News — Grower Champagne

Absolutely Spectacular:
Ulysses Collin Blanc de Blancs Les Roises (2017 Base, 72 months)

The 2017 Roises 72 months has a stunning mineral-laden texture with an impressive spectrum of flavors—from layers of vibrant citrus and stone fruits to notes of soil, smoke, and slate. It works on so many registers that it seems to hit your senses from every angle.

Don't Miss $50 Grower Champagne:
G. Wanner Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut XIX (2019 base)

We are constantly on the hunt for champagnes that clock in under $50. It's very rare that we find one that truly delivers. 

Cult Champagne, Part II:
Gaspard Brochet Brut Nature 333f NV

This cuvée was our introduction to Brochet's champagnes. It's so thrilling that it's hard to imagine a better calling card. The combination of rigor and depth makes it seriously compelling. 

Champagne 1990-2022: Chartogne-Taillet, Ulysse Collin, Pierre Peters,
Prevost, Salon, Savart, Selosse, Taittinger & More

This list of nearly three dozen champagnes covers a lot of ground.

Not to be missed cult champagne:
2021 Elisse Bougy Champagne Chétillon de Haut

Elise Bougy's meticulously crafted champagne may largely cruise under the radar, but for people who know them, they are wines to aggressively seek out.

Not To Be Missed:
2021 Champagne Elise Bougy Le Mont Chainqueux Blanc De Noirs 1er Cru

Elise Bougy's meticulously crafted champagne may largely cruise under the radar, but for people who know them, they are wines to aggressively seek out.

Champagne! Bérêche, Collin, Dom Pérignon, Fallon,
Laval, Prevost, Savart, Vilmart, & More

The list includes many of the top Grande Marques: Dom Pérignon, Dom Ruinart, Philipponnat's Clos des Goisses, Roederer's Cristal, and Taittinger CdC. There are back-vintages and large formats from this illustrious group of champagne houses. 

Champagne!
Bérèche, Bouchard, Collin, Fallon, Krug, Philipponnat,
Prevost, Salon, Savart, Selosse, & More

I had a lot of fun putting this list together. It includes many of my favorite Champagnes. 

Brilliance in the Côte des Blancs: 2017 Agrapart Minéral Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru

It's Minéral's kinetic energy and finesse that make it one of our favorite grower Champagnes.

"One of Champagne's brightest young talents"
2017 Renoir Les Epinettes Grand Cru

In 2019, I named Renoir's 2015 Les Epinettes my wine of the year. Today, I'm happy to follow up with the impressive 2017 Epinettes.  

Grower Champagne Essential
Robert Moncuit Réserve Perpétuelle Blanc de Blancs

When everything is considered, this is one of our top champagne picks for the holiday season. Seldom do price, accessibility, and seriousness intersect in such a profound way.

Chartogne-Taillet Single-Vineyards:
Les Barres, Les Couarres, Chemin de Reims, & Orizeaux

Chartogne-Taillet's lineup reaches its pinnacle in the exactingly-rendered single-vineyard bottlings. They dramatize just how sensitive and precise the winemaking is.

Selosse: From Initial to Lieux-Dits 6-Packs & Much More

"It’s rare to find a champagne, or indeed, a wine of any kind, as profound" - Peter Liem

Few wines on the planet imprint themselves on your memory the way Selosse's do. He is the most original, most game-changing producer in Champagne.

"One of the finest grower-producers" - Ledru Extra Brut NV

Chartogne-Taillet Single-Vineyard Debut
Chartogne-Taillet Les Barres Pinot Noir Extra Brut NV

After working with Anselme Selosse, Alexandre Chartogne returned to his family's domaine and quickly started focusing on very limited single vineyard releases.

Rare, Back-Vintage Ledru:
2005 Ledru Millesime Brut Magnums

Getting your hands on Ledru's wines has become a major headache. This is especially true of her vintage Champagnes. Each year the situation gets uglier as the quantities steadily decrease. Since 2011, the size of Ledru's estate has shrunk, her fan base has exploded and demand has been further fueled by her retirement.

"One of the finest grower-producers" - Peter Liem
Marie-Noëlle Ledru Brut Grand Cru

Every year around this time, we get a Ledru allocation, get excited to offer it out, and then it's gone.

"Some of the most compelling wines"
- Ulysse Collin Blanc de Noir Les Maillons Extra Brut (2014 base)

Olivier Collin makes some of the most fascinating wines in all of Champagne and we’re clearly not the only ones who think so - every time we offer Ulysse Collin it sells out instantly. These wines push the boundaries of our understanding of Champagne. Collin achieves epic levels of intensity and his wines nearly overwhelm the senses with their depth of complexity.

The Greatest $35 Grower Champagne?
Back Up The Truck Holiday Edition
- Bazin Champagne Blanc de Blancs l'Unanime NV

This Champagne is beyond compelling, the price is beyond belief. The fact that the bottle can come to market as low as $35 is simply absurd. It is a serious, small-grower Champagne, easily holding its own with many bubbles at $50 and above.

Extreme Minerality:
Leclapart L'Amateur (2013)

Léclapart's Champagne's are some of the most thrilling and singular bubbles that you'll ever encounter.

Grand Cru Without Make Up
2008 Ledru Brut Nature

Marie-Noëlle Ledru makes some of the most heartfelt Champagnes around. There's a rigor and purity that amazes.

Grand Cru Without Make Up:
2008 Larmandier-Bernier Vieille Vigne du Levant Extra Brut

"Larmandier-Bernier is one of the finest estates in the Côte des Blancs, producing wines of unusual detail and clarity of expression." -Peter Liem

"Some of the most compelling wines" -
Ulysse Collin Blanc de Blancs Les Roises Extra Brut (2012 Base) & Rose de Saignee (2013 base)

Ulysse Collin's Champagnes can nearly overwhelm the senses. There's a multi-dimensional complexity that seems to hit you from every angle.

"One of the finest grower-producers" -
Ledru Extra Brut NV

It's been a long time since we've had decent quantity of Ledru's Extra Brut.