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 | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$6,065.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)We commenced with champagne, courtesy of the 2014 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus from Larmandier-Bernier, which undergoes at least five years’ aging on the lees without any dosage and features a light pétillance. The bouquet requires two or three minutes to find its groove, eventually offering enticing scents of white peach and almond; a hint of lemon sherbet comes through with time. It is elegant and displays commendable weight (not a Zen-like champagne). A crisp sour lemon note lends sufficient tension toward the finish. Beautiful. |
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Champagne | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$5,935.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)We commenced with champagne, courtesy of the 2014 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus from Larmandier-Bernier, which undergoes at least five years’ aging on the lees without any dosage and features a light pétillance. The bouquet requires two or three minutes to find its groove, eventually offering enticing scents of white peach and almond; a hint of lemon sherbet comes through with time. It is elegant and displays commendable weight (not a Zen-like champagne). A crisp sour lemon note lends sufficient tension toward the finish. Beautiful. |
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Champagne | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$4,260.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2015 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus 1er Cru is a brilliant wine that combines textural richness and energy. The aromatics are a bit muted today, but that should not be an issue in a few months. All the 2015 needs is time. The Terre de Vertus is a blend of parcels in the Barillers and Faucherests lieux-dits. As always, the Terre de Vertus is vinified in neutral oak of various sizes. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: April, 2021. |
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Champagne | 1 | 92 (VN) | HK$5,935.00 | |||||
Vinous (92)The 2015 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus 1er Cru is a brilliant wine that combines textural richness and energy. The aromatics are a bit muted today, but that should not be an issue in a few months. All the 2015 needs is time. The Terre de Vertus is a blend of parcels in the Barillers and Faucherests lieux-dits. As always, the Terre de Vertus is vinified in neutral oak of various sizes. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: April, 2021. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (VN) | HK$4,365.00 | |||||
Vinous (96)The 2016 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus 1er Cru is fabulous. Comprised of 100% Chardonnay from two mid-slope parcels in Vertus, it is perfumed and exotic, with striking aromatics. This cuvée straddles the line between still and sparkling wine. Lime, mint, white pepper and chalk lend tons of high-toned character. The 2016 is really quite compelling. Bottled with no dosage. Disgorged: November 1, 2023. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$17,160.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Disgorged in June 2018, the 2010 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant offers up a bright and detailed bouquet of citrus oil, flowers, white peach, warm bread and a delicate top note of walnut oil that's less pronounced than its delicately oxidative 2009 counterpart. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and satiny, with considerable concentration and old-vine extract, concluding with a long and saline finish. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (WA) | HK$8,945.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (96)Disgorged in June 2018, the 2010 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant offers up a bright and detailed bouquet of citrus oil, flowers, white peach, warm bread and a delicate top note of walnut oil that's less pronounced than its delicately oxidative 2009 counterpart. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and satiny, with considerable concentration and old-vine extract, concluding with a long and saline finish. |
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Champagne | 5 | 97 (WA) | HK$5,785.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (97)I'm increasingly convinced that Pierre Larmandier produced Champagne's wines of the vintage this year, and the 2011 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant only compounds that suspicion. Unfurling in the glass with a deep and complex nose of citrus zest, crisp yellow apples, smoke, warm bread, mandarin oil and oyster shell, it's full-bodied and fleshy but incisive, with huge concentration, bright acids and a long, intensely saline finish. Totally transcending the reputation of 2011, it has many of the textural properties of a great white Burgundy, married with the cut and chalky grip of Champagne's Côte de Blancs. |
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Champagne | 2 | - | HK$6,755.00 | |||||
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Steeped in luxury, the Larmandier Bernier Vieille Vigne du Levant Grand Cru 2012 is a stunning display of skill from Larmandier Bernier, a noteworthy Champagne producer. Drawing from old vines at Côte des Blancs, this wine embodies the terroir's chalky essence. Committed to biodynamic principle, the Larmandier family meticulously cultivates this single-varietal Chardonnay without artificial interference. Harvested manually, it undergoes natural fermentation and prolonged lees aging, contributing to its rich complexity. The outcome? The Larmandier Bernier Vieille Vigne du Levant Grand Cru 2012 exhibits sumptuous flavours. Lush notes of ripe citrus, baked apple, and almond mix with a mellow undercurrent of brioche, elegantly housed within a refined mineral structure. The wine’s potent acidity beautifully underpins this symphony of flavours, while the finish persists with a lingering finesse. Give this extraordinary Champagne the appreciation it deserves and add Larmandier Bernier Vieille Vigne du Levant Grand Cru 2012 to your collection today. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (JD) | HK$11,635.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (97)The 2013 Champagne Vieille Vigne Du Levant takes things to the next level at Larmandier-Bernier. I love the aromatics, which flaunt the subtle and pretty of this cold vintage. Pouring a bright yellow color, it reveals detailed floral and candied citrus aromas in its notes of lemon drop candy, honeysuckle, and almond croissant. Medium to full-bodied, this is the most complete wine I have tasted today from this house, with a refined mousse and seamless acidity, and it only sees 2 grams per liter of dosage. This remarkable wine is drinking fantastically now and will have a long life ahead over the next decades. It’s long on the palate and a memorable wine. |
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Champagne | 1 | 18.5 (JR) | HK$8,445.00 | |||||
Jancis Robinson (18.5)It’s an almost indescribable wine. It’s rich and smoky and broad and powerful but it’s also none of those things. There is fruit and spice and stones but you couldn’t pick them out if you tried. It’s utterly complete. Without beginning, without ending. It has a heartbeat, a drum, a rhythm that feels like a pulse. It’s a wine that leaves you scrambling for words and then giving up, to simply breathe it in. |
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Champagne | 18 | 98 (VN (AG)) | HK$1,860.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2004 Rosé Cuvée Alexandra (magnum) is another utterly breathtaking wine from Laurent Perrier. A Champagne of total finesse and understatement, the 2004 is totally mind-blowing. Crushed rose petal, sweet red-toned fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper and slate are some of the many notes that are woven together. The 2004 is aging so well. It's a timeless beauty, an outstanding choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2024. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | HK$4,025.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2004 Rosé Cuvée Alexandra (magnum) is another utterly breathtaking wine from Laurent Perrier. A Champagne of total finesse and understatement, the 2004 is totally mind-blowing. Crushed rose petal, sweet red-toned fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper and slate are some of the many notes that are woven together. The 2004 is aging so well. It's a timeless beauty, an outstanding choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2024. |
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Champagne | 1 | 98 (VN (AG)) | HK$8,240.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (98)The 2004 Rosé Cuvée Alexandra (magnum) is another utterly breathtaking wine from Laurent Perrier. A Champagne of total finesse and understatement, the 2004 is totally mind-blowing. Crushed rose petal, sweet red-toned fruit, mint, chalk, white pepper and slate are some of the many notes that are woven together. The 2004 is aging so well. It's a timeless beauty, an outstanding choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2024. |
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Champagne | 5 | - | HK$4,645.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (FS) | HK$4,860.00 | |||||
Falstaff (96)A creamy nose promises a smooth opening, the scent of sweet-salt, hazelnutty crumble crust is mouth-watering. The palate is taut but tiny bubbles carry bright lemon zestiness to the tastebuds. It is this lemony serenity and clean-cut 2008 character that remains centre-stage throughout, with subtle autolysis in the background. Very elegant and lasting. |
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Champagne | 1 | 96 (FS) | HK$3,530.00 | |||||
Falstaff (96)A creamy nose promises a smooth opening, the scent of sweet-salt, hazelnutty crumble crust is mouth-watering. The palate is taut but tiny bubbles carry bright lemon zestiness to the tastebuds. It is this lemony serenity and clean-cut 2008 character that remains centre-stage throughout, with subtle autolysis in the background. Very elegant and lasting. |
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Champagne | 1 | - | HK$2,925.00 | |||||
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Champagne | 79 | 90 (VN (ST)) | HK$1,690.00 | |||||
Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)Fairly pale color. Complex, soil-inflected, smoky nose combines pineapple, peach, apricot, rose petal, cinnamon and mace; reminded me of Condrieu. Fresh and ripe in the mouth, with impressively intense flavors of fruits and spices. Finishes strong and spicy, with a late note of pink peppercorn. |
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Champagne | 1 | 97 (JS) | HK$8,000.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)Full body. Lightly chewy. Phenolic tension gives it form and beauty. This is the first year to use numbers. 55% chardonnay and 45% pinot noir. 2007, 2006 and 2004. Drink or hold. |
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Champagne | 1 | 99 (JS) | HK$7,300.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)Incredible aromas of apple skin, pie crust, praline and flowers. So young in the nose. Full-bodied with super-fine tannins. It’s tight and refined, yet structured and intense. Really long and beautiful. Still shy. Wonderful finish. 12 years on its lees before disgorging. Three vintages in the blend – 2008 (65%), 2007 (25%) and 2006 (10%). 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. It’s the highest percentage of chardonnay ever. |
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Champagne | 2 | 99 (JS) | HK$2,960.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)Dried lemons, salted almonds, oyster shells, croissants, iodine, baked apples, spices and some ginger notes. White pepper, too. Vibrant and fresh, with a distinct saline edge. I like the subtle spice character. So much subtle power and tension. 58% chardonnay and 42% pinot noir, from 2006, 2004 and 2002. 14 years on the lees, three or four more than the normal bottle release. Only available in magnum. Drink or hold. |
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