Category Archives: France – Champagne

Pommery & Greno, Champagne (France) Brut Rosé “Royal” NV

($64, Vranken Pommery America):  Pommery’s luxurious Rosé reinforces the notion that Champagne stands head and shoulder above other sparkling Rosés.  The delicate salmon-pink color pleases they eye, but the real pleasure comes from the first whiff and sip.  It delivers an impeccable balance of subtle, but persistent, wild strawberry-like nuances and creamy citrus ones.Read more

Joseph Perrier, Champagne (France) “Cuvée Royale” Brut NV

($42):  The Champagne firm of Joseph Perrier, founded in 1825, has no relation to Perrier-Jouët or Laurent Perrier.  Joseph Perrier produces a graceful and precise non-vintage brut from roughly equal amounts of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.  It’s a joy to sip and drink, in part, I suspect because it typically includes 20 percent of reserve wines. Read more

Drappier, Champagne (France) Brut Rosé NV

($55): Drappier, a small family-run house, has been making Champagne since the early 19th century.  They are one of the few houses that make a rosé Champagne entirely from Pinot Noir by the saignée method.  That is, they press the Pinot Noir grapes, let the juice and skins remain in contact for a few days, just enough time to extract a touch of color, and then perform the secondary fermentation on the resulting pink-colored wine. Read more

André Jacquart, Champagne (France) Blanc de Blancs “Brut Experience” NV

($55, Esprit du Vin): It’s unusual to find a non-vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne.  This one is stunning and not to be missed.  The creamy elegance and precision for which Chardonnay-based Champagne is renown is immediately apparent.  Of course is doesn’t hurt that all the grapes come from their vineyards located in either Premier or Grand Cru villages on the Côte des Blancs, the best area in Champagne for Chardonnay. Read more

Billecart-Salmon, Champagne (France) Brut Rosé NV

($88): Rosé Champagnes are versatile.  They are a luxurious treat as a welcome drink or aperitif for guests — or just for you and a spouse or significant other.  All too often, people forget that Champagne is a wine, and that rosé Champagne especially has enough power and intensity to be an excellent choice with lots of different — and often hard to match — foods. Read more

Taittinger, Champagne (France) “Comtes des Champagne” Blanc de Blancs Brut 2005

($135, Kobrand Wine And Spirits): Taittinger’s top Champagne, Comtes des Champagne is a Blanc de Blancs made from Chardonnay grown exclusively in Grand Cru villages.   While the Comtes des Champagne is always one of the great prestige bottlings from the region, the 2005 is particularly noteworthy because it retains incredible vivacity despite the ripeness of that vintage. Read more

Marion-Bosser, Champagne (France) Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut NV

($55, Loubaton Imports): This producer’s Champagne was previously unknown to me.  That’s my loss and I now will try to make up for lost time.  Extra Brut Champagne is an extremely tough and expensive category to produce.  There can be no compromise on the quality of the grapes because the extremely low dosage means that there’s little sugar to cover up whatever flaws are present. Read more

Taittinger, Champagne (France) “Les Folies de la Marquetterie” Brut NV

($100, Kobrand): Les Folies de la Marquetterie bottle is not meant to replace or compete with Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne, which remains their Tête du Cuvée, or super-premium, Champagne.  Indeed, the blend of grapes in Les Folies de la Marquetterie leans heavily on Pinot Noir, whereas their Comtes de Champagne is made entirely from Chardonnay. Read more