Varietal

Champagne

The drink for all occasions. “In victory we deserve it! In defeat we need it!” Sir Winston Churchill.

The days of relying on a few big houses, with massive marketing budgets turning out swill are over. No longer do we have to put up with getting served battery acid with alcohol, bubbles and sugar in it.

Today, the best Champagne comes from houses dedicated to quality in the vineyard and winery. They are becoming better known and getting the recognition they deserve. More importantly, these delicious Champagnes are making their way into our glasses!

Champagne styles that can be drunk through every stage of a celebration and meal, from a crisp aperitif style to rich Blanc de Noirs made from 100% Pinot, complex blends, and, when they get it right, some of the most inspiring Rosé.

The best Champagnes are best drunk from a bigger glass, a little warmer, and, believe it or not typically taste just as good when they’ve lost their bubbles and gone flat!

Try a little salty hard cheese, Percorino or Reggiano Parmigiano work a treat to bring out the flavours.

Most Champagne is made form three grape varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and, Pinot Meunier. On rare and typically special occasions you’ll find Champagnes made with all seven permitted varieties, adding Fromenteau A.K.A Pinot Gris, Abanne, Pinot Blanc, and, Petit Meslier.

Winemakers in Champagne are master blenders. They have an arsenal of options at their disposal, whether it be combining varieties, fruit from different sites and sub-regions, fermenting and maturing base wines in different vessels, particularly old oak barrels, or, using reserve wines made using a solera system across multiple vintages often covering a period of decades.

Equally some of the finest Champagnes are made from single vineyards and vintages.

Like many of the world’s large wine regions there are efforts underway to further define the sub-regions of Champagne. Partly in a push to recognise the quality of sites previously given less recognition.

You can explore the world of Champagne further in the Wine Bites Mag.


Egly's Latest Disgorgement


Egly-Ouriet 1er Cru ‘Les Vignes de Bisseuil’ Base 18 NV

Blend | Vallée de la Marne, Bisseuil

Egly easily sits in my list of top 5 Champagne Houses This is only the second release of Egly’s Chardonnay dominant cuvée. It comes from a plot of vines on the south-facing slopes of Bisseuil, a village just to the east of the famous Grand Cru communes of Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. While these villages are more renowned for Pinot Noir, Bisseuil is the only village in the area that has more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir in its vineyards. That’s why the blend here is 70% Chardonnay with 15%
The Fizz Master at Work!

Egly-Ouriet Grand Cru Tradition Base 18 NV

Blend | Verzenay, Ambonnay

Egly easily sits in my list of top 5 Champagne Houses The top end of the Champgne spectrum is often perceived (due to a lot of marketing) to be the Super Cuvées like Dom Perignon and Krug. Don’t get me wrong these are great wines. The thing is when you get the chance and taste the top wines from Grower Champagne houses like Egly-Ouriet you find yourself taking things to an all new level. Their vineyards are immaculate, the fruit comes in with so much intensity you could happily drink the fini
Combining richness with precision, an incredible texture & complexity make it almost impossible to describe this wine! The hallmarks of greatness. This wine truly takes me to a happy place. Tasted next to Krug NV, a very good bottle at that, the Egly was inspirational. The élévage of this wine is simply perfect. Taking the time to mature base wines before blending and bottling makes an incredible difference to fruit of this quality, adding 70 months on lees has brought this wine together b
$720
$705ea in any 3+
$690ea in any 6+
Combining richness with precision, an incredible texture & complexity make it almost impossible to describe this wine! The hallmarks of greatness. This wine truly takes me to a happy place. Tasted next to Krug NV, a very good bottle at that, the Egly was inspirational. The élévage of this wine is simply perfect. Taking the time to mature base wines before blending and bottling makes an incredible difference to fruit of this quality, adding 70 months on lees has brought this wine together b
$750
$735ea in any 3+
$720ea in any 6+
Combining richness with precision, an incredible texture & complexity make it almost impossible to describe this wine! The hallmarks of greatness. This wine truly takes me to a happy place. Tasted next to Krug NV, a very good bottle at that, the Egly was inspirational. The élévage of this wine is simply perfect. Taking the time to mature base wines before blending and bottling makes an incredible difference to fruit of this quality, adding 70 months on lees has brought this wine together b

Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru Millesime 2014

Blend | Montagne de Reims, Ambonnay

“One of the very finest wines produced in this less heralded vintage is Egly's 2014 Brut Grand Cru Millésime, a strikingly vinous and enveloping Champagne that wafts from the glass with aromas of pear, mirabelle plum, freshly baked bread, almond paste and honeycomb. Full-bodied, satiny and layered, its textural attack segues into a deep, concentrated mid-palate of exceptional purity and cut, concluding with a long, penetrating and mouthwateringly saline finish. As ever, it's a blend of some 7

Clouet


Clouet

André Clouet V6 Experience NV

Pinot Noir | Champagne, Bouzy

This is very, very clever winemaking! This is very, very clever winemaking. Typically blended from a couple of strong vintages separated by a few year with a good slug of reserve wine builds richness and mid-palate weight. The cleverest play comes with the second fermentation and disgorgement: the seal used for the bottle during second fermentation allows a tiny amount of oxygen in each year. This promotes character development, harmonising the blend and layering in new elements. The bea
$120
$115ea in any 3+
$110ea in any 6+
Celebrate in Style!
Superb expression of bubbles made from Pinot Noir! Incredible fruit intensity, rich full style with plenty of personality. Heaps going on. Bubbles that you can take beyond an aperitif, it'll happily sit alongside a decent plate of nosh. Time on lees and post disgorgement have harmonised a wine that is yet another example of quality fruit and thoughtful winemaking. This 2015 Vintage sits proud next to the divine 1911 & V6. It takes year of training and experience for a winemaker to unde
$135
$130ea in any 3+
$125ea in any 6+

André Clouet Dream Vintage 2016

Chardonnay | Champagne

This 2016 Dream Vintage sits proud next to the divine 1911 & V6. Made with 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay it is an enigma for a Champagne house dominated by Pinot Noir from Bouzy. As the name implies it is only made in the best years. As always, Jean François Clouet has created a complete Champagne harnessing time to yield a beautifully developed bottle of fizz adding richness and generosity to a linear, mineral backbone of Chardonnay. I get the feeling there is a lot more than meets the eye
$136
$131ea in any 3+
$126ea in any 6+

André Clouet Chalky NV

Chardonnay | Montagne de Reims, Champagne

A Blanc de Blanc from the Pinot Master of Bouzy! Chalk soils have long been considered one of the key resources enabling the Champagne region to produce such intense and refined wines. Aiming to highlight this relationship, Andre Clouet have released a new wine in their range further dialing up the crisp and salty flavours so prevalent in wines from these chalk rich soils. A 100% Chardonnay cuvee, this initial release of “Chalky” is entirely from the outstanding 2013 vintage, with vineyar
$127
$122ea in any 3+
$117ea in any 6+
Such depth!

André Clouet Cuvee 1911

Pinot Noir | Champagne, Bouzy

Fermented in Sauternes barrels, this baby has an extra dimension of pleasure woven in! 100% pinot noir from Clouet's 10 best plots, dubbed by Jean-Francois 'the golden square of Bouzy' 50% fermented in Sauternes barriques from Doisy-Daëne, 50% solera of reserve wines; full malolactic fermentation, a symbolic production of just 1911 bottles. All this combined with a slightly lower pressure gives the wine a lucious mouthfeel. It just draws you in! Incredible layered and complex, playing oxida
$189
$182ea in any 3+
$175ea in any 6+
Celebrate in Style!

André Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV

Pinot Noir | France, Bouzy

Superb expression of bubbles made from Pinot Noir! Clouet is a Pinot specialist and this is a seriously good Blanc de Noir (White of Black). Incredible fruit intensity, rich full style with plenty of personality. Heaps going on. Bubbles that you can take beyond an aperitif, it'll happily sit alongside a decent plate of nosh. Available in Magnum!
$94
$90ea in any 3+
$86ea in any 6+

André Clouet Silver Brut Nature NV

Pinot Noir | Champagne, Ambonnay

Zero dosage wines have nowhere to hide! They simply must stand on their own two feet! The depth of fruit flows full length of your tongue finding it's way through juicy mineral acid of great length. The incredible purity of the wine is strikes instantly. As it warms a little the expression of Pinot comes through and you realise just how necessary the acid is in order to tame the rich fruit. Available in Magnum!
$95
$91ea in any 3+
$87ea in any 6+
Available in Magnum Too!

André Clouet Brut Rosé NV

Pinot Noir | Champagne, Ambonnay

Amid an ocean of Champagne Rosé this is one of the few that stands out! A Rosé with great poise, well balanced, with a great depth and length of fruit delicious Pinot fruit. No need to rely on excessive sugar to make up for poor fruit here! The texture and spice from the addition of a small percentage of red wine to colour the Rosé is just right adding intrigue and cleansing your palate. Rosé as it should be!
$112
$109ea in any 3+
$106ea in any 6+

Magnums

Filters & Sorting

Showing 80 Delicious Wines!

House Fizz!

R.H.Coutier Ambonnay Cuvée Tradition Grand Cru HALF NV

Blend | Montagne de Reims, Ambonnay

Coutier is to Ambonnay what Clouet is to Bouzy! Coutier is to Ambonnay what Clouet is to Bouzy! Two villages just around the corner from each other. Two makers dishing out some seriously tasty vino. Ambonnay is the home to so many great vineyards. Judging by the vino Coutier is playing with the best of them. Their NV along with Clouet’s would have to rate as two of the best value Champagnes at the mo. The Brut tradition is 30-40% Chardonnay 60-70% Pinot in any given release and around 40% r
$48
$45ea in any 3+
$42ea in any 6+
Celebrate in Style!

André Clouet Grande Reserve Brut HALF NV

Pinot Noir | France, Bouzy

Superb expression of bubbles made from Pinot Noir! Clouet is a Pinot specialist and this is a seriously good Blanc de Noir (White of Black). Incredible fruit intensity, rich full style with plenty of personality. Heaps going on. Bubbles that you can take beyond an aperitif, it'll happily sit alongside a decent plate of nosh. Available in Magnum!
$59
$56ea in any 3+
$53ea in any 6+

Philipponnat Royale Reserve HALF NV

Blend | Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Champagne

Disgorged in June 2020 with eight grams per liter dosage, the latest release of Philipponnat's NV Brut Royale Réserve is based on the 2016 vintage, with 27% reserve wines. Offering up aromas of peach, pear and plum mingled with apple blossom and sweet pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and expressive, with a pillowy mousse and a generous core of fruit, underpinned by bright acids. William Kelly
$65
$62ea in any 3+
$59ea in any 6+
House Fizz!

R.H.Coutier Ambonnay Cuvée Tradition Grand Cru NV

Blend | Montagne de Reims, Ambonnay

Coutier is to Ambonnay what Clouet is to Bouzy! Coutier is to Ambonnay what Clouet is to Bouzy! Two villages just around the corner from each other. Two makers dishing out some seriously tasty vino. Ambonnay is the home to so many great vineyards. Judging by the vino Coutier is playing with the best of them. Their NV along with Clouet’s would have to rate as two of the best value Champagnes at the mo. The Brut tradition is 25-40% Chardonnay 60-75% Pinot in any given release and around 40% r
$86
$82ea in any 3+
$78ea in any 6+
Celebrate in Style!

André Clouet Grande Reserve Brut NV

Pinot Noir | France, Bouzy

Superb expression of bubbles made from Pinot Noir! Clouet is a Pinot specialist and this is a seriously good Blanc de Noir (White of Black). Incredible fruit intensity, rich full style with plenty of personality. Heaps going on. Bubbles that you can take beyond an aperitif, it'll happily sit alongside a decent plate of nosh. Available in Magnum!
$94
$90ea in any 3+
$86ea in any 6+

André Clouet Silver Brut Nature NV

Pinot Noir | Champagne, Ambonnay

Zero dosage wines have nowhere to hide! They simply must stand on their own two feet! The depth of fruit flows full length of your tongue finding it's way through juicy mineral acid of great length. The incredible purity of the wine is strikes instantly. As it warms a little the expression of Pinot comes through and you realise just how necessary the acid is in order to tame the rich fruit. Available in Magnum!
$95
$91ea in any 3+
$87ea in any 6+

Rainoldi Nebbiolo Brut Rosé 2018

Rosé | Valtellina, Inferno

First released in 1980! Cracking 'Metodo Classico' fizz from Valtellina! I've had some solid sparkling Nebbiolo from Piedmont before. None quite like this! When this was poured for me I had no expectations and ended up having a WOW! moment. Made from Chiavennasca 92% A.K.A Nebbiolo, Pignola 4%, Rossola 4%. Excellent texture and mousse, light salmon colour with a red fruit down the raspberry line, superb acid, balancing alow dose. Very sophisticated. A play of light woody herbs, rose, fa
$95
$90ea in any 3+
$85ea in any 6+
Insane flavour!
There's a purity & intensity about this wine the combined with the juicy acid is so so satisfying! The Côte des Blancs is home to all the great Chardonnay vineyards in Champagne. The Grand Cru vineyards are the best of these. When I worked at Legras et Haas, the Grand Cru Chardonnay was exceptional. I was blown away just tasting the juice. The quality of this wine reminds me of that oh so delicious juice! Péters' flagship Champagne is a blend of 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay spanning more than
$105
$100ea in any 3+
$95ea in any 6+

Philipponnat Royale Reserve NV

Blend | Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Champagne

Disgorged in June 2020 with eight grams per liter dosage, the latest release of Philipponnat's NV Brut Royale Réserve is based on the 2016 vintage, with 27% reserve wines. Offering up aromas of peach, pear and plum mingled with apple blossom and sweet pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and expressive, with a pillowy mousse and a generous core of fruit, underpinned by bright acids. William Kelly
$107
$102ea in any 3+
$97ea in any 6+
There's a lot to enjoy now and it'll be hard to keep your hands off it! Excellent, tension, playful, with personality. Plenty going on layered very complex. The quality of fruit is clear, wonderful depth and length.  A little edge of honey development. Baking spice crème pâtissière layer in. The balance of the 3 varieties makes for a very complete wine. All showing their form and making for a wine greater than the sum of its parts. My preference for fizz with a little development will be ric
$108
$103ea in any 3+
$98ea in any 6+
Available in Magnum Too!

André Clouet Brut Rosé NV

Pinot Noir | Champagne, Ambonnay

Amid an ocean of Champagne Rosé this is one of the few that stands out! A Rosé with great poise, well balanced, with a great depth and length of fruit delicious Pinot fruit. No need to rely on excessive sugar to make up for poor fruit here! The texture and spice from the addition of a small percentage of red wine to colour the Rosé is just right adding intrigue and cleansing your palate. Rosé as it should be!
$112
$109ea in any 3+
$106ea in any 6+

Champagne Vincent Brochet Extra Brut (Base 2015) NV

Blend | Montagne de Reims, France

Fresh & delicious with energy, it's vital, alive! This is excellent. Fresh & delicious with energy, it's vital, alive. The blend makes for a Pinot heart shape with a Chardonnay tail giving it length. At 3g/l the fruit quality is shining through. Depth and length, fresh red fruits with a little citrus underneath. Acid balance on the money. Excellent expression. Just the right amount of grip. Ruby grapefruit, pith. Great fizz.
$118
$113ea in any 3+
$108ea in any 6+

André Clouet V6 Experience NV

Pinot Noir | Champagne, Bouzy

This is very, very clever winemaking! This is very, very clever winemaking. Typically blended from a couple of strong vintages separated by a few year with a good slug of reserve wine builds richness and mid-palate weight. The cleverest play comes with the second fermentation and disgorgement: the seal used for the bottle during second fermentation allows a tiny amount of oxygen in each year. This promotes character development, harmonising the blend and layering in new elements. The bea
$120
$115ea in any 3+
$110ea in any 6+

Champagne Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy Empreinte Brut Nature 2014

Pinot Noir | Vallée de la Marne, Champagne

So many wines are missing the high and low notes from their repetoire. Here you get the full spectrum from perfume to earthy secondary characters! Excellent poise length and balance here. Epic tension with super fine acid and mousse. Delicacy with power. Extremely sophisticated. The build in flavour after you swallow is exceptional, a little baking spice. Strawb, Rhubarb, fine line of phenolics. Layered, complex, superb. Lively & vital with wonderful harmony. So many wines are missing the hi
$122
$117ea in any 3+
$112ea in any 6+

JM Sélèque Solessence Nature (2015) NV

Champagne | France, Champagne

Brut Nature wines by default have nothing to hide behind so the fruit has to do the talking ... JM's is positively SHOUTING! Excellent purity. Singular, refined. Superb love the line and length with excellent harmony. Pithy, layered, red berries. Excellent secondary development. Although the call is that this is the standard Solessence with no dose, it clearly is not. For a start it's the base vintage is 4 years older, & it has been disgorged for almost 2 years. I can't understate just how m
$124
$119ea in any 3+
$114ea in any 6+

André Clouet Chalky NV

Chardonnay | Montagne de Reims, Champagne

A Blanc de Blanc from the Pinot Master of Bouzy! Chalk soils have long been considered one of the key resources enabling the Champagne region to produce such intense and refined wines. Aiming to highlight this relationship, Andre Clouet have released a new wine in their range further dialing up the crisp and salty flavours so prevalent in wines from these chalk rich soils. A 100% Chardonnay cuvee, this initial release of “Chalky” is entirely from the outstanding 2013 vintage, with vineyar
$127
$122ea in any 3+
$117ea in any 6+