With 325.5 million bottles sold and a turnover of nearly 6 billion euros, the year 2022 was that of all records for the champagne sector, the primary objective of which remains to move upmarket. An effervescence which mainly benefits export but which is also found on the French market where the price of labels waltzes between special cuvées, vintages, special editions. Our selection of the best bottles.
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1. AR Lenoble Intense Magazine 19
Sixth opus of this collection inaugurated with the 2014 harvest. The 2019 juices are blended with reserve wines aged partly in tuns and in magnums under cork. The latter, less oxygenated, develop a rich and delicate aromatic palette. 39 €
wine merchants
2. Ayala Major Brut
Composed of 55% Chardonnay, the house’s signature grape variety, this cuvée finds its complexity and balance in the micro-vinification work of the 70 crus that make up the blend. The taste buds navigate between floral and mineral, citrus fruits and white fruits. Excellent value. 38 €
On vinatis.com
3. Besserat de Bellefon Triple B 2015*
The sum of the initials of this venerable Sparnacian house and the second term of the AB logo gives its name to this cuvée composed of pinot noir (50%) for power, miller (30%) for greediness and chardonnay for finesse. This cocktail of red fruits and vine peach offers a lovely saline finish. 57 €
wine merchants and boutique.besserat.com
4. Château de Bligny Grand Rosé
The only harvesting-handling estate to benefit from the “château” appellation in Champagne, this beautiful property on the Côte des Bar (Aube) has a unique architectural heritage. The blend of Chardonnay (half) and Pinot Noir (15% vinified in red) exudes orange zest, raspberry and wild strawberry. €38.30
At Nicholas’s
5. Bonvalet hours 2014
This very young house was created the same year as this extra-brut which combines the power of pinot noir and the delicacy of chardonnay. The latest signature of the couple of bubble adventurers Guillaume and Pauline Bonvalet delivers a generous nose and notes of quince paste and brioche. 39 €
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6. Carpenter Land of emotion Brut Vérité
A humanist winemaker and daring agronomist, Jean-Marc Charpentier is continuing to convert his 24 hectares planted near Charly-sur-Marne (Aisne) to organic farming, and is developing his parcel-based approach. This blend of Chardonnay (70%), Pinot Noir and Meunier — fine bubbles and fruity notes — reveals a strong identity with its clay-limestone terroir. 40 €
On boutique.champagne-charpentier.com
7. Devaux D Vintage 2012
The D collection, in its slender bottles, constitutes the prestige range of the Auboise Union, an important cooperative group in Champagne. Recently released from the cellars, this cuvée is distinguished by its aromatic complexity and reveals notes of apricot, candied citrus fruits and chocolate. Long saline finish. 72 €
wine merchants and boutique.champagne-devaux.fr
8. DivalCotel Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru
A new brand launched by the cooperative giant Cordier by InVivo, “Des vallées et des coteaux” is intended to be the champagne of all regions, as the menu on the label reminds us. The cuvées are produced by two unions of member producers. Like Prieur, in Vertus, which delivers here this lovely pure Chardonnay. 40 €
wine merchants
9. Clothier Golden Card
The mythical Côte des Bar house uses some of the lowest doses of sulfur in Champagne, which gives its wines a golden, almost coppery color and radiant aromas. Its yellow label recalls the notes of quince jelly, a bittersweet confection that delights the taste buds. 33 €
wine merchants
10. Jean Velut Testimonial 2011
This family of winegrowers is one of the pioneers who cleared the land of Montgueux, a small pearl of chalk hidden in the Aube vineyards, at the gates of Troyes. The opportunity to discover, at a low price, the wonderful Chardonnays with which nature endowed this little-recognized vintage. Mineral and opulent. 38 €
wine merchants
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11. Lallier Pink
Raspberry, elegance and freshness characterize this cuvée concocted by Dominique Demarville, cellar master and general manager of this small house straddling Oger and Ay, which became part of the Campari group in 2021. A wine with soft pale pink reflections, full of red fruits enhanced by notes of apple and tangerine. 50 €
wine merchants
12. Lanson Bio-Organic*
“This cuvée expresses the quintessence of its terroir”, explains Hervé Dantan, the cellar master of the brand with the red cross, which is combined here in green. The grapes for the blend come from the La Malmaison estate, in the heart of the Marne Valley, converted to organic and biodynamic viticulture. Pleasant notes of exotic fruits (papaya, mango) delight the palate. 49 €
wine merchants and boutique.lanson.com
13.Lombard Brut Nature Grand Cru
The small house of Epernay continues its transformation towards excellence and the expression of the terroirs. A champagne that combines finesse and power: the Chardonnays from the chalky soils of the Côte des Blancs chisel the first, while the Pinot Noirs from the south of the Montagne de Reims imprint the second. 39 €
wine merchants
14. Louis Roederer Raw Plain 2015
“A champagne of action, movement, which exudes intelligence. Tense and lively, dazzling and elegant”, says Philippe Starck about the fourth opus of this non-dosage cuvée born from his complicity with Frédéric Rouzaud and Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, respectively owner and cellar master of the house. Citrus fruits and tension are there. 80 €
wine merchants
15. Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Rosé 2015
This sunny vintage produced high quality black grapes. Ideal for making a competition rosé, like the blend made by cellar master Benoit Gouez: 52% Pinot Noir (including 13% vinified in red), 21% Meunier and 27% Chardonnay. A powerful wine with fruity and spicy notes (blackcurrant, fig, wild strawberry, pink pepper) underlined by a delicious bitterness of anise and mint. 60 €
On millesima.fr
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16. Mumm RSRV Blanc de Blancs 2015
The new vintage of this confidential cuvée (read RéSeRVé) is made from 100% Chardonnays harvested in Cramant (“mont de craie”), in the Côte des Blancs, one of the 17 villages of Champagne classified as grand crus. A crystalline wine, with notes of exotic fruits, juicy pear and lemon. Mineral and saline. €59.90
On rsrv.fr
17. Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive Rosé
With the wealth of its unequaled supplies, the powerful cooperative group of Chouilly vinifies many cuvées. A true ode to indulgence and freshness, this pleasurable rosé exudes crunchy red berries (blueberry, raspberry, currant, gariguette, etc.). 35 €
18. P. Lancelot-Royer Vintage of the Knights
Here is an honest pure Chardonnay, lively and pulpy, from four great wines of the Côte des Blancs: Cramant, Avize, Oger and Chouilly. A supple and fresh champagne, where the aromas of brioche, candied mandarin and acacia are enhanced by fine lemony notes. 25 €
19. Palmer & Co. Rosé Solera
This cooperative of excellence in the Montagne de Reims infuses a significant proportion of reserve wines into its blends, which gives its champagnes a rare fullness and maturity. Like this rosé, enriched by a solera of reds vinified in oak barrels, with a tasty fruitiness. 45 €
On boutique.champagnepalmer.fr
20. Pertois-Lebrun The Extravert
The brothers Clément and Antoine Bouret represent the fifth generation of winegrowers at the head of this 9.7 hectare estate in organic conversion in the Côte des Blancs. Understanding and respect in the work of the vine, sincerity and authenticity in that of the wine guide their approach. Values that can be found in this blanc de blancs where chalk and grapefruit refresh hazelnut and white fruits. 30 €
wine merchants