Scroll down to see the wines...
For this report on the best Champagne brands to buy, I tasted approximately 150 Champagnes both in the region and from samples sent in. My final selection of 102 includes 72 latest-release vintage Champagnes, spanning the years 1999 to 2015, plus 30 non-vintage Champagnes which represent the best that the region has to offer.
{"content":"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"}
Yohan’s top-rated vintage Champagnes:
94 points and above
{}
{"wineId":"22275","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34595","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"28118","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"33025","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"33442","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"26406","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34658","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"31868","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"21593","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34625","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"29987","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34657","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"33808","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"16538","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34666","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34612","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34624","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34634","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34644","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"29990","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"29218","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34614","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34633","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34635","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34646","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34653","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{"wineId":"34665","displayCase":"standard","paywall":true}
{}
Champagne grape varieties
In most instances, Champagne is a blend of the three key permissible grape varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier) sourced from diverse sites and from several different vintages. In the past, a number of grape varieties were planted in Champagne, but now the region focuses on just three:
Pinot Noir
The main grape variety, representing 38% of total plantings, Pinot Noir brings power and depth.
Pinot Meunier
Occupying 31% of the total vineyard area, Pinot Meunier produces round, fruity wines with balanced acidity.
Chardonnay
Accounting for 30% of total plantings, Chardonnay produces a floral, mineral style and very fine wines.
Pinot Blanc, Arbane and Petit Meslier are other varieties that are still authorised for Champagne production, but they are planted in tiny amounts.
Dosage by numbers
Doux: more than 50 g/l of residual sugar.
Demi-Sec: 32-50 g/l.
Sec or dry: 17-32 g/l.
Extra-Dry: 12-17 g/l.
Brut: 0-12 g/l.
Extra-Brut: 0-6 g/l.
Brut Nature / Non-Dosé / Brut-Zéro: No dosage, and with no more than 3g/l of residual sugar remaining from fermentation.
You may also like: