Champagne
Champagne, the epitome of elegance and celebration, is widely regarded as the pinnacle of sparkling wines. As one of the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Champagne has captured the hearts of wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs with its exceptional quality, refined craftsmanship, and iconic vineyards.
Historically, Champagne has been dominated by some world-acclaimed Champagne House, which source grapes and harvest from Champagne growers. These famous Grandes Marques include Louis Roederer (Cristal), Dom Pérignon, Krug, Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, and Bollinger, all of them are revered for their notable names that display unrivalled winemaking prestige and pedigree.
In the recent decade, the emerging Grower Champagne trend in Champagne is shaking up the industry by challenging the dominance of the big Champagne houses. These small-scale producers, also known as "Récoltant-Manipulant" or RM, grow their own grapes and produce their own Champagne, showcasing the unique terroir and character of their vineyards. Jacques Selosse, Ulysse Collin, and Champagne Vilmart & Cie are among the most prominent names in this trend, producing some truly artisanal and terroir-driven Champagnes.
Champagne is primarily made from three main grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. These grapes are carefully selected and blended to create a harmonious and complex flavour profile. Chardonnay contributes elegance, freshness, and finesse, while Pinot Noir adds structure, depth, and fruitiness. Pinot Meunier brings a touch of roundness and vibrancy to the blend.
The region of Champagne is divided into several distinct sub-regions, including Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. Each sub-region has its unique terroir, characterized by variations in soil composition and microclimates, which influence the style and character of the wines produced.
Champagne offers various styles, from non-vintage blends to vintage cuvées and prestigious prestige cuvées. While Non-vintage Champagnes typically epitomise the house style, the vintage Champagnes are made from grapes harvested in one particular year (top vintages such as 1996, 2002, 2008 etc), in which these wines showcase the unique characteristics of the specific vintage.
The prestige cuvées, often the flagship wines of the renowned Champagne houses, are the pinnacle of excellence. These exceptional Champagnes are created using the finest grapes, the most meticulous winemaking techniques and often benefit from extended ageing to achieve unparalleled complexity and finesse.
Champagne is synonymous with celebration, elegance, and luxury. Its effervescent charm and timeless appeal have made it the drink of choice for countless special occasions and memorable moments. With its rich history, iconic vineyards, and unrivalled quality, Champagne continues to captivate wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.
Champagne
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Champagne | 30 | 94 (JD) | HK$1,870.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (94)The NV Champagne Premiere Cuvee Brut is a medium yellow hue, showing beautiful mature and pure notes of layered and nicely maturing notes of apricot. Medium to full-bodied, it has more volume and fills the palate with a silky ripeness reminiscent of honey and delicate ginger notes. The mousse is fine with a pinpoint and accents its pretty, salty spice with a supple, silky texture underneath. The base vintage is 2010, with disgorgement in May 2014. It has just a hint of toasty smokiness, and I love it; it also has more savory elements that will last at least another 15 or so years. Drink 2025-2035. |
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Champagne | 8 | 92 (VN (AG)) | HK$2,870.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (92)Deceptive in its pale color, Bruno Paillard's NV Extra Brut Rosé Premiere Cuvée has quite a bit of texture and resonance. Its is both gracious and deep, with striking breadth and impeccable overall balance. Cranberry, orange peel, white flowers and bright, saline notes give the Rosé a crystalline, brilliant upper register, but there is plenty of depth as well. This is such a pretty and expressive wine. Disgorged: October, 2019. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | HK$26,105.00 | |||||
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The Carbon Vintage Rosé 2005 is an exquisite vintage, renowned for its elegance and depth. Crafted by the meticulous house of Champagne Carbon in France, the wine is the epitome of luxury. The grapes are carefully handpicked from their finest pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards, with an extra dash of meunier to enhance its delicate flavour. The wine is aged for over a decade in exquisite French oak barrels under the perfect climatic conditions, giving it a sophisticated, crisp taste profile. The Carbon Vintage Rosé 2005 resonates with a lovely pink hue, dovetailed with an array of intense flavours including wild strawberry, raspberry cream, toasted almonds and a hint of mineral earthiness. Its full-bodied structure, silky texture and persistent finish is an ode to its extraordinary maturation journey. Not to mention, each bottle is embellished in carbon fibre, reflecting the house's passion for tradition and innovation. Truly, the Carbon Vintage Rosé 2005 is the embodiment of sheer indulgence. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (WA) | HK$8,560.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (98)The 2017 Rosé de Saignée Le Creux d'Enfer is the most seamless, elegant rendition of this cuvée that I've tasted to date. Produced in tiny quantities by the most exacting of methods, this is frequently Bouchard's most extreme wine, but that's not the case this year. Bursting with aromas of red plums, orange oil, buttery pastry, spiced apples and fresh bread, it's full-bodied, ample and satiny, with bright acids and chalky grip, enlivened by a pinpoint mousse and concluding with a broad, delicately honeyed finish. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WA) | HK$8,560.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)The fruit of a 24-hour maceration, the 2018 Rosé de Saignée Le Creux d'Enfer bursts with notions of cherries, blood orange, potpourri, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, broad and fleshy, it's layered and textural, with an enveloping core of fruit, a pillowy mousse and a long, exotically spiced finish. |
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Champagne | 1 | 93 (VN) | HK$19,605.00 | |||||
Vinous (93)The 2012 Blanc de Noirs Côte de Bechalin La Parcelle is bright, precise and beautifully lifted. Orchard fruit, mint, white pepper and floral notes lend brightness. This is a decidedly taut, vibrant Blanc de Noirs, especially considering the vintage. Gracious, medium in body and supremely inviting, the Côte de Bechalin is another stellar wine in this set of new releases. No dosage. Disgorged: April, 2019. |
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Champagne | 1 | 94 (VN) | HK$2,030.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2014 Blanc de Noirs Côte de Bechalin La Parcelle is bright, focused and tightly wound, all of which will serve it well in the future. I especially admire the tension and energy here. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2014 for at least a few years. It"s an absolutely exquisite wine and a hidden gem in a range where the spotlight usually falls on other wines. Kirsch, plum, dried flowers, lemon peel and bright orchard fruit linger. No dosage. Disgorged: 2021. |
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Champagne | 2 | 92 (VN) | HK$9,065.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The NV (2018) Blanc de Noirs Val Vilaine is bright, fresh and wonderfully nuanced. Orchard fruit, citrus and floral notes give the Val Vilaine so much energy. Cédric Bouchard coaxes so much nuance from these 40 year-old vines. The Val Vilaine is always the youngest wine in the range - the current release is the 2018, which spent just 15 months on its lees - but it will give readers who aren't familiar with these wines a very good idea of the house style. Zero dosage. Disgorged: April 2020. |
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Champagne | 2 | 93 (VN (AG)) | HK$9,035.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)The 2021 Blanc de Noirs Val Vilaine is pretty powerful. The Val Vilaine is a fairly open, sensual wine in most years, but the 2021 is quite intense. Low yields from these 45-year-old vines resulted in an especially serious, vibrant Val Vilaine that should age very well. Pear, white flowers, spice and apple tart linger. This is an especially fine edition and a serious wine. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: 2023. |
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Champagne | 2 | - | HK$8,770.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | - | HK$10,850.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | - | HK$17,390.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (VN) | HK$16,735.00 | |||||
Vinous (97)The 2020 Blanc de Blancs La Haute Lemblé, 100% Chardonnay, is magnificent. What else is there to say? A Champagne of soaring vertical intensity and drive, the 2020 is truly special. Lemon confit, sage, mint, white flowers and white pepper stain the palate. Light tropical notes appear with time, adding an exotic and distinctive flair. Seamless and yet beautifully focused, La Haute Lemblé is so captivating in the early going. Magnificent. No dosage. |
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Champagne | 1 | 94 (VN) | HK$3,705.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2012 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules is another knockout. Here it is the freshness and energy of Pinot Noir that makes the strongest impression. White orchard fruit, flowers, white pepper and mint give the Ursules its distinctly high-toned personality. The interplay between the richness of the Pinot Noir and inherent tension that characterizes all of these wines is dazzling. Scents of orchard fruit, spice, herb and flowers infuse the creamy, voluptuous layered finish. Disgorged: April 2016. No dosage. |
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Champagne | 1 | 94 (VN) | HK$14,035.00 | |||||
Vinous (94)The 2015 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules is fascinating to taste next to the other Pinot Champagnes, all of which are brighter. Here, the weight and gravitas are very much front and center. Red cherry, kirsch, plum, mint and spice all blossom in the glass. The Ursules needs air to shine. A bit of time in the glass really brings out the creaminess and volume of the Pinot fruit. This is such an inviting and expressive Champagne. No dosage. Disgorged: April, 2019. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96+ (WA) | HK$18,105.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96+)Aromas of fresh bread, crisp orchard fruit, citrus oil, clear honey and oyster shell introduce Bouchard's 2016 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules, a medium to full-bodied, beautifully precise and tensile rendition of this emblematic cuvée. Fine-boned and elegant, it's seamless and penetrating. This an especially delicate Ursules that will reward some bottle age. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WA) | HK$5,985.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)The 2017 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules is superb, mingling aromas of pear, mandarin and stone fruit with hints of fresh bread, pastry cream and iodine in an inviting mélange. Full-bodied, layered and fleshy, it's a concentrated, chiseled Ursules that's built for the cellar, with racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. While the reputation of the 2017 vintage in Champagne isn't great, you wouldn't know that from tasting this brilliant cuvée. As readers will remember, Les Ursules was the vineyard with which Cédric Bouchard began Roses de Jeanne, and he notes that of all the wines in his range, it's always the highest in acidity, the slowest to ferment and the slowest to conclude its malolactic fermentation. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (WA) | HK$15,330.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)The 2017 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules is superb, mingling aromas of pear, mandarin and stone fruit with hints of fresh bread, pastry cream and iodine in an inviting mélange. Full-bodied, layered and fleshy, it's a concentrated, chiseled Ursules that's built for the cellar, with racy acids and a long, penetrating finish. While the reputation of the 2017 vintage in Champagne isn't great, you wouldn't know that from tasting this brilliant cuvée. As readers will remember, Les Ursules was the vineyard with which Cédric Bouchard began Roses de Jeanne, and he notes that of all the wines in his range, it's always the highest in acidity, the slowest to ferment and the slowest to conclude its malolactic fermentation. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$3,240.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Bouchard's 2018 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules is a particular success, wafting from the glass with aromas of white flowers, crisp red apple, clear honey, wet stones and crushed mint. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and precise, it's pure, racy and concentrated, with impressive tension and finesse that transcends this frequently blowsy, open-knit vintage. Exigent agronomy and timely harvesting pays off, once again. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$18,940.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Bouchard's 2018 Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules is a particular success, wafting from the glass with aromas of white flowers, crisp red apple, clear honey, wet stones and crushed mint. Medium to full-bodied, pillowy and precise, it's pure, racy and concentrated, with impressive tension and finesse that transcends this frequently blowsy, open-knit vintage. Exigent agronomy and timely harvesting pays off, once again. |
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