RARE CHAMPAGNES
Champagne is basically sparkling wine. It is not uncommon to see the term Champagne used as a generic term for sparkling wine. The product Champagne is a sparkling wine but can only be legally labeled as Champagne if produced in the Champagne region of France. The EU law requires this sparkling wine to be Champagne if it is produced from grapes grown in the Champagne region of France following rules that demand a secondary fermentation of the wine in the bottle to create the characteristic carbonation, very specific vineyard practices, a selection of grapes exclusively from specific parcels in the Champagne appellation including the grapes Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Chardonnay are
used in the production of almost all Champagne, with specific wine pressing regiments unique to the Champagne region.
The Champagne wine making community has developed a comprehensive set of rules and regulations for all wine produced in the region to protect its economic interests. They include defining and classifying the most suitable growing places, the most suitable grape types and a lengthy set of requirements specifying most aspects of viticulture. The various aspects of viticulture include pruning, vineyard yield, procedures for standard pruning, the degree of pressing, and the time that wine must remain on its lees before bottling. The rules also include economic drivers that can limit the release of Champagne to the market to maintain competitive pricing It can also limit the release of Champagne to market to maintain prices. Only when a wine meets these requirements and rules set forth by INAO ( Institut national de l’origine et de l a qualité) may it be labeled Champagne. The INAO is the government organization that controls all wine appellation in France.
EXCEPTIONAL BEVERAGE
Considering the demanding parameters for rare Champagnes it is no surprise that Champagne is an exceptional beverage. Brisk, sweet and dry this beverage is an extraordinary experience for the wine connoisseur. Below is a selection of fine and rare Champagnes for your pleasure. Please let us know your thoughts in ‘comments’ .
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PLEASE MAKE A SELECTION FROM THE CHAMPAGNES BELOW OR GO TO OUR MAIN SITE TO VIEW ALL OUR COLLECTIONS OF FINE WINE AND SPIRITS
Dom Perignon 2005 Rose Champagne
Dom Pérignon Rosé demonstrates a strong influence of Pinot Noir but is a balance of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. This Champagne has received
great reviews including 95 points from Antonio Galloni. Dom Pérignon Rosé is brisk and refreshing with hints of blood orange, mint, sage and dried flower. A simply beautiful Champagne experience. Give this a try and let me know in the comments.
Beau Joie Brut NV Champagne
Beau Joie is first-class Champagne produced by Bertrand Senecourt. This selection was awarded Double Gold and Class Champion in the Houston Rodeo Wine Competition. This Champagne is important in regards to that it is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay sourced from prime vineyards in Epernay. This Brut Champagne has an excellent balance of sweetness and dryness giving a blend of perfect flavors.
Ayala Brut Majeur NV Champagne
Ayala, founded in 1860 is one of the original Grand Marque Champagne houses and located in the historic village of Ay. Ayala is essentially a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Menieur and has a fruity style with fruit flavors that are well balanced with secondary hints of almonds, green berries but not acidity. The Wine Spectator has scored it 92 points and made it a top 100 selection. Wine Enthusiast scored it 91 points saying “A beautifully balanced non-vintage, in the lighter style that is Ayala’s hallmark style.
Moet Reserve Imperial Brut NV Champagne
This Champagne is thought to be the most famous and one of the most popular Champagnes in the world, Moet Brut Reserve Imperial is a
gold standard wine that never disappoints. Tasting Panel Magazine scored this 92 points. It has citrus tones that shows hints of white flowers, minerals, brioche and is slightly acidic.
Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 Brut Champagne
Originally produced in 1809 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia, 200 years later it is still the ultimate Champagne; an icon of luxury, style, and taste.
The 2008 was outstanding, receiving a 98+ score by Antonio Galloni. Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored it a perfect 100 points. The composition is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.
The flavors resonate for apple and citrus flavors working with the tight minerality to give a textured yet fruity wine. These rare Champagnes demonstrate some aspects of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. This is considered the best drink of 2008.
Veuve Clicquot 2008 Grand Dame Champagne with Carousel Gift Box
This Champagne was launched in 1972 to celebrate the bicentenary of the House, La Grande Dame. The 2008 vintage in Champagne has been
widely recognized and this wine received a 95 point score for Wine Spectator. An elegant Champagne with refined flavors of black currant, lemon curd, toast and marzipan and hints of spice and smoke.
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV
This Champagne is one the most popular Champagnes in the world, Veuve Clicquot is consistently first-rate and is currently scoring 90 points. It has hints of biscuit and toast with lightly honeyed flavors of apple blossom, peach and quince with a smokey tinged finish.
Krug Champagne Grande Cuvee NV
Krug is considered the ultimate luxury champagne. The Grand Cuveé is a blend of wines going back 20 years that retains the bold, distinctive
style with every new release scoring multiple 95+ point reviews, This fine Champagne with all the wines in production are barrel fermented adding complexity and depth. The beverage offers aromatic hints of toast and vanilla ground coffee and mandarin orange peel flavors as well as anise and cardamom spice notes unraveling on the palate. This is the essential definition of rare Champagnes.
Great reading…. I recently got told by my partner that he prefers champagne and whiskey instead of beer. Meaning, I must get educated on this stuff. I can imagine the day of our wedding or honeymoon him getting a champagne and me not even knowing it is one. Yeah, I don’t drink!
You should read up a little on some good whiskeys and Champagnes. You may even wish to try a glass of Champagne at your wedding.
A couple of times, in a week, I make sure I have myself a gulp or two of the most champagne. As you have rightly said, it is one of the most popular champagne but I doubt that I have had this one you mentioned here. Itsa good thing to learn what champagne is and the benchmark set for it’s creation as well. This is very beautiful. Thanks.
Please expand your horizons and sample additional selections of Champagne
So, those local manufacturers here in the Philippines saying theirs is champagne may be violating a law with regard to naming a wine? I think they don’t know that and they are not aware they’re violating some laws. Someone needs to make them aware of that.
Among the Champagne wines that are listed here, which one is ideal to order for the celebration of 18th birthday of a lday (debut celebration)? I’d like to buy one box of that wine, a wine that should be used in the coming celebration of my niece 18th birthday. I’m sure our visitors would really enjoy it.
Hi Gomer, These sparkling wines can only be called Champagne if they are completely produced in the Champagne region of France. This law is honored in the wine industry throughout the world. Please try any of the selections I have list as they are all excellent
You have selected and selected well. This is a great rare list of the very best of champagne and I can only arrest to it being a big time fan of wine especially champagne. To be honest, the blend always surprises me as it encompasses taste beyond explanation. I like the Veuve Clicquot 2008 Grand Dame Champagne with Carousel Gift Box. I has taken it some times back and I was really wowed by it. So, when I saw it here, I knew it would receive praises from me too. Thanks
Well…I hope I have put an idea in your mind so you can enjoy a few bottles over the holidays.
Thanks for this post about champagnes, they one of the things I like most ln this planet lol, it helps on refreshments and also I find them cooling down my brain after having a long day at work, I don’t know this much details about them until I saw this great reviews of yours, I wanna ask is it all champagnes that have an alcoholic content?if not can you list the ones with alcohol and ones without?thanks
Champagne is usually 12.2%. My article gives a list of very fine Champagnes. You can also purchase non-alcoholic Champagne. See below!
St Regis Sparkling Brut (Non-Alcoholic Wine)
Chateau De Fleur Non-alcoholic Sparkling Wine Champagne
Sutter Home Fre Brut Non-alcoholic Champagne Wine
Señorío de la Tautila Espumoso Rosado Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Rose Wine
Pierre Chavin Perle Bleu Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine
Zero Zero Deluxe Sparkling
Ah, Champagnes, one of my favourites. They are known around here as the classics. One time on my visit to France, we were told about the drink and that there are some forms of the drink that are hardly even popular. I guess this is a few of those types. Not bad at all. I like the post very much. Thank you for the information on these types. I would like to get a couple for my small bar at home.
Hope you enjoy. There are many fine selections to add to your bar at home.
I have tasted a couple of champagne but not any of the listed ones here. It’s okay to see a regulation body place some certain rules to guide the product and I am glad they are there. You have quite a number of nice products here and I have loved to take champagne for a long time now. The Veuve Clicquot 2008 Grand Dame Champagne is one common one I have seen around and would make out time to get a feel of it;
Please enjoy Champagne. There are many fine selections available for your pleasure.
Thanks for sharing this here. It must have been an honor to have tasted from the Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 Brut Champagne. It is one of the most highly rated champagne and the score it has received makes it almost perfect blend of taste. Wow! this is really a big time highly rated wine. Though I shared this with my grandfather on the occasion of my first child. what better way to have a taste of this great drink.
I hope you and your grandfather can enjoy many more fine Champagnes and possibly children
It would be a great honor to share from these wine elixirs of immortality. They are all very rare and I almost have never heard about most of them here not to talk of having a taste of how they feel. Well! with time, I should be able to come across more and also share tastes of these great wines. They are all toppers on my wine list henceforth.
Please enjoy these in the upcoming holidays!
Firstly, thanks for giving a detailed outlook on the historical back ground of the champagne. Though i am a lover of the classics, i did not know about it before until you have explained it here. I really like your selections; they are all arguably rare. Though I have like two out of these list at home. They are both very well blended and I only bring them out to entertain my most esteemed guests.
Glad you are enjoying these Champagnes. Please try additional selections in the future.