the bottle the Champagne will ultimately be drunk from. It is an expensive process. Alongside vinification, the cost of land, farming, and minimum ageing requirements result in Champagne bearing an often-frustrating price tag. But even here, there is value to be found.
Beyond the big names of the Grande Marque merchant houses (many of whom produce reliable, commercially successful cuvees), there is a plethora of small and grower houses who produce exciting, individual Champagnes. These often showcase a specific terroir. We have put together a mixed case to showcase some of the best in our range.
The case contains one bottle each of:
NV Lucien Collard Champagne Extra Brut: a tiny producer with only two hectares of vines, one in Bouzy, and the other in the Aube. The Extra Brut is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, superbly balanced by three years ageing on the lees. A well-executed, unfussy Champagne which offers superb value.
NV Roland Champion Eclat de Craie Chouilly GC Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut: growers in Champagne since the 18th Century, the Champion family only recently began bottling under their own label. The Eclat de Craie is 100% Chardonnay from the Chouilly Grand Cru; 4 years on the lees adds a rich brioche character unusual in grower Champagne.
NV Paul Dethune Ambonnay GC Brut: Pinot Noir is the focus at the Dethune estate. This is a 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay multi-vintage blend, with 50% reserve wines. It’s a very defined, perfumed wine, with gorgeous fruit and a persistent finish.
NV Henri Giraud Esprit Nature Champagne Brut: this is an exceptionally exciting producer. Claude Giraud is obsessive when it comes to his oak regime. He exclusively uses oak from the Argonne Forest for his barrels, which he has toasted in-house, to ensure they are exactly the way he likes them. His motto is ‘Exceptional Champagne demands exceptional commitment’. Esprit Nature is a perfect introduction to his range; creamy, soft and fine.
NV Jacquesson Cuvee No 745 Champagne Extra Brut: one of the most renowned of the smaller producers in Champagne, with a history dating back to 1789. Jacquesson use their non-vintage cuvee to express the character of a single vintage. The 745 is based on 2017 and is savoury and expressive with a very saline character.
NV Paul Bara Grand Rose Bouzy GC Brut: the Bara estate owns 33 parcels of vines in Bouzy, all of which have Grand Cru status. Their focus is on Pinot Noir, from which they produce full-bodied, gastronomic wines. Their Rose massively overperforms at this price point. It is intense, complex and impressively long. /DS
Offered subject to remaining unsold
