Every year, we come together to sample sparkling wines and practice sabrage skills, all in anticipation of the holiday season. Typically, we mix and match Champagne with exceptional sparkling wines from around the globe. This time, however, we decided to zero in on the Champagne region, where it all began.
What made this Champagne Tasting particularly exciting was the incredible variety of Champagne styles available, but this also posed a challenge as we had to carefully select which ones to include and which to leave out
Andre Clouet Chalky Brut ($65)
Obviously, we needed to start with non-vintage (NV) Champagne, which is by far the most common and broad style. To make it more exciting than just non-vintage, we picked Andre Clouet’s ‘Chalky’ Brut showcasing another style at the same time – Blanc de Blanc.
‘Chalky’ playfully references the unique soils that have made Champagne famous! This cuvée is crafted from Chardonnays, with one-third coming from the Montagne de Reims and two-thirds from the Côte de Blancs.
What’s unique about Chalky is that it breaks away from Clouet’s usual focus on Pinot Noir. Jean-François, the talented winemaker and descendant of André Clouet, loves a challenge and excels at extracting balance and flavor from this grape. Switching to a Blanc de Blancs is intriguing, but it’s no surprise, given his skill!
Aged for 36 months on its lees, the Chalky Blanc de Blancs is creamy, mineral-rich, and true to its name—deliciously chalky
2012 Joseph Perrier “La Côte à Bras” Cumières 1er Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature ($100)
It made perfect sense to showcase the polar opposite of ‘Chalky’ – vintage Blanc de Noir. But wait, there’s more! 2012 “La Côte à Bras” is 1er cru further pointing towards a step-up in quality. To add a layer of complexity, it’s also a Brut Nature*, a driest style Champagne.
This excellent single-vineyard Champagne comes from one of the most renowned spots in the prestigious 1er Cru of Cumieres, right on the edge of Hautvillers. What makes this release special is that, unlike many brut-nature Champagnes, it has a delightful richness that perfectly balances the absence of sugar. It’s a truly long finish and concentrated flavor profile, showcasing the beauty of 100% Pinot Noir
Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut ($75)
As most Champagnes blend of two or three of the most common grapes – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier – logically, the next bottle must be a blend. It’s also a Brut, the most common sweetness level in Champagne.
Champagne Laurent-Perrier has been making waves since it was founded in 1812! They’ve always been known for their innovative spirit, whether introducing stainless steel fermentation tanks in the 1950s, bringing back non-vintage rosé Champagne in 1968, or creating the Ultra Brut non-dosage Champagne in 1981—each move setting exciting new trends in the industry.
‘La Cuvée‘ is all about quality. It is made from the finest grape juice: 52% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 13% Pinot Meunier. This charming blend features primarily the 2018 vintage, with some lovely notes from 2016 and 2015.
This has aged for 4 years and has an 8-gram-per-liter dosage for some nice balance. In the aroma, you’ll catch hints of menthol, white fruits, lemon oil, and warm biscuits. It has excellent depth in the middle and wraps up with a fresh, light finish that’s really charming.
Cheers to a masterpiece!
2002 De Venoge Louis XV Extra Brut Rosé Millesime ($190)
The star of the evening was the 2002 De Venoge Louis XV Rosé. We introduced our guests to Rosé-style Champagne with extended ageing on lees and sweetness (or dryness) between Brut Nature and Brut.
The incredible Cuvée of de Venoge is named after the famous French king, Louis XV, who played a huge role in the story of Champagne. On May 25, 1728, he made a groundbreaking decision that allowed only Champagne wines to be sold and transported in bottles. This was the moment when the beautiful process of making sparkling wine in the bottle truly began—welcome to the birth of Champagne! The Louis XV Cuvées are extraordinary creations, made only from the finest Grands Crus and only in the best vintages, showcasing the fantastic craftsmanship of the House.
This wine greets you with delightful aromas of dried minerals, a touch of iron, and the warm scent of pie crust. Thanks to the red wine blend, it’s full-bodied and really well-structured. You’ll find it incredibly flavorful yet nicely balanced, with lovely notes of strawberry, a hint of light cherry, and whispers of earthiness. We enjoyed every sip!
Jean Vesselle Cuvee Friandise Demi-Sec Rosé ($65)
The last wine of the flight was sweeter, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to find nowadays as tastes have shifted towards drier styles.
The Vesselle family has a fantastic story that stretches back nearly 300 years in the heart of Bouzy, where they’ve been lovingly working the chalky soils. Their passion for Pinot Noir shines through in their delicious Blanc de Noirs Champagnes! With generations of expertise, they have a knack for crafting wines that beautifully combine classic Champagne elegance with the bold and rich flavors that only Bouzy’s top Pinot Noir can deliver.
The De Venoge gains its color from a blend of Pinot Noir, while the Vesselle Cuvee is a Rosé de Saignée, crafted usingred wine, which gives it a vivid, intense raspberry-pink hue. The nose opens subtly, revealing aromas of fresh strawberries and crushed raspberries, all accented by a chalky, mineral undertone that adds a sense of restraint. On the palate, it evokes the essence of strawberry sorbet or a red fruit tartlet, delivering a notable sweetness that lingers.
More Champagne and Sparkling Tasting Notes
Vintage Sparkling Wine Tasting
Tasting Vintage Champagne vs Sparkling
French Sparkling Wine Club Tasting
Champagne vs Italian Bubbles Tasting
And the Winner Is
This Champagne tasting event offered unique opportunities for our club members and novice wine enthusiasts to discover their favorite Champagne style. It was fun to observe how preferences changed as we went along.
Curiously, some perceived Chalky as having vodka or tequila-like aromas and flavors. This was their first time tasting Champagne with such a pronounced chalky personality for some.
Regarding the 2012 Joseph Perrier “La Côte à Bras,” one of our guests said, “I had many Blanc de Noirs before, but nothing like it. It was truly memorable and certainly a benchmark of style for me!”
While prices definitely affected some, and 2002 De Venoge Louis XV was a favorite for the majority, some preferred Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee over any other. For others, Vesselle Demi-Sec Rosé reigned supreme.
It was challenging for us to pick a favorite because we liked each bottle on its own merits. Still, if we had to pick one or two to try again, it would be “La Côte à Bras” and De Venoge Rosé for its complexity and long finish.
The main takeaway for our wine club members was that there’s a Champagne with their name on it. What’s yours?