Benoît Tarlant has sensitively honed every stage of viticulture and production to foster balance in his Zero Brut, aiming for an accuracy, purity and directness that he likens to playing darts. Flavour, not austerity, is a priority here, with ripe fruit, three reserve vintages and long bottle ageing creating balance and presence. The high acid […]
An impeccably crafted wine from noble fruit sources, offering sensational value for money. A delightful bouquet is filled with lifted lemon blossom, red berries of all kinds and stone fruit depth. The palate is honed and focused, structured around the taut lemon and grapefruit of chardonnay and understated generosity of white peach, pear and red […]
There is a dazzling elegance and an understated delicacy to this gorgeous rosé that its blatant strawberry-mousse coloured livery completely belies. Don’t be put off by this or its teeny price, because this is a beautifully crafted rosé of purity and subtlety. Jean-Paul Gandon seeks red wine of pretty aromatics and soft tannins and uses […]
The 2008 base was responsible for one of the greatest expressions of Cuvée Intense last year, and with an extra year on lees and no dosage to speak of, the energy and vibrant acidity of 2008 sings as high-pitched as ever. This is a taut and electric take on the season, with high-tension acidity baring […]
A new label, released in late 2012, this is Bénard-Pitois Brut Réserve kept two years longer on lees and without added dosage, showcasing the ability of this style to both age confidently and stand tall without added sugar. It retains impressive poise of lemon and purity of white peach, lively acidity and excellent mineral freshness, […]
There aren’t many champagne producers that offer the chance to trade up from the entry NV for such a tiny outlay. With a larger representation of chardonnay and an extra year in the cellar, this is a big step up: a champagne of pristine freshness, fruit purity and soft minerality. Crunchy pear and apple fruit […]
From mature vines in four Côte des Blancs grand crus, this is a seamlessly crafted blanc de blancs of enticing purity and approachability, singing with pristine lemon blossom, white peach and lemon zest. The palate is creamy and textural, embedded deep in grand cru chalk soils, with grapefruit rind crunch and elegant notes of anise […]
A merry celebration of the freshness of the premier cru village of Cuis, this is the quintessential apéritif and one of the most pristine champagnes for its price. Impeccable phenolic maturity without high sugar levels in 2010, made for one of Cuis’ great vintages. It sings with crystalline purity of lemon blossom, lemon juice and […]
Pascal Agrapart’s precision and attention to detail is proclaimed from his very first cuvée, a blend of seven champagne villages. This is an accurate and incisive citrus-charged style of textural presence and great persistence. Delightful grapefruit spice and lemon zest are accented with hints of clove, a soft, creamy bead, and excellent chalk mineral character. […]
Hervé Savès calls Bouzy ‘the Chambertin of Champagne’, and to temper its strength and dominance he adds a touch of chardonnay to this blend. I loved the 2006 base last year, and I love the 2008 even more; a sensational season that charges this intense, pinot-focused blend with scintillating energy and electric acidity. A gorgeous […]