Chardonnay Exploration

Bottles individually purchased: £409

We’ve worked hard to access many great producers from across the width and breadth of Champagne. In doing so, we’re able to demonstrate just how diverse this region can be.

This case, focussing solely on Chardonnay, offers two excellent examples from the Côte des Blancs heartland, alongside cuvées from the Montagne de Reims, Marne Valley and the Petit Morin. Six different styles of this renowned grape – each as delicious as the next, but all delightfully unique.

Bonnaire Terroirs

We start off with a delicious and approachable example of classic Côte de Blancs Chardonnay – crisp, chalky and fresh with zesty citrus fruit flavours balanced by nice mid-palate weight and texture. 

Domaine Vincey Auge 2020

Staying in the Côte des Blancs, we hop down the road to Oger to see how different Chardonnay can present in virtually the same terroir. This is the second release of this cuvée and the palate is more generous and textured with layer upon layer of honey and fresh green apple. The oak adds a lovely warmth and generosity which will only enhance given time, whilst the finish lifts it all beautifully.

Famille Delouvin L'Arpent Rouge

Whilst Geoffrey Delouvin is perhaps best known for his Meunier Perpetuel cuvée, his Chardonnays are really worth exploring. Coming from a lieu-dit in the village where he's based, this wine has nice fat weight on the nose. This follows on the palate which is precise yet generous, with citrus notes and a touch of fudge.

Henriet Bazin Blanc de Blancs

The Montagne de Reims mighty be rightly famous for Pinot Noir, but there are a handful of villages that also produce excellent Chardonnay; one of which is Villers-Marmery, which manages to bring out wonderful minerality in Blanc de Blancs. 

William Saintot Blanc de Blancs

Our fourth wine sees us head to the very East of Marne Valley to Avenay Val-d'Or. This is a brilliant value Chardonnay that utilises reserve wine and oak vinification to bring deal depth and weight to the palate.

Oudiette Les Caourdets

We finish our journey in the Petit Morin – an up and coming region for Champagne production south of the Côte des Blancs – and a hugely sought after producer. Les Caourdets is the newest release from Maxime Oudiette; a single-parcel Chardonnay, planted in 1984 on a terroir of great biodiversity, with clay and iron oxide rich soil, lying on a bed of chalk, flint and limestone. 

Please note: Occasionally, due to stock availability, we may need to substitute bottles. In this situation, the replacement cuvées will be in the same style, and of the same or greater value.