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Champagne

Champagne is a small, beautiful wine growing region northeast of Paris whose famous name is misused a million times a day. As wine enthusiasts and all French people are well aware, only sparkling wines produced in Champagne from grapes grown in Champagne can be called Champagne. Sparkling wines produced anywhere else, including in other parts of France, must be called something besides Champagne. Champagne producers are justifiably protective of their wines and the prestige associated with true Champagne. Though the region was growing grapes and making wines in ancient times, it began specializing in sparkling wine in the 17th century, when a Benedictine monk named Dom Pierre Pérignon formulated a set guidelines to improve the quality of the local sparkling wines. Despite legends to the contrary, Dom Pérignon did not “invent” sparkling wine, but his rules about aggressive pruning, small yields and multiple pressings of the grapes were widely adopted, and by the 18th and 19th centuries Champagne had become the wine of choice in fashionable courts and palaces throughout Europe. Today there are 75,000 acres of vineyards in Champagne growing Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Champagne’s official appellation system classifies villages as Grand Cru or Premier Cru, though there are also many excellent Champagnes that simply carry the regional appellation. Along with well-known international Champagne houses there are numerous so-called “producer Champagnes,” meaning wines made by families who, usually for several or more generations, have worked their own vineyards and produced Champagne only from their own grapes.

1990 Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon

Light capsule condition issue; light label condition issue

WA  98   
RP  96   
JR  19   
ST  93+    
WS  90   

1998 Moet et Chandon Dom Perignon

1.5ltr

WE  95   
BH  94   
VN  93   
WA  92   
WS  91   

1997 Salon Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs

Light label condition issue

WE  96   
WA  95   
VN  95   
BH  95   

1990 Jacquesson & Fils Brut Signature

Light label condition issue

WS  92   
ST  91   
2 available
Bid *

1995 Jacquesson & Fils Extra Brut Signature

1.5ltr

Disgorgement September 2002

France Direct
Expected Arrival:
10 weeks from purchase date
VN  92   
2 available
Bid *

1998 Ruinart Brut Dom Ruinart Rose

WS  94