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Champagne 2012: Top bottles to buy this winter

Yohan Castaing looks back at the rollercoaster ride that was Champagne’s 2012 vintage. Plus, we round up the best 21 bottles tasted this year worth seeking out,

The 2012 vintage stands out for the quality of the Champagnes, but also for an apocalyptic growing season that ended in heavenly conditions for the harvest.


Scroll down to see a selection of top-scoring 2012 vintage Champagnes worth seeking out 


The vintage conditions were hellish from the start, marked by winter and spring frosts, torrential rains and hailstorms. An outbreak of fungal diseases including oidium, a cold snap during the crucial flowering phase, some hydric stress and scorched berries during the summer leading up to the harvest made for an ongoing battle fought by wine-growers.


See a selection of top-scoring 2012 vintage Champagnes worth seeking out 

The following Champagnes have all been recommended on Decanter Premium during the past 12 months.


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