Glass of Bubbly
André Jacquart
For four generations, the parents and grandparents of André Jacquart only produced Champagne grapes. In 1958 André Jacquart started producing his own estate-bottled Champagne in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Since 2004, Champagne André Jacquart has been located in Vertus on the Cote des Blancs. The estate is now actively managed by Marie Doyard and her brother Benoît, André’s…
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Star Quality at Langham Estate
During the recent film awards season, it had occurred to me that you can’t call up the winner of the BAFTAs and ask to meet them for a glass of bubbly, but sometimes you can get in touch with the vineyard equivalent of a BAFTA winner and have a glass of sparkling wine with the winemaker. I…
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Champagne Jacquart
The Jacquart story is a history of the Champagne growers’ efforts to control their own destiny rather than relying on the big Grande Marque houses as a route to market. Established in 1964 by a group of forward thinking vine growers, Champagne Jacquart is a modern contemporary brand. Nearly 50 years later, the group of…
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Champagne Sanger
Champagne Sanger is unique as the students of Avize Viti Campus produce Champagne Sanger with their cellar master. On November 3rd 1927, the gates of Avize winter wine school opened for the first time to 13 students between 15 and 16. These students committed to following, every Thursday afternoon during the 3 winter months, a training…
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Armand de Brignac
The Cattier family, producers of Armand de Brignac, have a rich history as an elite Champagne house. In the tiny Champagne village of Chigny les Roses, the Cattiers have owned and cultivated family vineyards since 1763. Today, the house remains independently-owned and run by the family with a staff of fewer than 20 people under…
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Champagne Paul Déthune
Champagne Paul Déthune’s winery and vineyard are located in the village of Ambonnay en Champagne. This terroir bears the appellation of Grand Cru excellence (only 17 communes have this honour) and its reputation is based on a unique expression of Pinot Noir, pleasantly combined with Chardonnay. Pierre learned to walk in the vineyards alongside his…
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Champagne René Jolly and the Muselet-Y
Champagne René Jolly, has devised a variation on the traditional Champagne closure – the Muselet-Y. 5th generation head of the family business and current winemaker Pierre-Eric Jolly came up with the idea for the Muselet-Y in 2007 and developed the machinery for producing the Muselet-Y himself. The Muselet-Y is a three-legged adaptation of the traditional four-legged wire cage that holds a cork securely in…
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Help, I’ve got more Champagne than I can drink right now! How should I store it?
A real first world problem! If, like most of us, you don’t happen to have a huge purpose built wine cellar right under your house then what is the best way to store your cherished Champagne and keep it just right for when you decide to enjoy it? I have pulled together a few handy…
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Bruno Paillard Assemblage 2004 and Blanc de Blancs 2004
Champagne Bruno Paillard Assemblage 2004 and Blanc de Blancs 2004. Hailed a “remarkable vintage” by owner, Bruno Paillard, 2004 was a year which was typified by richness, following a near-perfect growing season. The Assemblage 2004 is a blend of nine villages from the region – the proportions of which are a house secret – with…
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