Grower Champagne

Pascal Agrapart is a bona fide member of the grower champagne hall of fame. Along with Anselme Selosse, he is the inspiration for many younger growers starting out. He has earned countless plaudits for his stunning blanc de blancs Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs. He farms 12 hectares of vines, over half of which are within the grand cru village of Avize. His wines have a vinous character, and a wonderful ability to age. Prices look set to rise for the Agrapart wines, and demand is far outstripping supply, so get them while you can. This is a blend of fruit from seven villages, including the grands crus of Avize and Cramant. It is a blend of the 2016 and 2017 vintage.

This is one of the best known Agrapart wines: a blanc de blancs of delicious precision and depth, 50% of which comes from Avize, with the rest drawn from Cramant, Oger and Oiry. It is a blend of the 2016 and 2017 vintages. 36 months ageing sur lattes before disgorgement and release gives this power, depth, and character. Pascal Agrapart is a bona fide member of the grower champagne hall of fame. Along with Anselme Selosse, he is the inspiration for many younger growers starting out. He has earned countless plaudits for his stunning Blanc de Blancs Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs. He farms 12 hectares of vines, over half of which are within the grand cru village of Avize. His wines have a vinous character, and a wonderful ability to age. Prices look set to rise for the Agrapart wines, and demand is far outstripping supply, so get them while you can.

Where Minéral is tight and refined, Avizoise is powerfull and structured. It is another blanc de blancs drawn from two sites, both in Avize with clay rich chalky soils. Pascal Agrapart is a bona fide member of the grower champagne hall of fame. Along with Anselme Selosse, he is the inspiration for many younger growers starting out. He has earned countless plaudits for his stunning Blanc de Blancs Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs. He farms 12 hectares of vines, over half of which are within the grand cru village of Avize. His wines have a vinous character, and a wonderful ability to age. Prices look set to rise for the Agrapart wines, and demand is far outstripping supply, so get them while you can.

Touchingly, this cuvée is named after the horse that once ploughed its soils, Vénus. Unlike Minéral, Terroirs and Avizoise, this is a single site wine (La Fosse Aux Pourceaux in Avize). With zero dosage, this is one of the most profoudly sublime of the Agrapart wines. Pascal Agrapart is a bona fide member of the grower champagne hall of fame. Along with Anselme Selosse, he is the inspiration for many younger growers starting out. He has earned countless plaudits for his stunning Blanc de Blancs Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs. He farms 12 hectares of vines, over half of which are within the grand cru village of Avize. His wines have a vinous character, and a wonderful ability to age. Prices look set to rise for the Agrapart wines, and demand is far outstripping supply, so get them while you can.

This is another blanc de blancs drawn from two sites, one in Avize and one in Cramant, both with poor chalky soils, and another highly sought-after Agrapart cuvée. Pascal Agrapart is a bona fide member of the grower champagne hall of fame. Along with Anselme Selosse, he is the inspiration for many younger growers starting out. He has earned countless plaudits for his stunning Blanc de Blancs Champagnes from the Côte des Blancs. He farms 12 hectares of vines, over half of which are within the grand cru village of Avize. His wines have a vinous character, and a wonderful ability to age. Prices look set to rise for the Agrapart wines, and demand is far outstripping supply, so get them while you can.

Aurélien Suenen might be young, but making Champagne is already a second career for him. His first had been as a professional basketball player. He is a disciple of both Pascal Agrapart and Anselme Selosse, whose advice has much bearing on this promising young grower in Cramant. He farms just 3 hectares across the Côte des Blancs grand cru villages of Chouilly, Oiry and Cramant. This is based on 2016 vintage (50%), and has the incisive, delicate but steely preicison of limestone-driven blanc de blancs. Aurélien's wines have already made a major impression on grower champagne followers, and are already incredibly hard to get hold of. He is one to watch.

Almost unbelievably, the vines in this lieu dit were planted in 1925. It is vinified in a combination of concrete egg and demi-muids, and 2013 is the inaugural vintage release from this site. A low 2g/l dosage enhances the seering quality of this wine, so pure, chalky, and citrus-inflected. Aurélien Suenen might be young, but making Champagne is a second career for him. His first had been as a professional basketball player. He is a disciple of both Pascal Agrapart and Anselme Selosse, whose advice has much bearing on this promising young grower in Cramant. He farms just 3 hectares across the Côte des Blancs grand cru villages of Chouilly, Oiry and Cramant. Aurélien's wines have already made a major impression on grower champagne followers, and are already incredibly hard to get hold of. He is one to watch.

2013 was Aurélien's first release of this outstanding Cramant Grand Cru. It was vinified all in one large oak foudre before being bottled in 2014. It then spent 5 years ageing sur lattes before disgorgement (just 2g/l). This wine shows the accomplished confidence of a vigneron many years more experienced than this raw young talent. Aurélien Suenen might be young, but making Champagne is a second career for him. His first had been as a professional basketball player. He is a disciple of both Pascal Agrapart and Anselme Selosse, whose advice has much bearing on this promising young grower in Cramant. He farms just 3 hectares across the Côte des Blancs grand cru villages of Chouilly, Oiry and Cramant. Aurélien's wines have already made a major impression on grower champagne followers, and are already incredibly hard to get hold of. He is one to watch.

This small, energetic, family-run biodynamic domaine of just 4.8 hectares makes exciting wines in the spectacularly well-named village of Bouzy, as well as in Ambonnay. They converted to biodynamic viticulture in the early 2000s, and their low yields and emphasis on fruit maturity produce wines with exceptional concentration and balance. Oak ageing adds to their complexity. They carry out malolactic fermentation and disgorge without the addition of dosage. This comes from Grand Cru parcels of vines with an average age of 30 years. The blend contains 55% wines from the 2015 vintage and reserve wine from the 2014 vintage and earlier. It spent two and a half years ageing in bottle before disgorgement.

Textures is a unique wine: a non-dosé wine made exclusively from one of Champagne's rare grapes - Pinot Blanc - and aged in Georgian qvevri. It is textured and opulent, and its popularity is a testament to Bertrand Gautherot's talents - taking risks, but always respecting the vineyards to produce the most expressive and interesting wines he can. He was one of the earliest growers to the biodynamic party, and has been certified by Demeter since 1998. He has been a trailblazer in the Aube ever since, setting an example that many younger growers have followed. His vineyards are closer to Chablis than Reims, and the Kimmeridgian limestone soil is an important part of the domaine's style.

Bertrand Gautherot was one of the earliest growers to the biodynamic party, and has been certified by Demeter since 1998. He has been a trailblazer in the Aube ever since, setting an example that many younger growers have followed. His vineyards are closer to Chablis than Reims, and the Kimmeridgian limestone soil is an important part of the domaine's style. This comes from the Vouette lieu dit, just by the domaine, which has an advantageous south-facing aspect, and good maturity can be reached. Zero dosage.

The heritage of these Chardonnay vines couldn't be more impeccable: a massal selection from Selosse’s vines in Avize and Dauvissat's in Chablis. It is zero dosage, but thanks to its long élevage, has a richness and power, setting it apart from more fragile, filegree blanc de blancs. Bertrand Gautherot was one of the earliest growers to the biodynamic party, and has been certified by Demeter since 1998. He has been a trailblazer in the Aube ever since, setting an example that many younger growers have followed. His vineyards are closer to Chablis than Reims, and the Kimmeridgian limestone soil is an important part of the domaine's style.

This is a small estate on the up. Recent improvements brought about by the newest generation are being felt in the vibrant and pretty wines they make. Enfant de la Montagne comes from premier cru vineyards on the Montagne de Reims, and is vinified in stainless steel before spenging 3 years ageing sur lattes ahead of disgorgement and release. This has the 2015 vintage at its heart (60%) and has a bright and fragrant apple aroma which is followed by tight acidity and a green apple crunch on the palate. It is fruit-forward, dry, pithy and refreshing. Its great value for money will not go unnoticed.

Just 5,200 bottles were produced of this delicious rosé, which has peachy red berry, raspberry aromas, and an arrestingly taut and incisive palate. The Bérêche family own 11 hectares of vines, most of which are in the village of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims. In recent years they have gone from strength to strength, and their wines are snapped up with speed. They block malolactic fermentation so the wines have a tensile, chalky line running through them. The extended oak ageing they practice adds depth and power to the wines.

Only 4000 bottles of this wine have been made in 2016 from the low yielding old vines planted on a north-facing slope in Mareuil-le-Port. It is taut and refined, with the nervous fruit of top class Pinot Meunier handled by expert hands. Bérêche is now one of the most sought-after growers in Champagne. The family team own 11 hectares, most of which are in the village of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims. In recent years they have gone from strength to strength, and their wines are snapped up with speed. They block malolactic fermentation so the wines have a tensile, chalky line running through them. The extended oak ageing they practice adds depth and power to the wines.

The family team own 11 hectares, most of which are in the village of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims. In recent years they have gone from strength to strength, and their wines are snapped up with speed. They block malolactic fermentation so the wines have a tensile, chalky line running through them. The extended oak ageing they practice adds depth and power to the wines. This is an exemplary non-vintage blend made up of 35% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir,35% Chardonnay. It is creamy and precise, so long and savoury. No wonder Antonio Galloni said of the cuvée: "I often find myself reaching for the [Bérêche] NV Brut Réserve, which is reliably one of the very finest Champagnes in its peer group."

This is one of the rarest and most highly-prized of the Bérêche wines. It is made to showcase just what reserve wines can do in a blend, if given enough time to develop. It includes a proportion of perpetual reserve (started in 1985), made up of wines from the best plots owned by the family. A portion of this was drawn off and then spent three years ageing sur lattes before disgorgement. It has mature, almost sherry-like notes, and a wonderfully complex, savoury and deep character. It is one of the most intriguing and though-provoking wines on the list, and certainly one of the rarest. The family team own 11 hectares, most of which are in the village of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims. In recent years they have gone from strength to strength, and their wines are snapped up with speed. They block malolactic fermentation so the wines have a tensile, chalky line running through them. The extended oak ageing they practice adds depth and power to the wines.

This blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir from an outstanding vintage is drinking superbly after some bottle age. With this time it has developed a wonderfully textural depth, with notes of tarte tatin and crème pâtissière. It finishes with tremendous energy and zip. The Tarlant family have been proudly growing grapes in the Vallée de la Marne since 1687. Their cellars are set in the village of Oueilly, and here brother and sister team, Benoit and Melanie Tarlant, have contributed a significant slice to Champagne's history (custodians of rare varieties and practitioners of long lees ageing). Their wines offer exceptional value for money to boot, particularly given the length of ageing they dedicate before release.

The Zéro Brut Nature is the signature cuvée of the Tarlant family, and the current release, based on the 2012 vintage, could not be a finer example of the quality of craftsmanship found in their wines. It is tight, chalky, and vinous feeling, with the scent of green apple and the crunch of fresh acidity. Its six years' ageing in bottle before disgorgement adds depth and creaminess. Blind, you'll trip over yourself saying it's Krug. If we had a 'house' grower champagne, this would be it.

Vilmart is a Champagne house prized by connoisseurs, and their rosé cuvée shimmers with elegance. Laurent Champs is the fifth generation of his family to make these wines, and he’s a man of passion and skill. His exacting standards in his vineyards and winery ensure exceptional wines every vintage.

Laurent Champs, owner and Chef de Cave of Vilmart, is one of Champagne’s unsung heroes. The house has been in his family for five generations, and he now farms 11 hectares and makes wines of haunting beauty. His champagnes some of the most flavoursome wines we know, with visceral freshness thanks to blocked malolactic fermentation, and superb concentration. The Cœur de Cuvée is his top wine, and even in the difficult vintage of 2010 is an unqualified success.

This 12 hectare domaine is based in Merfy, just north-west of Reims. The young Alexandre Chartogne took over the family domaine in 2006 having trained at Selosse, whose influence is seen in the way he works his vineyards. No pesticides or herbicides are used, and ploughing is done by horse. Specialising in single vineyard Champagnes, Alexandre produces eight cuvées. Antonio Galloni says his "readers will find very few growers with a deeper love of the land and all it has to say than Alexandre Chartogne." The Couarres is one of two Champagnes that Alexandre makes from the south-facing slope of sandy soils over tufa. Aged in 3-6 year old barrels. 5.5g/l dosage.

Les Orizeaux is a highly-prized and sought-after cuvée from Alexandre. It is made from 100% Pinot Noir, from vines planted in 1961 on a patch of sandy soils over a limestone bedrock, just above Les Barres. The wine is aged in old oak barrels, and the red berry warmth of the fruit comes through on the creamy finish. Dosage 3.5g/l. This 12 hectare domaine is based in Merfy, just north-west of Reims. The young Alexandre Chartogne took over the family domaine in 2006 having trained at Selosse, whose influence is seen in the way he works his vineyards. No pesticides or herbicides are used, and ploughing is done by horse. Specialising in single vineyard Champagnes, Alexandre produces eight cuvées. Antonio Galloni says his "readers will find very few growers with a deeper love of the land and all it has to say than Alexandre Chartogne."

Les Semlables comes from various plots which share the common themes of Kimmeridgian limestone and north/north-west aspects. This blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) is both juicy and vibrant with an energetic drive. Zero dosage keeps it brisk and razor-sharp. Clandestin is a joint venture by the young Benoît Doussot, who graduated from Beaune in just 2015, and Bertrant Gautherot of Vouette et Sorbée. Strictly speaking, it is technically a micro-négociant, but with all the detail and quality of a grower, with a very promising future. Having grown up, studied, and trained in Burgundy, Benoît is a dab hand at oak élevage. Given that this project is so young, only a few cuvées have been released, and the reaction of fellow growers and critics has been overwhelmingly positive. So watch this space.

Clandestin is a joint venture by the young Benoît Doussot, who graduated from Beaune in just 2015, and Bertrant Gautherot of Vouette et Sorbée. Strictly speaking, it is technically a micro-négociant, but with all the detail and quality of a grower, with a very promising future. Having grown up, studied, and trained in Burgundy, Benoît is a dab hand at oak élevage. Given that this project is so young, only a few cuvées have been released, and the reaction of fellow growers and critics has been overwhelmingly positive. So watch this space. Les Grandes Lignes is a blanc de blancs which comes from the south-facing lieu dit of Sorbée in Buxières-sur-Arce, on Portlandian limestone soils, certified organic since 2015.

100% Chardonnay. This is a joint venture by the young Benoît Doussot, who graduated from Beaune in just 2015, and Bertrant Gautherot of Vouette et Sorbée. Strictly speaking, a micro-negociant, but with all the detail and quality of a grower. Having grown up, studied, and trained in Burgundy, Benoît is a dab hand at oak élevage. Given that this project is so young, only a few cuvées have been released, and the reaction of fellow growers and critics has been overwhelmingly positive. So watch this space, Clandestin has a very promising future. Les Grandes Lignes comes from the south-facing lieu dit of Sorbée in Buxières-sur-Arce, on Portlandian limestone soils, certified organic since 2015. Only 3,000 bottles produced.

You'd be forgiven for thinking that Maison Collard Picard, with their cellars on the Avenue de Champagne in Epernay, was a.n.other negociant Champagne house. But in fact, this 16 hectare domaine is a true grower. They have vines in both the Côte des Blancs (Le Mesnil-sur-Oger) and the Vallée de la Marne. The Cuvée Prestige has such an appealing exuberance to it: plump ripeness of fruit with racy freshness.

Egly-Ouriet is one of the most respected and established grower Champagne domaines on the Montagne de Reims, with high-tech and spacious cellars set in Ambonnay. It is run by the hugely talented Francis Egly who is now joined by daughter Clémence. All the vines are classified grand cru, spread across the villages of Ambonnay, Bouzy and Verzenay. Their wines are thrilling and vivacious, with a wonderful vinous intensity, and have quite rightly earned them a cult following. Their Vieillissement Prolongé ('VP') is a blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, and spends an astonishing 84 months sur lie. This release is a blend of the 2011 and 2012 vinatges (50% each), and was disgorged in July 2020. With a dosage of just 2 grams per litre, it is chalky, persistant, direct, and deep, with an effortless and stylish richness from the extended ageing.

This is a tiny 2.5 hectare estate joust south-west of Reims. Emmanuel's first bottling was in 2002, and since then he has built up an enthusiastic following. Certified organic, the grapes are always picked with at least 10% potential alcohol as Emmanuel never chaptalizes, believing the process to dampen the aromatics of the wines. In 2000 he invested in a small vertical basket press, about half the size of a normal one. He vinifies the various plots that go into this wine seperately, and carefully decides what makes it into the final blend. This release has 2016 at the heart of the blend. Hard to find, thanks to the tiny production, but well worth it when you do.

This wine from François Secondé has been one of the best value finds of our grower champagne search: it offers a pretty and open nose, floral and vinous at the same time. The palate has a deliciously creamy, lemon sherbert character which culminated with a long creamy finish. Winemaking history in Sillery, on the Montagne de Reims, goes back centuries, but today it is little known by those outside Champagne. But the value on offer in this brilliant wine from the village's only quality grower means its well worth seeking out.

Guillaume Sergent is a rising star in the grower Champagne circle, and definitely one to watch. With just 1.5 hectares of vines in the villages of Vrigny and Coulommes, he is able to lavish extreme attention to detail on his wines. He uses oak sensitively, and carries out vinification in 3-7 year old barrels, but resists long ageing in oak. This wine is unfined and unfiltered and has spent a year and a half on its lees in bottle before disgorgement. This is a blend of Chardonnay from two vineyards: Les Prés in Vrigny, an east-facing vineyard on sandy soils, and Les Vignes Dieu, a south-facing parcel in Coulommes that has chalky soils. Dosage of just 1g/l. The 2018 is an exciting follow up to the 2016 we had previously bought: creamy, precise and effortlessly elegant.

Like his Prés Dieu cuvée, this wine is unfined and unfiltered and has spent a year and a half on its lees in bottle before disgorgement. The Pinot fruit (50/50 Noir & Meunier) gives it a richness and breadth, and make it another example of Guillaume's superb talent. He is a rising star in the grower Champagne circle, and definitely one to watch. With just 1.5 hectares of vines in the villages of Vrigny and Coulommes, he is able to lavish extreme attention to detail on his wines. He uses oak sensitively, and carries out vinification in 3-7 year old barrels, but resists long ageing in oak.

Brothers François and Pierre Huré have brought a wealth of experience gained from winemaking stints all over the world, from Burgundy to New Zealand, to their family domaine in the village of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims. The domaine picked up its 'Frères' in the previous generation, when three brothers ran the show. Family collaboration, hard work, and dedication across the generations has ensured the success of this 10 hectare domaine, whose wines are discreet and elegant, sometimes a little shy at first, but show a profound depth of flavour as they open up in the glass. Their flagship wine, Invitation, is a blend of the three classic varieties, and is a masterclass in creamy, tasty, long and inviting Champagne with impeccable balance.

Mémoire is one of the most exciting wines in the Huré cellar, drawing on the perpetual reserve started in 1982. You can feel the depth of the older wine herein this vinous and structured wine that is crying out to be drunk with food. Its deep, plush flavour gets better every time you return to the glass. Brothers François and Pierre Huré have brought a wealth of experience gained from winemaking stints all over the world, from Burgundy to New Zealand, to their family domaine in the village of Ludes on the Montagne de Reims. The domaine picked up its 'Frères' in the previous generation, when three brothers ran the show. Family collaboration, hard work, and dedication across the generations has ensured the success of this 10 hectare domaine, whose wines are discreet and elegant, sometimes a little shy at first, but show a profound depth of flavour as they open up in the glass.

Like Agrapart's famous cuvée, this uses all seven permitted varieties of Champagne. It throws a spotlight on the lesser known indigenous varieties like Arbanne and Petit Meslier. It uses a base of solera reserve (going back to 2005), which helps round out the spikier aspects of some of these high acid varieties, and weaves together an incredibly complex unity.

This cuvée is made from Pinot Meunier vines planted between 1947 and 1964. The wine is aged in 4-12 year old barrels. It undergoes no malolactic fermentation and has just 3g/l dosage. This is a sensationally terroir-driven wine, and not easy to find. Aurélien Laherte is the seventh generation of his family to grow vines in the village of Chavot-Courcourt, just to the south of Epernay in between the Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne in a sub-region known as Côteaux Sud d’Épernay. He and his family work 10 hectares across 75 parcels here and his distinctive wines have earned him a strong following. Aurélien is one of a group of dynamic young growers, along with his friend Raphaël Bérèche, who are bent on natural methods and achieving excquisite terroir expression.

This is a fairly recent addition to the Laherte stable: a fresh, spicy, and lightly fruity style of rosé. Its production is tightly limited. Aurélien Laherte is the seventh generation of his family to grow vines in the village of Chavot-Courcourt, just to the south of Epernay in between the Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne in a sub-region known as Côteaux Sud d’Épernay. He and his family work 10 hectares across 75 parcels here and his distinctive wines have earned him a strong following. Aurélien is one of a group of dynamic young growers, along with his friend Raphaël Bérèche, who are bent on natural methods and achieving excquisite terroir expression.

Aurélien Laherte is the seventh generation of his family to grow vines in the village of Chavot-Courcourt, just to the south of Epernay in between the Côte des Blancs and Vallée de la Marne in a sub-region known as Côteaux Sud d’Épernay. He and his family work 10 hectares across 75 parcels here and his distinctive wines have earned him a strong following. Aurélien is one of a group of dynamic young growers, along with his friend Raphaël Bérèche, who are bent on natural methods and achieving exquisite terroir expression. Ultradition is the flagship wine of the estate, and showcases how well Pinot Meunier suits the clay-limestone soils in this part of Champagne. The bright floral nose makes this a brilliant aperitif Champagne, yet the smooth and balanced weight of the palate makes it equally well suited to food. Take your pick.

A succesful handover between the generations has recently taken place between father Jean-Pierre and daughter Ophélie Lamiable at this small, promising domaine tucked up just north of Epernay. They are technically in the Vallée de la Marne, but quite honestly, so close to Bouzy they can almost count themselves on the Montagne de Reims. They enjoy a large proportion of old vines (the average age is 45 years, which is ancient in Champagne terms). The small volume they produce is the only thing not going for this cuvée, which offers up charm and delicious balance for a very reasonable price. It is a blend of perpetual reserve wine with recent vintages and has a bright, floral nose, followed but some steely depth beneath.

Lerclerc Briant's history stretches back to 1872, but its most interesting chapter has been since Chef de Cave Hervé Justin joined in 2012. Notable for his unorthodox approach to ageing, in his hands the house has grabbed attention for such practices as ageing wines in gold-lined tanks, and submerging bottles deep underwater off the coast of Brittany. But don't let these apparent follies disuade you from trying the excellent 2014, whose frame and length mark it out as quintessential and classical top-class Champagne. Its concentration, energy and balance have much more to do with Hervé's enthusiasm for biodynamic farming. It is a vibrant, steely style, with a long and tense, textured finish. Absolutley delicious. Disgorged September 2020, with 3 g/l dosage.

Lilbert is a tiny estate, just 3.5 hecatres, and their graceful Cramant wines - one of the prized grand cru villages of the Côte des Blancs - are highly sought-after by connoisseurs. This non-vintage grand cru is a blend of 50% 2016 and 50% reserve wine. It has a sea air, briny freshness, and is so quintessentially chalky blanc de blancs on the nose. The palate has a soft mousse (it is slightly lower pressure than mainstream Champagnes) and a salty, fresh length with an agile weight. It is discreet and reserved on first opening, but its reticent refrain opens up with some coaxing. One for the purists.

This is highly-respected estate in the heart of the Côte des Blancs is famed for its scintellating blanc de blancs. It has an impressive history, dating back to 1858, and today is being taken to ever greater heights by current incumbant, Rodolphe Péters, the sixth generation of the family to farm in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Under his stewardship the wines now enjoy insatiable demand. The domaine is curretly 20 hectares, and whilst many growers have pursued single vineyard expressions, Rodolphe favours blends. The heart of this blend comes from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, with the balance coming from Oger, Avize and Cramant. It is without doubt one of the most sought-after non-vintage cuvées on the grower champagne circuit, thanks to its terrific value and sheer quality.

Strictly limited to 6 bottles per customer

Like many of the Pierre Péters wines, this comes principally from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, with the balance drawn from the grand cru villages of Oger, Avize and Cramant. The difference here is that there is low dosage (just 2g/l compared to the 5-7g/l seen in the domaine's other blends). This is highly-respected estate in the heart of the Côte des Blancs is famed for its scintellating blanc de blancs. It has an impressive history, dating back to 1858, and today is being taken to ever greater heights by current incumbant, Rodolphe Péters, the sixth generation of the family to farm in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Under his stewardship the wines now enjoy insatiable demand. The domaine is currently 20 hectares, and whilst many growers have pursued single vineyard expressions, Rodolphe favours blends.

Strictly limited to 6 bottles per customer

La Grande Réserve is a step up on the Cuvée Réserve, and drawn from four of Rodolphe's top vineyards in the Côte des Blancs (Le Mesnil, Avize, Cramant, Oger) with 20% reserve wine. It is aged for 36 months before disgorgement. This is highly-respected estate in the heart of the Côte des Blancs is famed for its scintellating blanc de blancs. It has an impressive history, dating back to 1858, and today is being taken to ever greater heights by current incumbant, Rodolphe Péters, the sixth generation of the family to farm in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Under his stewardship the wines now enjoy insatiable demand. The domaine is currently 20 hectares, and whilst many growers have pursued single vineyard expressions, Rodolphe favours blends.

This follows the format of the non-vintage blends, in that it comes from a combination of vineyards in Oger, Avize, Cramant, and the majority from Mesnil-sur-Oger, but this is of course a single vintage expression, rather than a blend of vintages. This is highly-respected estate in the heart of the Côte des Blancs is famed for its scintellating blanc de blancs. It has an impressive history, dating back to 1858, and today is being taken to ever greater heights by current incumbant, Rodolphe Péters, the sixth generation of the family to farm in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Under his stewardship the wines now enjoy insatiable demand. The domaine is now 20 hectares, and whilst many growers have pursued single vineyard expressions, Rodolphe favours blends.

This is a wine that thrills blanc de blancs enthusiasts and its huge demand is often frustrated by tiny quantities. The 2014 is another stellar example of the Péters style of energy, vim, and donwright deliciousness. It comes from three plots of old vines in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and is the flagship wine sof the estate. This is highly-respected estate in the heart of the Côte des Blancs is famed for its scintellating blanc de blancs. It has an impressive history, dating back to 1858, and today is being taken to ever greater heights by current incumbant, Rodolphe Péters, the sixth generation of the family to farm in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Under his stewardship the wines now enjoy insatiable demand. The domaine is currently 20 hectares, and whilst many growers have pursued single vineyard expressions, Rodolphe favours blends.

Eric and Isabelle Coulon are the eighth generation of the family to make wines here, from their 10.8 hectare estate in Vrigny, on the Montagne de Reims. They farm with an uncommon closeness to the land, ploughing the soils and eschewing chemical intervention in both the vineyard and cellar. They favour long ageing and slightly lower pressure than the norm in Champagne (5 bars as opposed to 6), so the wines have a creamy, moussy texture. This rosé is 100% Pinot Meunier from old vines planted in Vrigny and Gueux. They use a short maceration to extract a pretty copper hue and the wine has a peppery, red fruit character which marries well with the creamy style.

Papillon is one of two wines Ruppert-Leroy produce from the Fosse Grely lieu dit, which was the first planted by Bénédicte's father. She and her husband, Emmanuel, inherited the vines in 2010 and Ruppert-Leroy was born. Today they run the small but exceptionally high-quality biodynamic 4 hectare domaine in the Aube. Since their first vintage they have excelled, and their wines are now regular name-checks on the best wine lists. Like all of their wines, this has zero dosage. The name takes its inspiration from the remarkable biodiversity found here, where 30 species of butterfly have been recorded on the steep rocky slope sheltered by a forest.

This high-altitude lieu dit was the first that Bénédicte's father planted. She and her husband, Emmanuel, inherited the vines in 2010 and Ruppert-Leroy was born. Today they run the small but exceptionally high-quality biodynamic 4 hectare domaine in the Aube. Since their first vintage they have excelled, and their wines are now regular name-checks on the best wine lists. Like all of their wines, this has zero dosage.

Emmanuel and Bénédicte Leroy run a small but exceptionally high quality 4 hectare domaine in the Aube. Since their first vintage in 2010 they have excelled, and their wines are now regular name-checks on the best wine lists. Vines were inherited from Bénédicte's father, and are now all farmed biodynamically. The wine comes from a small high-altitude parcel. Of all their cuvées it is this one that demands the longest ageing to fully express itself.

Yann Vadin is only in his late 20s, but has already earned huge respect for his wines, made from over 100 parcels scattered across 7 hectares in the Premier Cru village of Cumières to the north of Epernay and six other villages such as Aÿ, Damery, and Hautvillers. The domaine is certified organic, and practicing biodynamic. Renaissance comes exclusively from 40 year old Pinot Meunier grown in Cumières. It is made up of 80% from 2018 and 20% from 2017, it has not undergone malolactic fermentation, and is neither fined nor filtered. Yann has been experimenting with fermentation vessels, such as amphorae, but the technique that most defines his wines is the long bottle ageing he practices. The wine feels so subtle and composed, with a delicate floral nose and a soft creamy palate that glides. For the moment this estate represents seriously good value, and this is surely one of the stars of the future.

A mere 600 bottles of this cuvée were made from Yann Vadin's half hectare parcel of 60 year old Pinot Noir vines. Vinification in cement eggs, stainless steel tanks and old barrels was followed by ageing under cork before disgorgement with zero dosage in 2018. Considering the attention to detail and limited volume, this is exceptional value for money. Yann Vadin is only in his late 20s, but has already earned huge respect for his wines, made from over 100 parcels scattered across 7 hectares in the Premier Cru village of Cumières to the north of Epernay and six other villages such as Ay, Damery, and Hautvillers. The domaine is certified organic, and practicing biodynamic.