Disgorged November 2022. 100% old-vine Pinot Meunier. Les Vignes d’Autrefois (‘vines of another time’) is made from a single four-tonne press of grapes from old vines planted between 1947 and 1964. These grow in several chalky terroirs in Chavot and Mancy. The sites in Chavot (La Potote and Les Rouges Maisons) sit on deep clay and silt soils, with a presence of flint and small stones. In Mancy are Les Hautes Norgeailles and Les Bas Putroux, where the vines are rooted in clay soils over chalk. Viticulture for these sites is entirely biodynamic. As well as referencing the age of the vines, the name also refers to the fact that these vines are all massal selections (i.e. non-clonal). There is even a soupçon of ungrafted vine material scattered throughout these vineyards. Aurélien uses old Burgundy barrels for aging (including some sourced from Montille and Leroux), and there was no malolactic conversion. The wine aged for seven months in barrel, followed by 30 months on lees in bottle. The very low dosage of 3 g/L allows the iodine minerality of these chalky terroirs to sing. This is emblematic of the quality at Laherte today and reflects the fruit’s tension and low-yield intensity. It offers a wonderful balance between penetrating, spicy, fleshy red fruit and salty, racy deliciousness—one of the great Meunier bottlings of Champagne.

Disgorged November 2022. Petit Meslier has formed an integral part of Aurélien Laherte’s Les 7 cuvée for almost 20 vintages. One of Champagne’s heirloom varieties, Meslier is a historic cross between Gouais Blanc and Savagnin. Although it has been largely forgotten in Champagne, the Laherte family has remained attached to the grape’s personality and its ability to retain acidity, even in warmer vintages. Between 2014 and 2018, Laherte established a mid-slope vineyard on Chavot’s clay/limestone soils, using massal cuttings from the domaine’s oldest Meslier vines. This wine marks the third release of this exciting project. The grapes are pressed in Laherte’s antique Coquard press, and the juice ferments naturally in old barrel. The wine ages for six months on lees in barrel and then a further 18 months sur lattes. This bottling is based on the 2020 vintage with 40% reserve wines and was disgorged by hand with just 2 g/L dosage (extra brut). When Domaine Didier Dagueneau decided to craft a sparkling wine in Pouilly-Fumé (yet to be released), Benjamin Dagueneau chose Petit Meslier as its hero. From the first glass, it’s clear why Laherte and Dagueneau have decided to put their faith in this unique, forgotten variety. Champagne thrill seekers should not hesitate.

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.

Perrier-Jouët's origin story dates back to 1810, when the cork supplier Pierre Nicolas Perrier married Rose Adélaide Jouët and began producing champagne under the name Perrier-Jouët the following year. Adèle focused on vineyards and winemaking while Pierre Nicolas focused on sales and marketing. Shipments to Great Britain began in 1815, followed by the United States in 1837. After Charles Perrier, Henri Gallice and his younger brother Octave became Perrier-Jouët directors. Octave, an art lover, met Emile Gallé in Paris and requested a design for Maison Perrier-Jouët, which became the iconic emblem of the brand. One of the world's oldest champagnes, a Perrier-Jouët vintage 1825, was opened and tasted in 2009. Harold Macmillan, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1957 to 1963, favoured vintage Perrier-Jouët. This passion has been passed down through the generations, shaping the House's philosophy of creative freedom and unconventional observation of nature. Maison Perrier-Jouët's affinity with the Art Nouveau movement is expressed through the emblematic anemone motif illustrated by Emile Gallé in 1902. Today, the House continues to reinvent luxury by collaborating with artists to create an extravagant universe. Along with their unique legacy, such as the creation of their first brut champagne in 1842 and the iconic floral Cuvée named Belle Epoque Cuvée, Perrier-Jouët also made history with the appointment of the first woman to hold the position of cellar master in 2020. Perrier-Jouët produces a wide range of vintage and non-vintage cuvée, with an annual production of approximately 3,000,000 bottles. The pride of the brand is its prestige label, Belle Epoque. With 266 acres of vineyards situated in the heart of Champagne, Perrier-Jouët maintains control over the quality and consistency of its champagne production. More than half of its vineyards are located in the Grand Crus of Cramant and Avize, allowing Perrier-Jouët to create exceptional champagne that is unparalleled in quality and taste. Today, as a member of the Pernod Ricard group of brands, Perrier-Jouët's legacy of exceptional champagne-making continues to thrive and evolve. Through their dedication to quality and innovation, Perrier-Jouët remains one of the most respected and iconic champagne brands in the world. Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque Champagne is an exquisite vintage cuvée that has captivated champagne enthusiasts since its first release in 1964. With its instantly recognizable bottle adorned with the elegant spray of Japanese white anemones, it stands as a testament to the timeless beauty and artistry of Maison Perrier-Jouët. The inspiration behind the design of the bottle comes from the brilliant mind of Emile Gallé, a renowned master of the Art Nouveau movement. In 1902, Gallé created the delicate and graceful spray of Japanese white anemones, which has since become an iconic symbol of Perrier-Jouët. The intricate details and meticulous craftsmanship of the bottle reflect the dedication and passion that goes into creating this exceptional champagne. This stunning Limited Edition gift set contains 1 bottle of Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque 2012 plus 2 hand painted Perrier-Jouet branded Champagne glasses. Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque is an icon of the House. Produced only in years when, in the judgment of Cellar Master Hervé Deschamps, the seasons have aligned perfectly, it is a captivating demonstration, not only of the art of blending, but also of the exceptional quality of the Perrier-Jouët vineyard. Testifying to the rarity of this cuvée, less than 30 vintages of Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque have been produced to date. Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Champagne 2012 vintage is a translucent gold colour, with subtle glints of apple green, and radiant clarity. The nose has distinctive notes of white flowers combining with crisp pears, lemon, and white peaches. Freshness prevails on the palate, releasing a beautiful harmony. Pair this champagne with sole, turnips, or white peaches.

The Mumm RSRV Lalou 2006 cuvee is a legendary champagne, blended from 100% Grand Cru wines. It is sourced exclusively from the Maison Mumm vineyards, its historic and emblematic plots. Of the 12 specific plots in the Maison Mumm vineyard, equally distributed between Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims and Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs, seven were selected for the unique blend of RSRV Lalou 2006 (Les Bionnes, Les Crupots, Les Briquettes, Les Perthes, Hannepés, Les Rochers, Les Houles). These seven Grand Cru wines were previously pressed separately, then vinified one by one. In line with Maison Mumm’s uncompromising standards, a 10-year aging period and a dosage of 6 grams per liter fully reveal their complex and elegant aromas. Pure gold in colour the nose is an elegant mineral departure, opening out into sweet pastry notes. Aromas of candied lemon and pear marmalade, complemented by gourmet notes of vanilla, with hints of toast and brioche. The palate has a rounded, powerful attack. As the wine develops, it demonstrates great length on the palate, combining fullness and freshness.

This unique cuvee is respectfully composed of the three champenois grape varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Entirely vinified in oak, Sous Bois (under wood) totally masters the art of blending by renewing the ancestral spirit and savoir-faire of the original Champagnes. The nose contains defined aromatics of dry fruits and fresh citrus, coupled with finely buttered seductive notes that expresses the mature complexity linked to the vinification in oak barrels. The palate is bursting with flavours of grilled brioche, vanilla and toffee, complimenting the refreshing texture and exceptional finish.

PHILIPPONNAT Cuvee 1522 Grand Cru Extra-Brut Vintage, Champagne

With a mild, wet winter followed by a very dry spring, 2014 proved to be full of surprises and variable weather. Broad and well-structured on entry, the palate is perfectly balanced and complemented by some saline and fresh raspberry notes.

The C + C Blanc de Blancs is blended from nine parcels across both north and south-facing hillsides in Cramant and Chouilly, including Les Robarts and Le Mont-Aigu. The oldest vines date back to 1951. The average depth of the soils of these parcels is marginally deeper than Oiry, with silty clay overlaying the chalk. In Suenen’s plots on Cramant’s eastern slope—Les Robarts, Les Basses Croix, Les Fourches du Nord, Les Vignes de Mardu—the soils measure one metre before the roots meet the chalk. In Chouilly, it’s closer to 60 cm. This extra depth, along with a good dose of southern exposure, makes for a more hedonistic wine. The blend is split between Cramant (70%) and Chouilly (30%). Although tempted to bottle each village separately, Suenen has found the two villages work even better as a blend; the textural finesse of Cramant marries perfectly to the more layered personality of Chouilly. Again, the wine aged on lees for nine months in enamelled tank (50%) and in used Burgundy oak barrels and demi-muid. It then aged for 30 months in bottle with no fining, no filtration and no cold stabilisation.