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Slideshow
Top Champagnes priced over £50
Following our round up of the top Champagnes priced under £50 in the drinks business Champagne Masters, we take a look at examples over £50 that took home a Gold medal or the ultimate accolade: Master.
Nearly 200 Champagnes were judged blind by our expert panel, entered into one of six categories; Non-vintage, Vintage, Blanc de blancs, Blanc de noirs, Prestige cuvée or Rosé.
Wines that scored over 90 points were awarded a gold medal, while exceptional wines that scored 95 points or above were named Champagne Master.
Judges included Simon Field MW, buyer, Berry Bros & Rudd; Sue Daniels, buyer, Marks & Spencer; Michael Edwards, journalist, author, Champagne specialist; Nicola Arcedeckne-Butler MW, director of buying, Private Cellar; Anthony Foster MW, director/buyer, Bonhote Foster; Rebecca Palmer, associate director & buyer, Corney & Barrow; Patrick Schmitt MW, editor-in-chief, the drinks business; and Marcel Orford-Williams, buyer, The Wine Society
Here, we round up the wines that were priced over £50, and that were awarded a gold or master medal across all categories.
To see a full report on the competition and all of the wines that won a medal click here.
Tasting findings
- This year’s Champagne Masters saw every one of the 10 largest Champagne labels by global volume sales assessed blind by our team of tasters.
- Once more, Champagne’s grandes marques performed well in this year’s competition, particularly Charles Heidsieck.
- The tasters were also impressed by the good results achieved, for the most part, by the co-ops.
- Brut NV Champagnes proved high quality and good value, while rosé did better than in previous competitions, suggesting that there have been quality improvements in these commercially important categories.
- Blanc de blancs Champagnes gained good scores, particularly the more expensive examples.
- Without the accoutrements that come with the prestige cuvées, vintage represents the best-value category for great Champagne.
- The overall quality standard was extremely high.
About the competition
The Champagne Masters is a competition created and run by the drinks business and an extension of its successful Masters series for grape varieties such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as regions such as Rioja and Chianti. The competition is exclusively for Champagne and the entries were judged by a selection of highly experienced tasters using Schott Zwiesel Cru Classic glasses supplied by Wine Sorted. The top Champagnes were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those Champagnes that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Champagne Master. The Champagnes were tasted over the course of a single day at the Dorchester Hotel in London.
Lanson International UK, Lanson Extra Age Brut
What the judges said: “Slightly evolved nose with notes of bruised apple. On the palate, notes of bread, intense lemon, chalk and a touch of bruised apple. Quite dry and firm fresh finish. Very good.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Non vintage
Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc Brut 2006
What the judges said: “Delicate on the nose with notes of lemon, chalk and a hint of biscuit. Palate open with ripe, round fruit. Creamy with gentle notes of bread and citrus. Long and fine finish.”
Price category: Over £100
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Prestige cuvee
Champagne Gosset, Celebris 2002 Extra Brut
What the judges said: “Attractive, slightly biscuity nose with gentle notes of smoke. Delicious on the palate with notes of lemon and smoke/toast. Slightly grippy mouthfeel with a fine, persistent mousse – lots of lift. Dry on the finish with honeyed fruit at its core.”
Price category: Over £100
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Prestige cuvee
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Champagne Charles Heidsieck Rosé Réserve
What the judges said: “On the nose, notes of fresh red berries reminiscent of strawberry jam. Full and round on the palate which is dominated by strawberry and raspberry flavours. Nice body and well balanced acidity. Very good.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Rosé
Lanson International UK, Lanson Extra Age Rosé
What the judges said: “Pale salmon in colour with a delicate, clean nose. Palate more buttery and full than the nose would suggest with a touch of lemon. Very attractive. Finish is long, chalky and complex.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Rosé
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Champagne Charles Heidsieck Rosé Millésime 2006
What the judges said: “On the nose, notes of fresh strawberries dominate with a touch of honey and cinnamon showing through. Palate is complex with notes of red fruits, cherry and a hint of pepper. Long, elegant finish.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Vintage rosé
Lanson International UK, Lanson Extra Age Blanc de Blancs
What the judges said: “Quite delicate nose with hints of smoky reduction and fresh cut mushrooms. On the palate, lots of sherbet lemon. Intense with some creaminess. Complex with a long, fresh finish.”
Price category: £50-£100
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Blanc de blancs
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Brut Millésime 2005
What the judges said: “Slightly smoky with notes of fried, buttered mushroom on the nose. Palate is full and quite evolved with a touch of butter and some lemon. Complex, long finish.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Vintage
Champagne Alfred Gratien, Cuvée Paradis Brut 2006
What the judges said: “Light and delicate on the nose with notes of honey and toast. Sweet, white fruit on the palate with a hint of gingerbread on the finish. Dry, fine and long on the finish.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Vintage
Charles Mignon, Cuvée Comte de Marne Grand Cru Millésimé 2008
What the judges said: “Firm, mineral nose with a slightly smoky character with notes of golden apple. Smoke character continues on the palate with some toast and notes of lemon and honey. Long, fine and fresh on the finish.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Vintage
Champagne Deutz, Amour de Deutz Rosé 2006
What the judges said: “Delicate nose with notes of red fruit, rose petal and nectarine. Light and delicate on the palate which opens out to bright, red fruit flavours dominated by strawberry.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Prestige cuvee
Champagne De Saint Gall, Cuvée Orpale Grand Cru 2002
What the judges said: “Quite delicate nose with a touch of creamy coffee. Ripe fruit on the palate with a fresh lemon bite and touch of chalk with a creamy coffee evolution. Very good balance of tightness, freshness and creaminess.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Gold
Category entered: Prestige cuvee
Champagne Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne Rosé Brut 2006
What the judges said: “Aged, with a copper rim in the glass. Lovely nose with gentle notes of chalk and smoke. Vinous, like aged delicate Burgundy, with a touch of sweet, ripe red fruit. Some chalk and grip on the palate with generous red fruit, fresh acidity and a creamy sweetness. Long and complex on the finish.”
Price category: Over £100
Medal: Master
Category entered: Prestige cuvee
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, Rare Millésime 2002
What the judges said: “Lemon, smoke and chalk on the nose and palate. Lovely ripe citrus, persistant and youthful, refined and fine. Gentle notes of toast and smoke with a touch of citrus peel. Very good.”
Price category: Over £100
Medal: Master
Category entered: Prestige cuvee
Champagne Charles Heidsieck, Blanc des Millénaires Millésime 1995
What the judges said: “Smoky on the nose with notes of grilled nuts, honeyed apricot and brioche. In the mouth, velvety in texture with hints of vanilla. Long and fresh on the finish. Very good.”
Price category: Over £100
Medal: Master
Category entered: Blanc de blancs
Champagne Piper-Heidsieck, Vintage 2006
What the judges said: “On the nose smoky with a touch of toast. On the palate, lovely notes of buttered toast and lemon zest with a touch of smoke. Long finish, complete and refreshing.”
Price category: Over £50
Medal: Master
Category entered: Vintage