Tag: champagne

  4. The History of Alexandre Bonnet

    October 20, 2023

    The History of Alexandre Bonnet and why it has become unique in the world of winemaking and an exception in Champagne.

  39. Recently Listed: Amazone de Palmer & Co

    February 2, 2022

    The latest Amazone de Palmer & Co, the co-operative’s prestige cuvée champagne, is a blend of reserve wines from the best terroirs of the Montagne de Reims and now comes housed in an eco-responsible box.

  41. Champagne Salon: The 43 Vintages from 1905-2012

    January 18, 2022

    Produced on average only three times per decade, there have been just 43 vintages of Salon released from this tiny house in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger since the very first in 1905. Here we list all of the vintages produced in the history of this famous house.

  46. New Release: Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition

    June 30, 2021

    Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition is a blend of 146 wines from 11 different years, the youngest of which is from 2013, while the oldest dates back to 2000 and a stay of around seven years in Krug’s cellars gives this edition its distinct expression and elegance.

  47. The Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Story Iteration 1 to 26

    June 21, 2021

    The Grand Siecle concept is a blend of three great vintages, each bringing certain characteristics from different base years. Only 24 iterations have been produced in 65 years in Laurent Perrier’s quest to find ‘The perfect vintage champagne’.

  48. New Release: Bollinger PN VZ16 NV

    June 21, 2021

    Today sees the next edition in this new line-up. PN VZ16 is the second interpretation in a new series that will be released every year, always with a focus on one of Bollinger’s Pinot Noir crus.

  51. New Release: Louis Roederer Cristal 2013

    April 13, 2021

    Cristal is Louis Roederer’s flagship cuvée. Cristal 2013 is a great classic in which maturity and freshness are harmoniously interwoven ensuring potential for long ageing.

  52. Ruinart: Press release

    April 7, 2021

    Champagne Ruinart Dedicates Its Historic 40ha Taissy Vineyard To A Biodiversity Pilot Project – Working With Reforest’Action

  53. Dom Perignon x Lady Gaga

    April 7, 2021

    Welcome to the shared universe of Dom Pérignon and Lady Gaga – a world born from the collision of their two effervescent energies.

  54. Ruinart – ‘The second skin’

    April 1, 2021

    Ruinart breaks with the tradition of individual gift boxes, and pushes its global, environmental approach further with the second skin case.

  55. New Release: Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2012

    March 8, 2021

    Pol Roger only release Sir Winston Churchill in the very best years, the last being 2009 and today they launch Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2012. This latest vintage marking the 19th release since 1975 the first vintage.

  56. bollinger-rd-2007-extra-brut

    Bollinger R.D. 2007 Extra Brut New Release

    March 7, 2021

    Launching this week is Bollinger R.D. 2007 extra brut; the R.D. cuvée embodies the House’s dedication to hard work and Madame Bollinger’s vision. The contrast between freshness on the palate and the spicy aromatic intensity of Bollinger R.D. 2007 brings a new experience of the cuvée to lovers of fine wine.

  58. Available Now: Dom Perignon 2010

    June 18, 2020

    A new chapter of Dom Pérignon opens with release of the 2010 vintage. To date the only large Maison to release a Prestige Cuvee from 2010 and we aren’t expecting many more maybe Dom Ruinart 2010.

  59. Ulysse Collin: The Terroir Movement

    March 28, 2020

    Ulysse Collin are right at the forefront of the terroir movement that is currently revolutionising Champagne. Olivier Collin, a student of Anselme Selosse, embodies the hip, alternative, craftsman image that is proving so popular with younger consumers. We visited in June to find out more.

  60. Jacquesson: Rethinking NV Champagne

    March 20, 2020

    Nearly two decades ago, Champagne Jacquesson redefined non-vintage champagne. Instead of creating a consistent style year upon year, they now produce the best champagne possible and value each creation for their distinctive personalities – a concept that the wider region is just now starting to wake up to.

  61. Philipponnat: A Full Range Tasting

    March 14, 2020

    We met with sixteenth generation family member and current head of house Charles Philipponnat last summer to taste the range, including the latest non-vintage creations, vintage wines and some exclusive single parcel Pinot Noirs from the famed Clos des Goisses vineyard.

  62. Bollinger: Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot

    March 1, 2020

    During a visit to the house of Bollinger in Aÿ last year, we explored champagnes from some of the region’s hottest ever vintages, dating as far back as 1947. We also held a mini-vertical of Special Cuvée base vintages, tasted a trio of R.D.s and had a look at the new Coteaux Champenois.

  63. Champagne: What to Expect in 2020

    February 19, 2020

    Our previous write-up highlighted what a spectacular year 2019 was for champagne. The good news? 2020 is set to be even bigger! In this article, we look to the future and discuss which champagnes we can expect to be released in 2020.

  64. New Release: Bollinger La Grande Année 2012

    February 18, 2020

    The highly anticipated release of Bollinger La Grande Année 2012. See photos and reviews from the launch event on 17th February 2020. Limited Quantities available due to small harvest in 2012.

  65. Champagne 2019: Year in Review

    February 15, 2020

    Our 2019 Champagne Review takes a look back at an eventful year for the world’s best sparkling wine, highlighting the best new releases from around the region.

  66. Champagne MOOC

    January 15, 2020

    Today, the Comité Champagne launched the first module of their much anticipated Champagne MOOC (Massive Open Online Course). Specially developed as a tool for Champagne lovers to extend their knowledge, anyone can access four learning modules free of charge.

  67. Krug Appoints New Chef de Cave

    December 17, 2019

    Champagne Krug have announced that Julie Cavil will take over as winemaking director in the new year. Incumbent winemaking director Eric Lebel will become deputy director of Krug and will lead projects involving all of the brands within the Moët Hennessy portfolio.

  68. Champagne Among The Highest Performing Wine Regions in 2019

    December 13, 2019

    The recent annual Liv-ex report on the state of international fine wine found that Champagne was one of the best-performing regions of 2019, experiencing 2.2% growth, in what was a difficult year for fine wine in general.

  70. The Krug Experience: Tasting Review and Photos

    November 29, 2019

    Essi Avellan MW recently hosted our latest Krug Experience tasting, in which guests sipped no less than twelve Krug champagnes (both Grande Cuvée and Vintage), including four examples from magnum. Check out the review and photos of the event here.

  71. Tasting Review: Champagne Latest Releases

    November 16, 2019

    Despite frequently tasting newly released champagnes, we rarely take the opportunity to sit down and taste just new releases. At our tasting at Frederick’s earlier this week we did exactly that, tasting a range of styles from some of the top champagne producers side by side.

  72. Vitalie Taittinger to Become President of Champagne Taittinger

    November 12, 2019

    Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who has been President of the company since 2006, will be stepping down at the end of the year. His daughter Vitalie Taittinger will take over as President, while son Clovis will be promoted to General Manager.

  74. Billecart-Salmon: Champagnes Old & New

    October 20, 2019

    An insightful visit to Billecart-Salmon earlier this summer involved an extensive tour of the cellars with newly appointed chief executive Mathieu Roland-Billecart – who proudly showed off their many shiny new winemaking toys – and a tasting of champagnes both old and new with winemaker Florent Nys.

  75. Tasting Review: How Well Does Champagne Age?

    October 5, 2019

    Earlier this week, Jancis Robinson MW presented our standout champagne tasting of the year to a packed St James’s Room at 67 Pall Mall. The theme was champagne’s ageing potential and guests sampled ten pairs (an old and current vintage) from ten major brands.

  76. Laurent-Perrier: Something New, Something New, Something… New

    October 3, 2019

    A year of change for Laurent-Perrier sees the house welcome a new champagne, Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV; a redefined prestige cuvée concept, Grand Siècle Iterations; and finally, a new chef de cave, Dominique Demarville. We caught up in June to find out more.

  77. Charles Heidsieck: Chardonnay, Chardonnay, Chardonnay

    August 29, 2019

    This summer, we stopped off at Charles Heidsieck’s majestic garden and reception facility, Pavilion des Crayères, for a quick-fire visit and tasting with managing director Stephen Leroux. We sampled the new Coteaux Champenois and Collection Crayères releases.

  78. Taittinger: The Elusive Comtes Magnum!

    August 26, 2019

    We were truly spoilt during our recent tasting at Taittinger, which included not one, but two(!), of the notoriously rare Comtes magnums. Discussion centred around the newly released 2013 vintage, the future for Comtes, and the recently renovated vinification of Comtes Rosé.

  79. The Krug Symphony, Conducted by Olivier

    August 22, 2019

    Scheduling appointments at twenty champagne houses in one week is never an easy task, but perhaps our greatest feat of organisation was pinning down Olivier Krug. We managed to catch up with the globetrotting face of the company amidst his ever-busy international schedule for a whopper of a tasting this June.

  80. Bérêche et Fils: Top Grower Turns Iconic Domaine

    August 19, 2019

    Raphaël Bérëche is quite possibly the most cheerful and energetic winemaker in Champagne. Alongside brother Vincent, his passion for terroir focused champagne is transforming the family business from a top grower into an iconic domaine. We visited in June to find out more.

  81. Eric Rodez: Artisanal Champagne

    August 15, 2019

    Having been Mayor of Ambonnay and cellar master of Champagne Rodez – considered one of the best grower champagne producers in the region – for over 30 years, Eric Rodez is one of Champagne’s most eminent figures. We met in June to find out more about the man behind the distinctive blue glasses.

  82. Louis Roederer: Something Old, Something New

    August 12, 2019

    A memorable evening at Louis Roederer earlier this year saw us taste the new vintage releases from 2013, preview Cristal 2012 and Cristal Rosé 2012, and sample the upcoming magnum launches from the Cristal Vinothèque programme. This one’s not to be missed!

  83. Palmer & Co: Bottles vs Magnums and Vintage Collection

    August 10, 2019

    Our last visit to Palmer & Co’s new winery in Reims included a comparison of the current range from bottle and magnum and a selection of older vintages from the late release Blanc de Blancs and Vintage Collections.

  84. Leclerc Briant: Champagne Range Tasting and Bioenergetic Innovations

    July 23, 2019

    We recently visited Leclerc Briant with Jancis Robinson MW. General manager Frédéric Zeimett and winemaker Hervé Jestin discussed the winemaking innovations happening at Leclerc Briant and we tasted a range of champagnes, including Hervé’s personal project.

  85. Jancis Robinson MW: Mystery wine: NV champagnes

    July 16, 2019

    A fascinating article detailing the often too difficult task of discerning information about a specific bottle of non-vintage champagne was recently published by Jancis Robinson MW on her website. She argues in favour of producers making information more available.

  86. 2019 Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Champs: Gold & Silver Medals

    July 15, 2019

    The 2019 Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships was the biggest and best competition yet, with a record-breaking number of entries. The 186 Gold and 212 Silver medal award winners were announced last week – we review the Champagne winners here.

  87. Jancis Robinson MW: NV champagnes tasted in London

    July 11, 2019

    Jancis Robinson MW has recently tasted and scored more than 60 non-vintage champagnes, having attended two great champagne events in the capital, Taste Champagne and New Wave Champagne. Here we provide a link to the full article on her website.

  90. New Limited Edition Champagne: Palmer & Co Grands Terroirs 2003

    June 24, 2019

    A newly released limited edition champagne from Palmer & Co challenges the notion that hot vintages are unsuitable for producing wines with long-term ageing potential. Grand Terroirs 2003 is named in tribute to the unique vineyards that make it so expressive and fresh.

  91. 2018 Vins Clairs: A Vintage Summary

    June 14, 2019

    Earlier this year, we tasted a range of 2018 vins clairs with winemakers at fifteen different houses in Champagne. Thanks to exceptional weather throughout the year, some have been calling it ‘the vintage of the century’ and expectations are already sky-high. But just how much potential does 2018 have?

  92. Lanson: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting and Clos Lanson Vertical 2014-2006

    June 13, 2019

    Lanson Chef de Cave Hervé Dantan is a huge fan of vintage 2018, telling us: “It was a dream, this harvest.” We visited the house in Reims earlier this year to sample the vins clairs and conduct a vertical tasting of all the Clos Lanson vintages from 2006-2014.

  93. Champagne Boizel: 2018 Vins Clairs and Champagne Range Tasting

    June 12, 2019

    Based in Épernay, Champagne Boizel have a long and illustrious history with a tradition of trendsetting. We met with Florent Boizel, who has taken over the reins from his recently retired father, to sample some 2018 vins clairs and taste the range of finished champagnes.

  94. ‘Fighting for Freshness’ with Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon

    June 11, 2019

    Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon recently presented a fascinating masterclass at 67 Pall Mall entitled ‘Fighting for Freshness’, in which he explained the challenges facing winemakers as they battle to cope with riper grapes and higher alcohol levels in a warming climate.

  95. New: Laurent-Perrier Vintage 2008

    June 7, 2019

    Laurent-Perrier have just launched their latest vintage champagne: Vintage 2008. Chef de Cave Michel Fauconnet described 2008 as one of his “favourite years for vinification” and it’s easy to see why. The enriched texture from extended lees ageing makes this the best vintage from Laurent-Perrier since Vintage 2002.

  96. Dominique Demarville to leave Veuve Clicquot for Laurent-Perrier

    June 6, 2019

    Dominique Demarville will be leaving Veuve Clicquot to join Laurent-Perrier at the end of the year. Demarville has been Chef de Cave at Clicquot since 2006 and will be replacing the retiring incumbent Michel Fauconnet as Chef de Cave at Laurent-Perrier.

  97. New: Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV

    May 23, 2019

    This week, Krug unveiled their latest creation: Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV. Based on the 2011 harvest, this will be a very short release due to the limited quantities produced. We have also recently listed magnums of Grande Cuvée Edition 164 NV, based on the spectacular 2008 vintage.

  99. Philipponnat: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    May 6, 2019

    “The biggest challenge was not making too much!” With an abundance of ripe and healthy grapes, Philipponnat had a successful harvest in 2018, a vintage which sixteenth generation family member Charles Philipponnat likens to 1995, 2009 and 2012.

  101. Bioenergetic Winemaking at Leclerc Briant

    April 26, 2019

    Leclerc Briant winemaker Hervé Jestin is paving the way in bioenergetic winemaking. Utilising techniques such as underwater ageing and vinification in gold-lined barrels, Jestin produces wines with a high level of positive energy. We visited the house in Épernay to find out more.

  102. Billecart-Salmon: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    April 22, 2019

    Billecart-Salmon were one of the first houses to pick grapes last year, kicking off their harvest on 22nd August. We tasted the vins clairs with new Chef de Cave Florent Nys, and also shared a comprehensive range of finished champagnes.

  103. Bollinger: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    April 19, 2019

    Shortly after the 2018 harvest, Bollinger Chef de Cave Gilles Descôtes declared that “2017 was the worst harvest of my life and 2018 is the best”. We visited the house in Aÿ to taste the base wines and also tasted some of the rarer grape varieties, such as Arbane, Petit Meslier and Pinot Gris.

  104. Laurent-Perrier: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    April 15, 2019

    “Everything is good, my work now is to find which ones are very good.” Laurent-Perrier had a successful harvest in 2018, a year which Chef de Cave Michel Fauconnet believes will most certainly produce a stunning vintage champagne and hopefully a strong Alexandra Rosé as well.

  105. New: Bollinger La Grande Année 2008

    April 11, 2019

    Yesterday, Bollinger launched their latest vintage champagne, La Grande Année 2008. From the vintage of the century and with a redesigned bottle that decelerates oxygen exchange, this could be their best yet. We compared it in bottle, magnum and jeroboam at The Ledbury in London.

  106. Veuve Clicquot: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    April 9, 2019

    An insightful vins clairs tasting with Dominique Demarville, Veuve Clicquot’s eminent Chef de Cave, painted a clear picture of the 2018 vintage. Fresh, ripe and mature, with plenty of ageing potential, the base wines at Clicquot were either exceptional or good… none of them were bad.

  107. Taittinger: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    April 7, 2019

    The unusual weather patterns in 2018 produced the “perfect conditions for the vineyard”, according to new Taittinger Chef de Cave Alexandre Ponnavoy. We met last month to taste the vins clairs, which displayed incredible specificity: each wine showcasing the distinctive characteristics of its individual origins.

  108. Charles Heidsieck: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    April 2, 2019

    “The wines in 2018 were good overall. Some were exceptional… some over-mature.” Charles Heidsieck Chef de Cave, Cyril Brun, was slightly more cautious than other winemakers regarding the potential of 2018. We tasted a range of vins clairs and reserve wines with the always engaging winemaker at the cellars in Reims.

  109. Louis Roederer: 2018 Vins Clairs Tasting

    March 29, 2019

    Not many are as excited as Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon about 2018s potential, a year he describes as having “the density of 2002 and the precision of 2008.” During our visit, we also tasted the latest Cristal Vinothèque’s and a mind-blowing pair of Cristal magnums.

  110. Palmer & Co Unveil New Winery

    March 9, 2019

    Champagne Palmer & Co unveiled their new winery last month. Designed to meet the highest environmental standards, the state-of-the-art winery symbolises Palmer’s respect for sustainable development, whilst reflecting their impeccably high standards.

  111. LIVE Bollinger Tasting and Q&A

    March 1, 2019

    On Wednesday 6th March 2019, we’ll be going LIVE on Instagram TV with Bollinger winemaker Karl Reuter, who’ll be guiding us through a tasting of six Bollinger champagnes and answering questions put to him by the live audience.

  112. New Release: Vazart-Coquart Blanc de Blancs Special Club 2010

    February 16, 2019

    Based in the Grand Cru village of Chouilly, Vazart-Coquart have access to some of the greatest vineyards in the whole of Champagne. Their new release, Special Club 2010, is an exquisite example of the power of Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs.

  113. Single Vineyard Champagne: Fad or Future?

    January 19, 2019

    Since the early 21st century, a quiet revolution has been occurring in Champagne, and the ever-burgeoning demand for artisanal, hand-crafted cuvées continues to flourish. What are the origins of single vineyard champagnes, why are they so popular, and are they a fad or the future?

  114. Two Men We Will Miss

    January 17, 2019

    Richard Geoffroy retired as Dom Pérignon Chef de Cave at the beginning of this year, handing the reins to his successor, Vincent Chaperon. In this article, Jancis pays tribute to Geoffroy, a bona fide champagne legend who leaves behind a considerable legacy.

  115. Champagne in 2019: What Can We Expect?

    January 16, 2019

    Our previous write-up highlighted what a spectacular year 2018 was for champagne. The good news? 2019 is set to be even bigger! In this article, we look to the future and discuss which champagnes we can expect to be released in 2019.

  116. Champagne 2018: Year in Review

    January 14, 2019

    Our 2018 Champagne Review takes a look back at an eventful year for the world’s best sparkling wine, highlighting the news stories that made headlines, including stunning new releases; a record-breaking harvest; world-class tasting events; and a first for English sparkling wine.

  117. Available Now: Dom Pérignon 2008

    January 10, 2019

    After a wait of over 6 months, one of the most anticipated champagnes of the century – Dom Pérignon 2008 – has finally arrived. Described by legendary Chef de Cave, Richard Geoffroy, as “a miracle year,” demand will certainly be high. Secure you allocation now.

  118. How Long Before Drinking Should Champagne Be Open?

    December 18, 2018

    Should champagne be opened in advance of drinking? If so, for how long? Here we debunk the myth that opening bottles in advance is just for red wine and help you maximise your champagne experience this Christmas.

  119. ‘Week of Effervescence’

    December 14, 2018

    At JancisRobinson.com, this is the ‘Week of Effervescence’. All this week, new articles have been published on all things sparkling. Here we share links to the articles not already featured in our News & Reviews section, including a Cristal vertical and an English sparkling wine tasting.

  120. Mr Dom Pérignon’s Life in Bottles

    December 13, 2018

    Read Jancis Robinson’s review of our recent Dom Pérignon Retrospective tasting – including scores, tasting notes and a league table of all 23 champagnes tasted, spanning 1990-2009. Full article on JancisRobinson.com.

  121. Tasting Review: 2008 vs 2009

    December 12, 2018

    With vintage 2008 currently dominating the attention of the champagne trade and associated media outlets, we decided to organise a tasting of champagne pairs from 2008 and 2009 (hosted by Jancis Robinson MW), to objectively compare the merits of both vintages and evaluate the price premium and superiority of 2008.

  122. 2008 and 2009 Champagnes Compared Blind

    December 11, 2018

    Are the differences between 2008 and 2009 champagnes blindingly obvious? Read Jancis Robinson’s review, tasting notes and scores from our 2008 vs 2009 champagne tasting – including Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer Cristal.

  123. Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 vs Cristal 2009

    December 10, 2018

    With media attention surrounding the new release now somewhat subdued, we evaluate the price premium of Cristal 2008 – “the most Cristal of all Cristals” – versus Cristal 2009, which has just entered an ideal drinking window.

  124. Christmas Special Offers: Prestige Cuvées

    December 7, 2018

    As we get closer to Christmas, our champagne special offers keep getting better and better. This week, we’re promoting top of the range champagnes, with unbeatable prices on the most popular prestige cuvées, including Dom Pérignon, Krug Grande Cuvée and Louis Roederer Cristal.

  127. Christmas Special Offers: Vintage Champagne Bottles and Magnums

    November 30, 2018

    This week, we have a range of vintage champagnes on offer for our weekly Christmas promotion, including magnums of new Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2012 and Taittinger Brut Vintage 2012, and 11% off the world-class Piper-Heidsieck 2008.

  129. Prestige Cuvées – Nyetimber v Champagne

    October 26, 2018

    “That English sparkling wine v champagne blind comparison moves up a notch or two.” Read Jancis Robinson’s report of our recent Nyetimber 1086 vs Champagne Prestige Cuvées blind tasting at 67 Pall Mall.

  130. Nyetimber 1086 vs Champagne Prestige Cuvées

    October 25, 2018

    English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber made history with the launch of the first English prestige cuvées last month. Our panel of expert critics, including Jancis Robinson MW, blind tasted these groundbreaking wines alongside a range of prestige cuvée champagnes.

  132. Krug Grande Cuvée & Vintage Vertical Tasting: 2000-2010

    October 22, 2018

    At our most recent tasting at 67 Pall Mall, guests blind tasted Krug Grande Cuvée Editions 162-166 NV (2006-2010), and Krug Vintages 2000-2004, including Krug 2000 from magnum. Find out which champagnes were the highest rated on the evening here.

  133. A Visit to Champagne Palmer & Co

    October 19, 2018

    During our trip to Reims last week, we visited Champagne Palmer & Co to meet with Managing Director Rémi Vervier. After hunting in the underground cellars for the biggest bottle we could find, we discussed harvest 2018 and tasted two stunning examples of Palmer Vintage Collection.

  134. Tasting of 88 Champagnes from 1988

    October 17, 2018

    Last weekend, we attended a veritable extravaganza of champagne and food: a tasting of 88 champagnes from 1988 organised by fizz fanatic Peter Crawford and hosted at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants Domaine Les Crayères and L’Assiette Champenoise. Read our review of every champagne tasted.

  135. New Rare Champagne: Rare Le Secret

    October 3, 2018

    Rare Champagne, the prestige brand of Piper-Heidsieck, have been keeping a secret for more than twenty years. They partnered with Mellerio, the oldest jewellery dynasty in the world, to produce an exceptional cuvée, Rare Le Secret, which the house finally revealed this week.

  136. New Release: Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2008

    October 2, 2018

    Pol Roger launched their much-awaited prestige cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2008 in London this evening. After the success of their Brut Vintage 2008, described as “one of their greatest ever years”, expectations for the prestige cuvée are sky-high.

  137. Coming Soon: Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2008

    October 1, 2018

    Champagne fanatic and life-long Pol Roger devotee Peter Crawford recently tasted a bottle of Sir Winston Churchill 2008 at the house in Épernay. With its release imminent, Crawford’s tasting note suggests it may exceed expectations.

  139. Review: Louis Roederer Cristal Vertical Tasting

    September 24, 2018

    Last week’s Louis Roederer Cristal Vertical Tasting compared every vintage of Cristal produced this century, from 2000-2009. Guests also tasted the two latest vintages of Cristal Rosé, and Cristal 2006 from both bottle and magnum. Read the full write-up here.

  140. Piper-Heidsieck Appoints New Cellar Master: Émilien Boutillat

    September 21, 2018

    Yesterday, Piper-Heidsieck announced the appointment of Émilien Boutillat as their new Cellar Master. Previous incumbent Séverine Frerson has joined Perrier-Jouët, where she will succeed current Cellar Master Hervé Deschamps in a few years.

  142. The Next Outstanding Vintage: 2012

    September 19, 2018

    Vintage 2008 has been stealing all the headlines lately but what about the future? Despite low yields due to frost and hail in the early season, a perfect August produced exceptionally mature and healthy grapes in 2012. Is this the next outstanding vintage?

  144. Piper-Heidsieck Rare 1998 Named ‘Best Champagne of 2018’

    September 10, 2018

    Of nearly 200 champagnes tasted at The Drinks Business 2018 Champagne Masters competition, one stood out as the absolute best: Piper-Heidsieck Rare 1998. Available today in magnums only, this exceptional cuvée was awarded an average 98-points.

  146. Palmer & Co Video: “Exceptional” Champagne Harvest 2018

    September 6, 2018

    Champagne Palmer & Co have produced some stunning behind the scenes footage of the record-breaking 2018 Champagne harvest, which takes viewers on a journey through the vineyard and pressing centres. Check out the full video here.

  147. Vive La Difference: Almost 300 Champagnes Rated

    September 5, 2018

    In his extensive 2018 Champagne tasting report, James Suckling documents the noteworthy developments in the region over the past year, including soon-to-be-released Dom Pérignon 2008, and highlights some exciting future releases.

  148. Update: Champagne Harvest 2018

    September 4, 2018

    The 2018 Champagne harvest has now officially been underway for 2 weeks. With warm conditions continuing to prevail, most houses have been picking as fast as possible and the first juices are already fermenting. We bring you all the latest updates from Champagne.

  149. Champagne Designed for Space Travel has Lift-Off

    August 31, 2018

    Has the thought of not being able to drink champagne been putting you off space travel? Well, it’s time to dust off your spacesuit. Next month, Mumm Champagne will release a specially designed bottle of fizz able to be enjoyed in zero gravity conditions.

  151. The Importance of Base Year in Non-Vintage Champagne

    August 22, 2018

    Non-vintage champagnes are a blend of multiple vintages. However, with 60-90% of the blend coming from a single vintage, or base year, the final blend inevitably displays subtle characteristics of that vintage. Just how much influence does base year have on non-vintage?

  152. Champagne Harvest 2018 Begins

    August 21, 2018

    The 2018 Champagne harvest officially began on August 20th – the earliest harvest since records began in 1822 – with the southern villages of the Côte des Bars being picked first. What does the picking schedule tell us about the maturity of the different grape varieties?

  153. Champagne: Glossary of Terms

    August 14, 2018

    Popping a cork has become so synonymous with celebration that the particularly unique vinous qualities of Champagne can be easily overlooked. Here we shed light on the complexities of our favourite effervescent tipple, by defining some of the key terms involved in Champagne and its production.

  154. The Original ‘Champagne Charlie’

    August 13, 2018

    “Little did I realise ‘Charlie’ was no mythical bon viveur, he was actually a real person: the enterprising and extraordinary Charles Heidsieck.” Read David ‘Vinosaurus’ Kermode’s full report of our recent Charles Heidsieck Dinner and Tasting here.

  155. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle NV: Bottle vs Magnum

    August 10, 2018

    We recently compared a bottle and magnum of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle NV and were surprised by how fresh and youthful the larger format was showing, despite being a blend of older vintages. Read the full tasting report here.

  156. Louis Roederer Cristal 2002 & Cristal Rosé 2002 Re-Release

    August 9, 2018

    Louis Roederer recently revealed that a very limited quantity of original disgorgement Cristal 2002 and Cristal Rosé 2002 were kept in the cellars in Reims for additional bottle ageing. Now 9 years post-disgorgemt, a small number have been re-released into the market.

  157. Coming Soon: Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill 2008

    August 8, 2018

    Last year, Pol Roger described Sir Winston Churchill 2008 as “the best vintage since 1988 and the most investible Churchill we’ve ever made.” Due for release in Autumn 2018, we look forward to what is certain to be one of the most exciting releases this year.

  158. Is Climate Change Coming for Your Champagne?

    August 7, 2018

    Climate change is not just bringing us warmer summers, it’s affecting the way champagne is produced too. Bloomberg’s Elin McCoy speaks to winemakers at A. R. Lenoble and Louis Roederer to discover how they are combating the effects of a warming climate.

  159. Record-Breaking Year: A Look Forward to the 2018 Harvest

    August 6, 2018

    Record-breaking weather in 2018 is likely to produce one of the largest champagne harvests in living memory that will once again begin early, in late-August. What can we expect from this climatically exceptional vintage?

  160. David Kermode Discovers Charles Heidsieck’s ‘Finest Bubbles’

    August 5, 2018

    A ‘Champagne Charlie’ in another life himself, wine journalist David Kermode attended our Charles Heidsieck Dinner and Tasting at Frederick’s last week to sample a range of new and old vintages from this reformed house. Read his report for The Buyer here.

  161. Lanson: Old Vintage Collection Magnums

    August 4, 2018

    The Lanson Vintage Collection – old magnums kept on the lees and late-disgorged to express newfound complexity – comprises champagnes more than a century old. Every year, a few magnums from 1976 and subsequent vintages are released to a limited circle of enthusiasts and connoisseurs.

  163. New Release: Louis Roederer Cristal 2008

    June 22, 2018

    The long-awaited Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 was officially launched in London on Monday evening. Jean-Baptiste Lécailon described it as “the most Cristal of all Cristals”. Having already been awarded 100/100 from many critics, is this the best ever vintage?

  164. New Release: Dom Pérignon 2008

    June 20, 2018

    After much anticipation, Dom Pérignon have finally revealed their latest vintage: Dom Pérignon 2008. Launching what could be one of their best ever vintages at the wonderful La Résidence de France in London on Tuesday, the house also revealed Dom Pérignon P3 1990.

  165. Coming Soon: Dom Pérignon 2008

    June 15, 2018

    Although not officially launching in London until next week, the long-awaited Dom Pérignon 2008 was revealed – along with veteran Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy’s retirement – in Champagne earlier this week. Here’s what we know so far.

  166. Lightstrike: Protect Your Champagne from Damage

    June 14, 2018

    Light exposure can damage wine irreversibly in as little as one hour. Read about how lightstrike occurs, which champagnes are the most susceptible and how to protect the bottles in your cellar.

  167. June 2018 Champagne Range Tasting

    June 13, 2018

    Our Champagne Range Tasting on Wednesday 13th June at Frederick’s, Islington was once again a roaring success. The sun shone as fifty guests tasted nearly forty champagnes, including many new releases and even a few magnums. Browse the photographs here.

  168. Great Value Magnum Champagne

    June 8, 2018

    We have long been obsessed with Champagne aged in magnum and always encourage friends and customers to choose magnums over bottles. However, many are put off by the price premium. Here we highlight some of the best value magnums available on the market today.

  169. Disgorgement: What Is It and Why Is The Date Important?

    June 7, 2018

    The modern champagne consumer is increasingly interested in the unique story behind the production of their bottle. One piece of information popularly sought after is disgorgement date. But what is disgorgement and why does the date matter?

  170. Champagne André Robert: 2017 Vins Clairs

    May 31, 2018

    The 2017 vins clairs we tasted at grower house Champagne André Robert were some of the best in the region. Located in the legendary village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, we met with fifth generation family member Claire Robert and her husband Jean-Baptiste.

  171. Coming Soon: Louis Roederer Cristal 2008

    May 30, 2018

    Rarely is a champagne launch met with as much excitement as that surrounding Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 – tipped to be the best ever vintage. Set to hit the market within the next month, here we provide an overview of our previous tastings and outline what to expect from this remarkable release.

  172. Veuve Clicquot: 2017 Vins Clairs

    May 23, 2018

    We tasted the 2017 vins clairs at Veuve Clicquot with Chief Winemaker Gaëlle Goossens, who described it as “a difficult year, but good for Chardonnay”. We also discussed her thoughts on innovating winemaking by bridging the gap between oenology and viticulture.

  173. New Champagne: Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs NV

    May 22, 2018

    Charles Heidsieck were one of the first houses to make an all-Chardonnay champagne, back in 1947. In a tribute to their rich history of Chardonnay, the house revealed a brand new cuvée last week: Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs NV.

  174. New Release: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007

    May 21, 2018

    Last week saw the official launch of Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2007. New Chef de Cave Alexandre Ponnavoy was in London to discuss the latest vintage, which will be a very limited and rare release.

  175. Champagne Corbon: 2017 Vins Clairs and Vintage 1984

    May 20, 2018

    Located in the Grand Cru village of Avize, grower producer Champagne Corbon are a well-known name in the region. Fourth generation family member Agnès showed us some still wines and champagnes, including the “worst of her lifetime” – vintage 1984.

  176. Veuve Clicquot: 200th Rosé Anniversary

    May 17, 2018

    To commemorate the 200th anniversary since Madame Clicquot invented blended rosé champagne, Veuve Clicquot revealed the first ever Jeroboam of Rosé NV during a celebratory dinner at Manoir de Verzy and shared the secrets of their red winemaking expertise at a tasting in London.

  177. Lanson: 2017 Vins Clairs and old Vintage Collection Magnums

    May 14, 2018

    Our vins clairs visit to Champagne ended at Lanson, with Chef de Cave Hervé Dantan. Here we tasted a comprehensive range of base wines, current champagne releases and some stunning magnums of Vintage Collection, from 1979-1990.

  179. Philipponnat: 2017 Vins Clairs and new Clos des Goisses 2009

    May 9, 2018

    Charles Philipponnat describes 2017 as a “funny vintage”. We visited the house of Philipponnat to taste the vins clairs and find out just what he means. Whilst there, we also sampled an incredible range of champagnes, including new Clos des Goisses 2009.

  183. Taittinger: 2017 Vins Clairs and Comtes de Champagne 2008

    April 27, 2018

    Despite the complicated growing season, Taittinger produced some delicious Chardonnay base wines in 2017. We tasted a range of vins clairs with winemaker Loïc Dupont, who has produced a small amount of Comtes de Champagne 2017.

  185. Ruinart: 2017 Vins Clairs and Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2007

    April 19, 2018

    Chef de Cave Frédéric Panaïotis talked us through the 2017 vintage for Champagne Ruinart. Although a difficult year for Pinots, we tasted some stunning Chardonnay vins clairs and sampled the upcoming Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2007.

  187. Record Year for English Still and Sparkling Wine Production

    April 3, 2018

    Still and sparkling wine production continued to fizz in 2017, as a record number of UK wine bottles were released last year. Here we discuss why the industry is performing so well and what the future holds for UK wine.

  189. March 2018 Champagne Range Tasting

    March 27, 2018

    Browse the photographs from our March 2018 Champagne Range Tasting at Frederick’s in Islington. Over fifty guests tasted a whopping fifty champagnes, including new releases, from brands such as Bollinger, Dom Pérignon, Louis Roederer, Pol Roger, Piper-Heidsieck, Taittinger and more…

  190. Global Launch of Bollinger R.D. 2004

    March 23, 2018

    Yesterday we attended the launch of Bollinger R.D. 2004. A champagne that has aged on the lees for 12+ years is now tasting delightfully fresh and forward, with all the complexity of a recent disgorgment. We also experimented with the effects of different dosages and disgorgements on R.D.

  191. Champagne for a Birthday/Anniversary

    March 8, 2018

    By chance, 2018 is one of the best years to buy champagne for birthdays and anniversaries. Know someone born in 2000, 1998, 1988 or 1968? Why not gift them vintage champagne born in the same year – the perfect 18th or 50th celebration!

  192. Dosage: What Is It and What Do The Categories Mean?

    February 25, 2018

    After blending, bottling, maturation, riddling and disgorgement, the final step in Champagne production is dosage. But what exactly is ‘dosage’ and how does this affect the champagne’s eventual classification?

  193. Sell Us Your Cellar

    February 19, 2018

    If you are selling champagne that was bought on release from a UK agent and stored in a bonded warehouse, we may be interested in purchasing it. Here we outline the most important factors for sale and highlight sought after products.

  194. Mix 6 and Mix 12 Champagne Pricing

    February 16, 2018

    We try to make the top Champagne brands and cuvées as affordable as possible by offering tiered levels of pricing that can be mixed. Find out how our ‘Mix 6’ and ‘Mix 12’ pricing works.

  196. Technological Corks: What’s The Big Deal?

    February 15, 2018

    Diam are revolutionising the cork industry with their technological corks and TCA/cork taint removal process. How is this done, what exactly does it mean and which houses are using technological corks already?

  198. New Release: Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2009

    February 8, 2018

    New Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2009 is a wonderfully fresh, fruit-forward champagne from a generous and warm vintage. We tasted it alongside the previous release – Pol Roger 2008 – for comparison.

  199. New Release: Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 165 NV

    February 7, 2018

    The latest release of Krug Grande Cuvée, Edition 165 NV, is the smallest and rarest batch of Grande Cuvée ever. Just released in the UK, this is a classically world-class Krug: a stunning champagne based on a unique vintage.

  200. New Release: Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2004

    February 6, 2018

    We kicked off 2018 with the launch event of the long-awaited Blanc des Millénaires 2004. Director of Charles Heidsieck, Stephen Leroux, presented this stunning champagne and we also had a taste of the new rosé vintage: Rosé Millésime 2005.

  202. How Can Champagne Be Delivered Within 2 Hours?!

    February 2, 2018

    Last year, we upgraded our same day delivery service in London to within 2 hours, which seems to have delighted, impressed and baffled consumers and media alike. Here, we explain how it’s done and share some fun facts about our unique service!

  203. Jancis Robinson: Krug vintage vertical back to 1988

    January 31, 2018

    Read Jancis Robinson’s report of our outstanding Krug vintage vertical tasting last November. “This would have been a dream tasting anyway, but I particularly love tasting a group of wines blind.”

  204. Champagne Provenance: Why It Matters

    January 17, 2018

    Establishing provenance, or a ‘record of ownership’, is absolutely essential in the champagne business. The conditions under which each bottle has been sourced and stored can significantly impact the eventual enjoyment it provides.

  205. Coming Soon: Bollinger R.D. 2004

    January 13, 2018

    The latest iteration of Bollinger R.D. (Recently Disgorged) will hit the market in late-March 2018. Here we share our thoughts on the bottle of Bollinger R.D. 2004 that we tasted with cellar master Gilles Descôtes last year.

  206. Champagne Palmer & Co

    January 12, 2018

    After impressing us at several tasting events in the past, we added a range of Palmer & Co champagnes to our website last year. One of the newest houses in the region, what is their history and what do their champagnes taste like? The Finest Bubble reveal all.

  207. Coming Soon: Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires 2004

    January 10, 2018

    After twelve years of waiting, we finally have a new vintage: Blanc des Millénaires 2004. Not yet officially launched, but available to purchase in February 2018, here we share our tasting notes from a bottle sampled with cellar master Cyril Brun.

  208. New: Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée NV

    January 5, 2018

    Last year, Laurent-Perrier announced that their brut non-vintage – the fifth best-selling champagne in the world – was to be discontinued and replaced with an entirely original blend. The new champagne, La Cuvée NV, proved to be an instant hit, winning a Gold medal at CSWWC 2017. Read our review here.

  209. Grape Expectations: What to Expect from Champagne in 2018

    January 2, 2018

    Here, we cast our minds to the future. With many big releases confirmed for next year, such as Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 and Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2008, it is sure to be exciting. But what do we know for sure and what can we predict?

  210. Year in Review: Champagne in 2017

    December 29, 2017

    We take a look back at the most exciting Champagne releases of the year, from entirely new blends to re-releases of old classics and from non-vintages with updated base years to the latest vintage releases of prestige cuvées. We also highlight worthy award winners and review the year for TFB. Roll on 2018!

  211. Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Vertical Tasting

    December 18, 2017

    We were recently offered the opportunity to taste some older vintages of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle: 1) A blend of 1999, 1997 and 1996, and 2) A blend of 1997, 1996 and 1995. Sampled alongside the current release, the results were very interesting.

  212. 100 Best Champagnes for 2017

    December 15, 2017

    FINE Champagne magazine recently revealed their list of the ‘100 Best Champagnes for 2017’. Here, we discuss the Top 10 and draw attention to the worthy winners and surprise contenders.

  213. Christmas Champagne Gift-Wrapping

    December 14, 2017

    With Christmas fast approaching, we’re busy gift-wrapping all your presents and delivering them within 2 hours in London! With five different colours to choose from and a selection of handwritten cards, gifting has never been so easy.

  216. Video: Prestige Cuvée vs Vintage Tasting with Jancis Robinson

    November 29, 2017

    Did you miss our latest Champagne tasting? Fear not! Full coverage of our spectacular Prestige Cuvée vs Vintage tasting with Jancis Robinson MW is now live. Watch a video footage comparison of each unique pair from the comfort of your home.

  217. Piper-Heidsieck: New Rare Rosé 2007

    November 22, 2017

    Piper Heidsieck recently released their first ever rosé vintage of the esteemed prestige cuvée Rare. We tasted it with head winemaker Régis Camus alongside Essentiel NV – also just launched in the UK – and some old vintages of Rare.

  218. November 2017 Champagne Tasting

    November 9, 2017

    Browse the photographs from our latest Champagne Range Tasting at Frederick’s. Over fifty guests tasted 42 champagnes from Bollinger, Dom Pérignon, Gosset, Louis Roederer, Pol Roger, Piper-Heidsieck, Taittinger and more…

  219. Charles Heidsieck Collection Crayères

    November 8, 2017

    Charles Heidsieck have revealed a treasured collection of old vintages named ‘Collection Crayères’. Released in extremely limited quantities, we are pleased to offer five incredible vintages, in bottle and magnum, from the 1980s.

  220. Jancis Robinson: Champagne Showdown

    November 3, 2017

    Read Jancis Robinson’s review for the Financial Times of our recent Prestige Cuvée vs Vintage Champagne tasting at 67 Pall Mall. “Think seriously about buying a vintage-dated bottling,” Jancis advises.

  221. New Release: Moët Grand Vintage 2009

    November 1, 2017

    Last week, Moët & Chandon launched Grand Vintage 2009. As is customary with a new release, they also launched two Grand Vintage Collections, 2002 and 1990. Read the review of our tasting with head winemaker, Benoît Gouez.

  223. The Future According to Taittinger

    October 20, 2017

    Our trip to Reims in August included a smorgasbord of Taittinger: over twenty champagne tasted with head winemaker Loïc Dupont, including an interesting look into the future with Comtes de Champagne 2008 and 2012.

  225. Time-Travelling with Lanson: from 2016 to 1959

    October 6, 2017

    The first ever Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs and Brut vintages; Black Label NV blends based on the last vintage of the previous six decades; and a comparison of vintage and prestige cuvée. Our recent trip to Lanson had it all.

  228. Louis Roederer: The Old, The New & Everything in Between

    September 28, 2017

    Is there a better way to spend a Sunday evening than dinner with Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon at the Louis Roederer family mansion? We tasted new Cristal 2008 and the exclusive late-release Cristal Vinothèque 1995.

  230. Krug Vintage 2004

    September 7, 2017

    Yesterday, Krug launched their new Vintage 2004 in London. This latest release completes a special trilogy of Krug Vintages – 2002, 2003 & 2004 – not seen since the late 80s. We tasted it with Olivier Krug today.

  232. Krug: A Visit to Clos du Mesnil & The New Krug Maison

    September 4, 2017

    We visited Krug over August bank holiday weekend with Jancis Robinson MW. With an unexpected visit to Clos du Mesnil, a tour of the new Maison, a mini-vertical tasting and dinner at the house, it was well-worth the long drive!

  233. Champagne Salon Blanc de Blancs 2006

    August 1, 2017

    Last month, the tiny yet ultra-prestigious Champagne Salon released their latest vintage: Salon Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs 2006. Just the 40th release since its inception in 1905, this is another seriously rare cuvée with outstanding ageing potential. Read tasting notes and more info here.

  235. Champagne Barons de Rothschild

    July 6, 2017

    In 2003, the biggest name in wine turned their attention to the sparkling variety and founded Champagne Barons de Rothschild. We tasted the full range at the London Wine Fair in May with Managing Director, Frédéric Mairesse. Read our thoughts here.

  237. Dom Pérignon Launches Vintage 2009

    June 19, 2017

    Dom Pérignon launched their new Brut Vintage 2009 last month before 2008 – the first time in history they have skipped a vintage. We tasted it alongside 2003 and 2006 with head winemaker Richard Geoffroy, who described it as “majestic and persistent”.

  238. Is Vintage 2008 The Next 2002?

    June 15, 2017

    We compared fifteen 2008s (+ new Krug Grande Cuvée based on 2008) to assess the quality of this emerging vintage in champagne. For reference, we tasted five 2002s alongside – and threw in a couple of curveballs to keep everyone alert!

  241. The Finest Bubble June 2017 Portfolio

    May 12, 2017

    Download or request a printed copy of our new June 2017 Portfolio. Containing information on the Champagne brands we list and with many interesting articles on all things Champagne, this 56-page Portfolio is a must-have for any fizz fanatics.

  243. Future Champagne Vintages: ’08-’12

    May 3, 2017

    We spend a lot of our time romancing over our favourite past vintages of Champagne. But what about the future? With the arrival of the incredible 2008’s now imminent, we take a look-forward into Champagne’s upcoming vintages: 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012.

  246. Lanson: New 2017 Extra Age Range

    April 25, 2017

    Champagne Lanson have just released the new Extra Age range! An exciting blend of the 2004, 2005 & 2006 vintages, we tasted them with Lanson UK Managing Director, Paul Beavis at 67 Pall Mall and were seriously impressed with their affordable quality.

  248. Henri Giraud: Barking Mad or Genius?

    April 20, 2017

    In 2009, Champagne Henri Giraud invested in 10 terracotta egg-shaped tanks to assess their effect on the maturation of wine. The house now has more than 50 clay containers and are producing more. Have they gone crazy or are they one step ahead of the field?

  249. Vins Clairs: 2016 Vintage Summary

    April 17, 2017

    Our definitive 2016 Vintage Report, based on Vins Clairs tastings at ten Champagne houses with the winemakers. Extreme weather has produced surprisingly fresh and balanced base wines, but what potential does 2016 really have? Read our full summary.

  250. Bollinger: 2016…. The Next 1988?

    April 12, 2017

    The difficult 2016 vintage appears to have been kind to Champagne Bollinger. We tasted the Vins Clairs at the winery in Aÿ last month and the house are optimsitic – even drawing likeness to the magnificent 1988 vintage! We judged for ourselves…

  252. Bruno Paillard: Realisation of a Dream

    April 10, 2017

    Bruno Paillard founded this eponymously named Champagne house in 1981: the first in nearly a century. A remarkable success story that is still being written… we met with daughter, Alice and tasted (sniffed) the 2016 Vins Clairs and current Champagne range.

  254. Moët & Chandon: Innovation, Innovation, Innovation

    April 6, 2017

    Enlightening, educational and at times jaw-dropping, our visit to Moët was one of a kind. Amine Ghanem showed us the 2016 Vins Clairs, new Grand Vintage 2008, a 1988 magnum and the ultra-prestige MCIII.

  256. Champagne Lanson: Vive la Révolution

    April 2, 2017

    Big changes have occurred at Champagne Lanson since Chef de Caves, Hervé Dantan took the reins two years ago. We sampled the 2016 Vins Clairs, the latest Black Label NV blend and Clos Lanson 2016 as Hervé talked us through the new developments.

  257. Taittinger: One Big Champagne Family

    March 30, 2017

    We tasted the 2016 base wines with Vitalie Taittinger, Loïc Dupont & Damien Le Sueur. Discussing the influence of oak barrels, the new ‘image of Taittinger Rosé’, the potential for Comtes 2016 and Taittinger’s new winery; this was a truly eye-opening visit.

  262. Charles Heidsieck Rosé Millésimé 2006

    February 28, 2017

    Ranked 2nd out of 14 in our recent Rosé Champagne blind tasting, Charles Heidsieck Rosé 2006 is a stunner and great value with a £95 RRP. Definitely one of the best Rosé’s on the market.

  263. Brexit = Beginning of British Bubbly?

    February 24, 2017

    In the latest leaked Brexit document, the EU’s concern that British firms could violate protections given to EU products was revealed. Could this pave the way for ‘British Champagne’?!

  264. Cristal 2009: Biodynamic Bubbly

    February 22, 2017

    With 40% of Cristal 2009 harvested from biodynamic vineyards, this is a perfect example of how changing the viticulture can subtly affect a Champagne’s style. Will these effects manifest equally as this percentage increases?

  266. 2016: No Celebration for Champagne

    February 17, 2017

    “Everything that could go wrong, did.” The most difficult growing season in Champagne for 60 years was saved by late sunshine. A miraculous vintage? Definitely. A future great? Probably not.

  267. Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2008 Launch

    February 16, 2017

    Pol Roger launched their latest release, Brut Vintage 2008 last Thursday at Kensington Palace. Pol are already claiming it to be one of their best ever years and we’re inclined to agree…

  268. The Key to His/Her Heart? Pink Champagne

    February 13, 2017

    Valentine’s Day is nearly upon us and Olly Smith recommends The Finest Bubble for pink fizz. Remember – we do Same Day London Delivery, for those averse to pre-planning..

  269. The Making of Champagne

    February 10, 2017

    What makes a sparkling wine ‘Champagne’? What goes into the blend and how is it made? What do the different styles mean and why does one taste sweeter than the other? The answers you seek are here.

  271. The Last 2002 Prestige Cuvée?

    February 7, 2017

    Lanson Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2002 is probably the last prestige cuvée release from the already fabled vintage. Now the 2002’s are all available, read why we think this is one of the best.

  272. Fourteen Shades of Pink

    February 3, 2017

    A blind tasting of thirteen Rosé Champagnes and one English Sparkling with FT’s Alice Lascelles, Richard Bampfield MW, Simon Stockton and Frederick’s restaurant manager Matt. Just another Wednesday.

  273. The Importance of Correct Champagne Storage

    January 26, 2017

    Correct Champagne storage isn’t just worth the effort – it’s absolutely essential. Follow these key guidelines to ensure your Champagne matures into something magnificent and valuable.

  274. Champagne: Glossary of Terms

    August 20, 2016

    Popping a cork has become so synonymous with celebration that the particularly unique vinous qualities of Champagne can be easily overlooked. Here we shed light on the complexities of our favourite effervescent tipple, by defining some of the key terms involved in Champagne and its production.

  277. Portfolio June 2016

    May 23, 2016

    Download or Request our new June 2016 portfolio. With all the Champagne brands we list and interesting articles on different vintages, bottles v magnums and overviews of the different Champagnes, this portfolio is a must have when buying Champagne

  281. Jancis Robinson – Dom Pérignon Vertical Tasting

    November 3, 2015

    Read Jancis Robinson’s article ‘Dom Pérignon, Cuvée William Deutz and La Grande Dame’; superbly written with reviews and scores of our Dom Pérignon 2002-2006 vertical tasting

  282. Olly Smith in the Mail on Sunday

    November 2, 2015

    Read Olly Smith’s Mail on Sunday article “What difference does a bigger bottle make? I’ll only have the one – but make it a magnum” on TFB’s Bottle vs Magnum tasting

  286. New Release: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006

    September 17, 2015

    Taittinger have just released the latest expression of their prestige cuvée: Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2006 – and what a release it is already proving to be! Read our review here.

  287. The Oxford Companion to Wine – New 4th Edition

    September 15, 2015

    This week sees the release of the fourth edition of The Oxford Companion To Wine. With 300 new entries, covering nearly a decade’s worth of new developments; this is even more in-depth than ever.

  289. Slim Pickings for Champagne in 2015

    August 24, 2015

    Maximum allowable yields for the 2015 Champagne harvest are the lowest in a decade – but how is the vintage shaping up and what goes into deciding when to start picking?

  290. Bollinger R.D. 2002 – Second Tranche: New Release

    August 10, 2015

    Some 12 years on the lees this champagne recently disgorged 2002 is simply stunning; from the outstanding 2002 vintage you get ripe fruit and layers of complexities from its extended lees aging, one of Bollinger’s most promising releases.

  291. June 2015 Portfolio

    June 23, 2015

    Download or Request our new June 2015 portfolio. With all the Champagne brands we list and interesting articles on different vintages, bottles v magnums and overviews of the different Champagnes, this portfolio is a must have when buying Champagne

  292. Charles Heidsieck – Newly Listed

    June 11, 2015

    After endless tastings of Charles Heidsieck, it’s prowess and elegancy decided for us we needed to list it. Discover why we have started listing them

  293. Champagne: From Terroir to Wine

    June 10, 2015

    Interested in Champagne – Find out more about the processes behind Champagne making in this comprehensive but easy reading article

  294. Dom Pérignon – Les 3 Étages: Review

    May 12, 2015

    On Friday night, we attended Les 3 Étages: a unique experience of Dom Pérignon – and tasted the newly launched 2005 vintage, P2 1998, P3 1971 (and an extra special surprise Champagne!)

  295. Bottle vs Magnum: Is Bigger Really Better?

    April 30, 2015

    A tasting last October shocked us so much, we are running our own tasting and taking the concept even further. But why do magnums taste so much more youthful?

  297. Dom Pérignon Rosé 2004 – First Taste!

    April 21, 2015

    Read what we think of Dom Pérignon’s latest release, the Rosé 2004. “All the richness of fruit that is so typical of the 2004 Blanc and the Rosé offers even more…”

  298. Which Glass When?

    April 20, 2015

    New research from Japan helps explain why the flavour of a wine is so affected by the shape of the glass you’re drinking it from.
    We apply this to Champagne.

  299. Dom Pérignon – Les 3 Étages

    April 15, 2015

    Les 3 Étages: a unique experience of Dom Pérignon. Hosted over three floors, each representing a different Plénitude, this exclusive event offers guests the opportunity to taste Vintage 2005, P2 1998 and P3 1971.

  301. Champagne & Caviar

    April 9, 2015

    Nothing beats the winning pairing of Champagne and Caviar to wow guests, entertain friends or simply to treat yourself! And we have a few favourites of both…

  302. Champagne Tasting: Wed 17th June 2015

    March 27, 2015

    Our first Champagne Tasting of 2015 will be an informal walk-around event at Frederick’s, Islington on Wednesday 17th June – tasting Louis Roederer, Krug, Pol Roger & more!

  303. Wine Duty Frozen – A Cold Move?

    March 20, 2015

    Some good news, some mild news and some irrelevant news – the chancellor announces the 2015 Budget, with alcohol duty a focus.

  304. Champagne Bureau Annual Tasting 2015

    March 13, 2015

    With 786 guests, 5,000 glasses used and 3,000 bottles opened, this was the largest Champagne tasting in Europe. Read our thoughts on the Champagnes presented.

  306. Champagne in the Cotswolds

    March 3, 2015

    The Finest Bubble team headed northwest to the beautiful Cotswolds…and tasted something very special.
    Okay, two things.
    Fine, three.

  308. TFB Launch Night – Part 4

    December 26, 2014

    Richard discusses the origins of rosé Champagne, tastes the Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé 1998 and shares an interesting thought on the future of rosé.

  309. TFB Launch Night – Part 3

    December 19, 2014

    In this third instalment, Richard shares an interesting tasting note from Dom Pérignon, tastes Krug 1998 and tells us what his favourite Krug is.

  310. TFB Launch Night – A Review

    December 15, 2014

    “Champagnes …. each and every one is different and totally worth encountering.”
    A prodigious review of the evening by one of our guests.

  311. TFB Launch Night – Part 2

    December 12, 2014

    In the second part of our launch night video, Richard compares the original release Dom Pérignon 1998, with the second release, Dom Pérignon P2 1998 (launched in 2014).

  312. Dom Pérignon Rosé Jewel Edition 2002

    October 10, 2014

    Legendary British jeweller, Stephen Webster, explains the motivation behind the limited edition Dom Pérignon Rosé Jewel Edition 2002.

  313. A Trip to Dom Pérignon, Hautvillers

    October 31, 2013

    From Islington to Champagne. Visiting Hautvillers Abbey and tasting Oenothèque in the historical and spiritual home of Dom Pérignon.

How Your Champagne Is Packaged - 100% Eco-Friendly Packaging:

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