Vintage Champagne Exploration

Bottles individually purchased: £468

One winemaker. One Maison. One expression. One year. If you want to truly understand what the essence of a Champagne is and the critical role climate plays, then start with a vintage. 

Spanning six different years between 2007 and 2019, each wine displays its own distinctive characteristics, whilst remaining wedded to the weather of the year it embodies.

Notes on each vintage:

2007 – Poor weather made for hard work in the vineyard, but a cool summer yielded good acidity and a classic style of Champagne.

2013 – An initially underrated harvest that is now considered to be truly excellent and reminiscent of cuvées from a bygone cooler climate. 

2015 – A vintage remembered for its high ripeness and dry, hot weather.

2016 – Weather hazards tested the mettle of the growers but, ultimately, perseverance yielded rich, fruit-forward wines with vibrant acidity.

2017 – A poor year which rewarded only those with patience and excellent selection.

2019 – Great weather created a rich ripe harvest which was one of the best examples in recent years.

Remy Lequeux-Mercier Millésime 2007

We kick off with one of a range of older vintage wines from Remy that benefits from 10+ years on lees and then subsequent bottle ageing. The nose is focussed but with ample fruit and freshness. The purity and drive of 07 nicely controls the mid palate with a lovely primary fruit layer, whilst the finish keeps central with surprising weight.

Jean Velut Temoignage 2013

A classic vintage that is now sought after by collectors and a great example of Chardonnay from the famed village of Montgueux. Gorgeously fresh on the nose with bread, green apple and toast. The palate shows brilliant acidity and brightness matched with depth, concentration and sweetness as it opens. 

Paul Clouet Bouzy Vintage 2015

Coming from the esteemed Grand Cru village of Bouzy, this pure Pinot Noir has a lovely ripe nose and opens with a surprisingly soft front end. Then the vinosity builds as expected with plenty of plump, juicy red fruits and a creamy texture on the palate. The finish has a crisp nature but isn't in any way harsh and links up nicely with the warmth of the vintage.

Bonnaire Le Bateau 2016

We return to the Côte des Blancs for the 2016 vintage and a brilliant new single-vineyard Chardonnay. Vinified in steel but aged on cork, there's the classic chalky profile of Cramant on show, with plenty of complexity that will only improve with age!

Georges Remy Le Mont de Tauxieres 2017

For our penultimate wine we show just how good a 2017 can be when handled by a brilliant winemaker. This Pinot Noir/Chardonnay blend from Georges Remy is hugely powerful, deep, dark and intense. One for fine food and contemplation.

Domaine Vincey Oger 2019

We finish with a simply brilliant Chardonnay from one of the standout producers of the past few years. Vinified in oak and aged on cork, there's lovely oxidative play and layered complexit,y with oodles of exotic fruit brilliantly integrated with the oak.

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.