Their mission, putting brand perceptions and prices aside, is to blind taste 1000 samples of current champagnes in the market: including non-vintages, vintages and prestige cuvées. The only champagnes excluded were late-disgorged wines, such as the Dom Pérignon Oènotheques, as their availability is so minimal and pricing so high.
This daunting (yet surely enjoyable task) was carried out by FINE Champagne magazine’s editorial board, headed by Essi Avellan MW, who commented: “Any champagne making it into the Top 100 in the rigorous blind tasting by our editorial board and guest specialists can warmly be recommended. FINE Champagne magazine’s aim with this annual ranking is to taste the vast offering on the international markets in order to select the champagnes that are showing best this very moment.”
That said, the list this year is a powerful gathering of some of the best in the industry. Topping the pile is Moët’s prestige cuvée MCIII NV, a unique cuvée revealed in 2015 that is unlike any other in both production and style. Also featured in the Top 5 are two brand-new releases: Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 and Dom Pérignon 2009, very impressive results given their young ages. Further, worth drawing attention to is the double-showing from Piper-Heidsieck in the Top 10. Whilst Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 is an unsurprising contender, Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel NV – a longer-lees ageing version of the house non-vintage – has performed exceptionally well finishing joint sixth.
The full 100 Best Champagnes for 2017 list is available to view here.
Rank | Champagne |
1 | Moët & Chandon MCIII NV |
2 | Dom Ruinart Rosé 2004 |
3 | Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 |
4 | Louis Roederer Cristal 2009 |
4 | Dom Pérignon 2009 |
6 | Deutz Cuvée William Deutz 2006 |
6 | Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006 |
6 | Armand de Brignac Blanc de Blancs NV |
6 | Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel NV |
10 | Canard-Duchêne Charles VII Blanc de Blancs NV |