Champagne

HISTORY & APPELLATION

Champagne is the most commercially successful region in the world. The reputation of Champagne wines is well established in New York, Tokyo and Sydney. This reputation is due to the dynamism of the Champagne houses, which have created strong brands with the same taste every year. This homogeneity has been made possible by blending vintages to smooth out the effects of years that are sometimes too typical, as well as by very broad supplies.

These standardized-tasting Champagnes have put Champagne on the map, but they're no guarantee of quality - far from it! But that's the price we have to pay to sell 200 million bottles a year.

Three grape varieties are present in Champagne:

- pinot noir (vinified in white to make champagnes, in red to elaborate Coteaux champenois and rosé champagnes) yields champagnes that are generally quite vinous and full-bodied.

- Chardonnay, produces fresher, fruitier and livelier champagnes. It's the king of the Côte des Blancs. Champagnes made from 100% chardonnay receive the Blanc de Blancs label.

- Pinot meunier, meanwhile, brings suppleness and lovely fruit to champagne.

Several areas of Champagne are famous. First, the Côte des Blancs, around Avize and Mesnil-sur-Oger in particular. The champagnes produced here are renowned for their finesse and elegance. The Montagne de Reims is known for its full-bodied, vinous champagnes, with a strong presence of Pinot Noir. The Marne valley is also known for great pinot noir-based cuvées, while the Aisne region makes extensive use of pinot meunier.

As in Burgundy, Champagne wines are highly heterogeneous. It's important to select your producer carefully to avoid any unpleasant surprises. Franck Pascal, Larmandier-Bernier, Françoise Bedel, Bruno Michel and Champagne Pouillon all represent reliable values.

Flee from low-priced supermarket champagnes made from second-press wines, which are often acidic and of very low quality. If all else fails, opt for a good Crémant d'Alsace.

PARTNER WINES

Here are just a few of the domains we work with

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