Blanc de Blancs

Although one should not necessarily judge a Champagne by the number of listings it has in the Michelin-starred restaurants of Paris, one can not fail but to be impressed by Legras in this respect; and in many other respects, indeed, as one tastes the wines. Founded in the 16th century, Legras is one of the great names of Chouilly, the famous and most northerly village of the Côte de Blancs. The House style combines a firm and classic structure with a generous fruit profile.

Champagne R&L Legras Brut is a pure and very satisfying expression of Chardonnay; the Brut has been aged for three years on its lees and has a modest dosage of six grams per litre. The floral aromas are complemented by an autolytic yeastiness and yellow fruits on the palate. Linear and focused, yet not without an attractive depth of flavour, the wine has a long mineral finish.

Valentin Leflaive is a prestigious joint venture between Erick de Sousa and Olivier Leflaive, the former one of the most respected organic growers in the Grand Cru Champagne village of Avize, the latter a respected member of a very famous Puligny-Montrachet family and joint -founder of the Maison Olivier Leflaive. United by a love of Panama hats, and more importantly, the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grape varieties, the collaboration of these esteemed gentlemen is one of the most exciting developments in Champagne for many a year….

With 2010 as its base year, this Blanc de Blancs has been enhanced by the addition of 30% of Reserve Wine, which has been matured, naturally enough, in Burgundy barrels, courtesy of M Leflaive. Aged on lees for 42 months and disgorged in February 2015, this is a sophisticated and textured wine, its creamy generosity finding a perfect foil in an elegant, citric minerality. A beguiling floral aromatic finds counterpoint on the palate with notes of brioche, poached pear and hints of honeysuckle. A triumphant début!
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer

Richer than the more linear and citric 2008, this is reflective of the warmer growing season. Abundant stone fruit, lemon pith, brioche and a hint on honey on the nose. Generously textured on the palate, with a fine mousse and the requisite seam of acidity keeping everything in check. This is a Pol Blanc de Blancs to enjoy straight off the boat, although I would expect this to gain a little added complexity and nuttiness with some age. 

A classic lemon citrus nose complemented by puff pastry a hint of honey and delicate white flowers. The 2009 has a gentle nature and a clean attack that may not have the vibrancy of cooler vintages but offers a creamy flow, nice weight and gentle bubbles to accompany the rhubarb and apple tang in the finish. A great vintage Champagne to get stuck into early, it slips down very easily so no need to wait. Drink 2018 – 2024. 
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager.

Taittinger is one of the few family-owned, independent Champagne houses in Reims. Its top Champagne is Comtes de Champagne. First produced in 1952, it is made from 100 percent Chardonnay grapes from six Grand Cru sites in the Côte de Blancs. This is finely aromatic, rich, creamy blanc de blancs at its best.

The 2006 epitomises Taittinger’s famed purity and elegance. This is a wine of the very highest calibre. The nose is beautifully poised, clean and pure with waxy lemon notes and the merest hint of biscuit. The palate is effortless, so fine, yet has no shortage of complexity or length. Citrus-laden, a tiny hint of white chocolate comes with the creamy texture. Tasted alongside the 2004 it is clear that the 2006 is going to develop in a similar, fine, fashion and I suspect, given the precision it displays now, the 2006 is likely to surpass that fine vintage in time.

The Pol Roger Chardonnay is a fitting celebration of a great vintage from a superlative House. The high natural sugar levels of this near perfect vintage gave the base wine an average alcohol level of 10.5 degrees, but this was matched by fine natural acidity. Ideal in other words. The resulting Champagne, after a suitable slumber on its yeast, marries the youthful Chardonnay exuberance that one has come to associate with this cuvée with the gravitas of the vintage. Stone fruit notes, allied to brioche, iodine and honey all underwrite latent excellence.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

As with the classic vintage Pol Roger, their vintage Blanc de Blancs offers exceptional quality at an attractive price. This 2004 is forward in style and will show very well from release through until 2018; notes of white flowers, citrus and stone fruit with delicate honey and brioche characters in the background. Fresh and vibrant, it is beautifully balanced with fine acidity, and offers an long, attractive crystalline finish. Very classy indeed.
Martyn Rolph, Private Account Manager

Les Comtes is one of the greatest of all-Chardonnay Champagnes, its fruit sourced from the finest Grand Cru sites of the Côte des Blancs. Blue chip provenance includes the villages of Avize, le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant; the best of the best in other words. Or, doubly appropriate given its luxuriant gustatory profile; la crème de la crème. 5% of the wine is aged in wood before spring bottling and the ensuing lengthy somnolence wherein the alchemical process of autolysis weaves its patient magic over nearly  a decade.

2004 was an abundant crop, but also, unusually given its volume, one of high quality, especially in the south of the appellation and for the Chardonnay grape.  Aromas of pear, greengage, bergamot and white flowers prove immediately attractive; the palate boasts precision, focus and a very fine bead of mousse. The immediate impression is of freshness and exuberance; this is complimented by a profound yet subtle intensity which more than justifies the supreme reputation of this wine.
Simon Field MW, BBR Buyer

2005 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne is finely aromatic, a rich and creamy Blanc de Blancs at its very best. Although the 2005 can be enjoyed from release, a decade of patience will be well rewarded.

When Pierre Taittinger first discovered the Champagne region, he was a young officer during the First World War. He returned several years later to invest his energy into developing a family-owned independent Champagne house in Reims which is still managed by the Taittinger family to this day. Francois Taittinger chose Chardonnay as the dominant grape as he believed that modern tastes would increasingly appreciate the lightness, finesse and elegance of the Chardonnay grape in their flagship offering - Comtes de Champagne - first produced in 1952.

“We will never produce a large quantity of Comtes de Champagne because the technical characteristics we require so that this cuvée can be a very great wine are essentially unique in Champagne and very financially demanding. A triumphant blend of force and elegance, the Comtes de Champagne displays an eternal youth that it derives from the greatest Chardonnay of our province. Connoisseurs will appreciate it."
Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger
Until 31st August 2017 this product is discounted by 20%. Prices shown include discount; no further discount will be applied at checkout.

This is one of the finest Blanc de Blancs Champagne on the market, luminous of hue, rounded of form and lengthy in the memory. The distinctive clear bottle for Ruinart, Blanc de Blancs is based on an 18th century original; its Chardonnay persona is harmonious and elegant, capturing the House style.

Billecart-Salmon is one of the few remaining Champagne houses to be owned by the original family and was established in 1818 by Nicolas-François Billecart. Most of Billecart-Salmon's fruit comes from a small vineyard holding, though this is supplemented with grapes bought in from the Marne Valley and the Montagne de Reims. Meticulous production techniques, from the use of their own cultured yeast to its long, slow, cool fermentation, ensure that the family has 100 percent control of production.

The quest for "finesse, balance and elegance" has always guided the making of the Billecart-Salmon Champagnes. The Blanc de Blancs possesses vivid lemony notes along with pear, honeysuckle, and green apple characteristics. It has the potential to last for the next five to eight years.