Three Showstopping Champagnes with Seasonal Savings

Whether its Pinot Noir, Meunier or Chardonnay that you like leading the charge in your Champagne, with these three options we have you covered. Each of these is a model of what we look for in great Champagne – character, huge drinkability and a sense of authenticity.

Les Parcelles XX Paillard

Bouzy, along with neighbouring Ambonnay, is famed for the quality of its Pinot Noir. Here the well exposed, south facing slopes of the Montagne de Reims provide the Paillard brothers’ old vine parcels ample opportunity to achieve full ripeness and genuine Pinot Noir character without sacrificing precision or freshness. The 20 odd parcels that make up this blend have been in the Paillard family for decades – and you can sense this constant stewardship in the quality of the wines the brothers produce. This is one of our favourite editions of this excellent cuvee, based on the 2020 vintage, harvested ripe, allowed to go through malo, then raised in large oak barrels. Its crisp, resonant yet light on its feet, texturally accomplished and wonderfully detailed. Classic, but full of character.

Dehours Grande Reserve

At the other end of the Marne valley, Meunier is king. Jerome Dehours, whose vineyards sit on the left bank of the Marne is a producer who crafts wonderfully characterful Champagnes from a multitude of varied plots on this less sunny side of the river. The domaine’s non-vintage cuvee, Grande Reserve is so named because of the very high proportion of reserve wines in the blend. Aged in fuder, these reserve wines give textural breadth and depth to the new vintage, amplifying the complex flavours that come from this picture of the entire estate; just about every one of Jerome’s single vineyard cuvees features in this blend. The perfect bottle for those that like a little more generosity with their champagnes.

Philipponnat Blanc de Blancs 2018

Philipponnat may be a Maison famed for their Pinot Noir led cuvees, but recent years have seen their Blanc de Blancs cuvee on brilliant form. Now in protective green glass, we were bowled over by this cuvee when we first tasted it. Vinified in almost 40% wood, with fruit from across the Cote de Blancs, it offers up wonderfully pure, buttery white burgundy-like Chardonnay aromas on the nose, leading to more zesty citrus with air. Then on the palate, sweet minerals, a fine mousse and a dancing persistence. Blanc de Blancs enthusiasts will find much to enjoy here.