Brut Champagne
Brut denotes a dry style of Champagne (less than 15 grams per litre). Most Champagne is non-vintage, produced from a blend from different years. The non-vintage blend is always based predominately on wines made from the current harvest, enriched with aged wines from earlier harvests, which impart an additional level of complexity to the end wine.
Learn more about Brut Champagne
Brut denotes a dry style of Champagne (less than 15 grams per litre). Most Champagne is non-vintage, produced from a blend from different years. The non-vintage blend is always based predominately on wines made from the current harvest, enriched with aged wines (their proportion and age varies by brand) from earlier harvests, which impart an additional level of complexity to the end wine. Champagnes from a single vintage are labelled with the year reference and with the description Millésimé.
Non-vintage Champagnes can improve with short-term ageing (typically two to three years), while vintages can develop over much longer periods (five to 30 years). The most exquisite and often top-priced expression of a house’s style is referred to as Prestige Cuvée. Famous examples include Louis Roederer's Cristal, Moët & Chandon's Dom Pérignon, and Pol Roger's Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill.
Recommended Producers : Krug, Billecart Salmon, Pol Roger, Bollinger, Salon, Gosset, Pierre Péters, Ruinart
Prices:
Small
£12.95
H/Bottle
£16.75
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 113cs
Bottle
£28.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 622cs
Magnum
£61.00
Magnum 3 x 150cl 308cs
D. Magnum
£150.00
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl 54cs
This is without doubt one of the finest, yet least known, Grande Marque Champagnes, made with mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. This Champagne is lively, elegantly textured and fresh, with a very long finish.
H/Bottle
£22.00
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 11cs
Bottle
£39.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 139cs
Magnum
£85.00
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Bollinger was established in 1829 by Jacques Bollinger and Paul Renaudin. The House has a reputation for producing muscular Champagnes with body, depth and power; these are classic, complex, Pinot-Noir dominated Champagnes with the ability to age gracefully for many years.
A blend par excellence; Special Cuvée is the purest expression of Bollinger's house style. Its biscuity nose is endowed with hints of white fruit and the rich, full-bodied palate is perfectly balanced by fresh acidity and a soft, delicate mousse. A stylish Champagne that is ideal to drink now or in the next two or three years.
H/Bottle
£24.95
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 4cs
Bottle
£44.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 404cs
Magnum
£100.00
Magnum 3 x 150cl 2cs
Bottle
£27.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 386cs
This is a classic apéritif Champagne. Deliciously light, crisp citrus and apple orchard flavours mingle with sundry red-berried fruit. It is beautifully plumped out in the middle, courtesy of Premier Cru Pinot Noir fruit from the evocatively named village of Dizy, ending with delicate toasty notes.
Bottle
£28.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 415cs
Bottle
£29.95
Simon Field MW, Champagne Buyer
Bottle
£34.95
Nick Stewart – Wine Buying
Bottle
£36.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 12cs
The 2008 vintage was outstanding in Champagne and Mailly has crafted a typically complex wine, dominated by toasty and savoury Pinot Noir with the balancing Chardonnay providing just that; a joyful and harmonious balance. The wine’s fruit-stone core cedes to a long refreshing finish, while its impressive concentration bodes well for the future.
Bottle
£36.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 211cs
Magnum
£75.00
Magnum 3 x 150cl 110cs
With only four grams of residual sugar but appropriately enough, four years of lees’ ageing, this superb new cuvée takes Legras to new heights of excellence. Julien Barbier, the winemaker, extols its purity, power and its precision on the mid-palate, sentiments with which we fully concur.
Bottle
£38.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 4cs
Moët et Chandon’s Brut Impérial, the House’s non-vintage cuvée, is still the number one best-selling non-vintage Champagne. Enticing with green apple and citrus fruit notes, it has an impressive depth and elegance.
Bottle
£38.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 37cs
This wine is without doubt one of the very top non-vintage Champagnes. Its elegant complexities come from the barrel-ageing of a high proportion of the blend, together with at least four years' maturation in bottle before disgorging.
The quintessence of the House style, Brut Premier offers quality and glamour as well as excellent value. A structured, elegant wine, it is deliciously creamy with almond and toast characteristics alongside the complexity and roundness that are the hallmarks of this House.
Bottle
£42.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 207cs
With its famous yellow label, this non-vintage Champagne is recognised as Veuve's flagship wine. It is a blend of around 50 Cru village and reserve wines from different vintages. Exhibiting fruit, finesse and style, this is a rich, classic Champagne with a yeasty bouquet that truly deserves its status as a Grande Marque.
Bottle
£44.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 88cs
Magnum
£95.00
Magnum 3 x 150cl 15cs
Made from 40 percent Chardonnay and 60 percent Pinot Noir, R de Ruinart makes use of 40 percent reserve wine and is aged on its lees for three years. The wine is elegant with floral notes to the fore and hints of white peach and acacia on the palate. An excellent apéritif wine, this is a splendid introduction to the delights from this most ancient of Champagne Houses.
Bottle
£45.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 18cs
Bottle
£46.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 6cs
The blend is not unlike the Brut Réserve; the base year is more senior, however, in recognition of the need for complete integration of the components. With an attractive chalky, flinty nose, the wine is surprisingly rich and powerful on the palate, its lack of sugar belied by notes of figs and honey and an impressive, silky mouth-feel.
Bottle
£48.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
The key seems to be to stick with the winning formula, namely a third each of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, but to select from specific vineyards and to age it a little longer, thereby engendering a natural softening. Spicy, with notes of crushed apple, broiche and peach stones, this is a very successful wine. Suitably cerebral to accompany any lively debate over a plate of 12 Fine de Claire Oysters.
Bottle
£48.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 9cs
Bottle
£55.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 9cs
The distinctive clear bottle for Ruinart’s Blanc de Blancs is based on an 18th century original. Its elegant Chardonnay persona is harmonious and elegant, capturing the House style. It is one of the finest blanc de blancs on the market, luminous of hue, rounded of form and lengthy in the memory.
Bottle
£57.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 91cs
There is a fine, taut power on the palate, broader and more generous than recent vintages and full of gingerbread, ripe stone fruit and red apple, held together by a filigree thread of acidity. This is delicious now, but will reward a year or so in the cellar and drink well for at least a further decade. Reminiscent of the superb (and underrated), 1998. A must for all Champagne fans.
Fergus Stewart, Private Account Manager
Pol Roger is a Champagne house known for their stylish, elegant wines with fabulous age-ability. Tom Stevenson, arguably the world’s greatest Champagne critic, once said "If I were to choose just one house from which to source a vintage Champagne to lay down, there is no question that I would choose Pol Roger."
The last two vintages, 2002 and 2004, are both exceptional years for Champagne. Similar to the twin vintages of 2009 and 2010 in Bordeaux, 2002 and 2004 Champagnes are of similar quality but of different styles. 2002 is focussed on structure, elegance and precision. 2004 is a vintage “on steroids”, boosted by sunshine, they are rich and concentrated, yet balanced by a backbone of acidity that will allow these to age for a long time.
Chris Pollington, Private Account Manager
The wine displays a very attractive pale straw colour. The nose is mineral and elegant with complex aromas of white flowers, quince and subtle brioche overtones. On the palate the wine is intense yet retains a sense of delicacy with balanced notes of stone fruit, acacia honey and citrus underpinned by a fine thread of acidity. Excellent freshness and persistence, with ample concentration and richness to develop over the next 3-7 years.
Winemaker’s notes
Bottle
£58.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Sharing some of the hallmarks of the superb 2002 at a similar stage – namely its tightly coiled, lemon freshness, this has added breadth and complexity. A classic Pol vintage blend – 60% Pinot Noir with 40% Chardonnay. There is a real depth and power lurking, with gingerbread, brioche, red and orchard fruit on the palate tapering into a finish of extraordinary length. This definitely needs at least a couple of years in the cellar to unlock the hidden complexity. Whisper it quietly, but I think this could turn out to be better than the 2002.
Fergus Stewart - Private Account Manager
This product will be available for delivery from April 2017.
Bottle
£70.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 50cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle
£80.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 4cs
The 2007 vintage was cool-ish (spring’s warm weather was halted by a relatively cold August, common in Atlantic-influenced vintages) which is a departure from the other vintages of this warm decade. There is a certain gravitas that engendered a reserved character when the wine was first released, but it is now opening up.
You can almost nose the coolness, with white flowers and citrus to the fore. Gentle swirling releases bolder berried fruit, that classic Bollinger Morello cherry note with kirsch liqueur adding succulence. The finish adds soft oak spice and I’m sure I detected a hint of truffle sous-bois, a foretaste of its future perhaps? And with similarities to the 1988 vintage, I predict a long and assured future ahead.
Bottle
£82.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 101cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
This has a truly wide appeal and is perfect for lovers of exuberantly styled Champagnes. Feminine and fruity in its youth, it takes on a fuller flavour with age. The added reserve wines are specially selected to achieve the requisite elegance, balance and harmony. It’s perfect for the cellar as well as current drinking, which is an excellent excuse to buy more than one case!
Magnum
£86.00
Magnum 3 x 150cl 9cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 6cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
This is tightly wound at the moment, with small, crunchy red berries and lemon pith on the nose. Taut across the palate as well, with a very delicate mousse and saline, mineral finish and some stone-fruit fleshiness. Very complete and recognisably Dom Pérignon, this will benefit from a couple of years in the cellar to fatten up. A hybrid of the 2002 and 2004, this sits very neatly in the line-up of recent releases from this esteemed brand. Drink now to 2030.
Magnum
£375.00
Magnum 3 x 150cl 17cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
From the warm 2006 vintage, this has arich bouquet with hints of zesty fruit, lilies and light toasted hazelnuts. As it develops in the glass the fruit aromas become more intense and complex. The palate confirms the delicate fruit with a deep, ripe flavour and silky texture, finishing crisply with a pure, mineral balance. As a young wine this is already deliciously balanced and charming, and promises to be a magnificent Champagne in full maturity.
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 4cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 1 x 150cl 1cs
Jean-Baptiste, Cristal’s Cellar Master, tells me that there are two types of Cristal, this is due to Champagne’s location right on the watershed between a continental climate and a maritime climate: a continental vintage leads to Pinot Noir flourishing, whereas Chardonnay loves a maritime-dominated year. In 2007 Chardonnay flourished in a year that had a long, cool growing season. The result is a wine with wonderful purity, reminiscent of the finest blanc de blancs. You are greeted by a nose of nougat, with hints of white chocolate and just a touch of lemon. The palate is a pure, fine expression of Champagne, a tiniest hint of redcurrant that then steps aside to allow the main characters of lemon, apple and pear to come through. Harmonious and fine.
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 6cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 6cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 1 x 150cl 1cs
Winston Churchill is the ultimate expression of what the Pol Roger House can achieve. The 2004 has not disappointed and is very much typical of the Pol style. The palate is packed full of citrus, stone fruit and fresh flowers with hints of roasted nut and toasted brioche on the finish. There is a lot of substance there but all the while very approachable and extremely refreshing. This is vibrant and truly drinkable already, but with so much potential for the future. This is really very good.
Bottle
£148.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 50cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
All the hallmarks of Grand Cru are here, with brioche and flowers on the nose and an elegant palate which marries notes of lemon grass, gingerbread and honeysuckle. The wine effortlessly combines structure and finesse, and reverberates with a really authoritative Grand Cru crescendo on the finish.