Chamapagne Rosé is a true delight to the senses and Billecart-Salmon rightly takes its place in the top echelon. A vibrant Salmon pink colour greets the glass, with a long, smooth, delicate, elegant and refined palate to follow. Without the price tag that others of this quality demand, this is a Champagne that all must enjoy at least once.

The House of Ruinart stands in a league of its own, defying convention and captivating with its unique legacy. Founded in 1729, it holds the distinction of being the very first Champagne House, a visionary endeavour inspired by the foresight of a monk who possessed a remarkable intuition far beyond his era. In the heart of the Champagne region, specifically in Reims, a significant moment unfolded on September 1st, 1729. It was then that Nicolas Ruinart, driven by the profound influence of his visionary monk uncle, drafted the historic charter that marked the birth of Maison Ruinart, forever etching its name as the world's pioneer in champagne production. Little did they know that this bold initiative would pave the way for an enduring enterprise that thrives and prospers even after nearly three centuries, leaving an indelible mark on the course of history. During the remarkable period of the mid-18th century, Ruinart made a significant acquisition to enhance its champagne production. The House secured ownership of ancient crayères, subterranean chalk quarries meticulously carved beneath the historic city of Reims. These extraordinary caverns served as the ideal sanctuary for storing their precious bottles, ensuring optimal aging and maturation. Building upon its reputation for innovation, Ruinart continued to push boundaries. In 1764, the House achieved yet another milestone by successfully shipping the first-ever Rosé champagne across the vast expanse of Europe. This ground-breaking achievement introduced a new dimension to the world of champagne, captivating connoisseurs with its captivating hues and captivating flavors. Bestowed with nobility and adopting the esteemed name Ruinart de Brimont in 1817, the family has diligently guided the House for over two centuries. With each passing generation, a new Head of House emerges, bringing forth their unique talents and unwavering commitment to serve the lineage of Ruinart. This steadfast succession ensures the preservation of the family's legacy, as each successor devotes themselves to upholding the traditions and values that define Ruinart. Their collective efforts have propelled the House to unparalleled heights, solidifying its reputation as a bastion of excellence in the world of champagne. ______ Ruinart Blanc de Blancs embodies purity of the Chardonnay grapes from which it is made exclusively. Made primarily with Premiers Crus from the Cote des Blancs, and Montagne de Reims Terroirs, it is intensely aromatic. The blend is 100% Chardonnay from various years (20 to 25% of which are reserve wines from the 2 previous years). The nose is powerfully reminiscent of fresh fruits with dominant notes of citrus and exotic fruits, followed by a touch of jasmine, white peaches and pink peppercorns. A perfect champagne for aperitifs, particularly in spring and summer. It is an excellent complement to seafood and shellfish; perfect with a sea bass or bream tartare. It would also be very good with seared sole. Note - this item does not come with a gift box or bottle wrapping. Intense, fruity, and aromatic, Ruinart Rose owes is sensual elegance to the marriage of Chardonnay, mainly from the Chardonnay premiers crus of the Cote des Blancs, and Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and Vallee de la Marne, blended into red wine. The nose is fresh and subtle, ripe with cherry and freshly picked red berries, followed by a splash of flowers and spicy notes. This item does not come in a box or with the white wrapping.

Louis Roederer remains one of the last 100% independent, family-owned Champagne Houses, presided over by seventh generation Frédéric Rouzaud. Under the stewardship of Chef du Cave, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon these past two decades, Louis Roederer has become the largest Biodynamic Domaine in Champagne with their 242 hectares located in the three most important sub-regions: Montagne de Reims (La Montagne); Vallée de la Marne (La Rivière) and Côtes des Blancs (La Côte). In March 2021, following 20 years of environmental transition, 115 hectares of the historic Louis Roederer family vineyard achieved organic certification. An extraordinary vintage which is also the year in which the Champagne region was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site! 2015 followed the continental trend of that decade: a mild, wet winter and a hot, dry summer. The summer, hot and sunny, brought record-breaking temperatures and water stress. The second half of August brought some very welcome rain, giving the vines some much needed relief. Thanks to this fresh finish, the vines produced juicy, ripe and concentrated grapes. Our ambition for this vintage? To capture the concentration which is the hallmark of this spectacular vintage! A rosé created by a long, gentle infusion of Pinot noir that extracts its juicy ripeness while preserving its tremendous saline freshness. In this process, some Chardonnay juices are added to the Pinot noir maceration, to ferment together and achieve the perfect integration of the two grape varieties.

The Champagne Bérêche et Fils Ludes Premier Cru Le Cran (Disg. Jul 2024) 2017 is a stunning example of the quality and craftsmanship that can be found in the Champagne region of France. This vintage, produced by renowned winemaker Raphael Bérêche, displays a pale golden color with delicate bubbles dancing in the glass. On the nose, aromas of green apple, citrus, and brioche entice the senses. The palate is crisp and refreshing, with notes of lemon, pear, and a hint of toasted almonds. This champagne boasts a fine balance of acidity and minerality, with a long, elegant finish. It is a true reflection of the terroir and the skill of its producer. Enjoy now or cellar for a few years to fully appreciate its complexity and depth. Santé!

Disgorged November 2024. This cuvée has become synonymous with the extreme quality that can today be expected from Champagne’s finest estates. The current release is based on the 2021 vintage and was disgorged in June 2024. Due to the low yields of 2021, the new release comprises 55% fruit from the base vintage, with the balance from the two previous years. The blend is split between 35% Pinot Noir from Montagne de Reims (specifically Ludes, Trépail and Ormes), 35% Chardonnay from sites across Montagne de Reims and Vallée de la Marne and 30% Meunier from Mareuil-le-Port in Vallée de la Marne. Ludes and Trépail provide the tension, offsetting the depth and texture of the Marne fruit and reserve wines. The average vine age is 40 years. The hard-harvested fruit ferments naturally in barrel before aging in barrel and tank. After bottling, the wine spends 36 months sur lattes in the Bérêche cellar, and finally, is disgorged by hand (!) with around 5 g/L dosage. This is the kind of fastidious attention to detail you would expect from the finest prestige cuvées, and it shines through in the quality of the wine. Antonio Galloni (Vinous) is spot-on when he writes: “Although most readers probably associate Bérêche with some of their higher-end bottlings, the Brut Réserve is a real rock star.” The style is taut and focused; the wine’s natural density and texture are superbly balanced by crystalline acidity and smoky mineral resonance.

Disgorged May 2023. Like this grower’s Latitude, this is 100% Côte des Blancs Chardonnay (the vineyards are in Cramant, Avize, Oger and Vertus), yet the vineyards have thinner topsoils, and so the vine roots plunge straight into the chalky bedrock. The name here refers to the vertical nature of the geographic locations of the vineyards as well as the style of wine resulting from the chalky soils of these sites, i.e. a more linear, mineral wine. While Larmandier’s Latitude is expansive across the palate, the Longitude is all about minerality, line and raciness. William Kelley has called this wine “one of the finest non-vintage bottlings to be found in Champagne”, and the high ratio of reserve wines (40% from their perpetual reserve started in 2004) should leave you with little doubt as to the quality on offer. This bottling is based on the 2018 vintage, with 40% reserve wine drawn from a ‘perpetual’ reserve started in 2004.