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All the medallists from The Champagne Masters 2023
Find out all the medallists from this year’s Champagne Masters, featuring a set of outstanding bottles, from blanc de blancs to prestige cuvées, and, in particular, a set of good-value, ready-to-drink vintage offerings, including one remarkable sample from 1999 – which has only just been released.
For all the challenges facing Champagne – from grape price inflation to better rival sparkling wines – it’s a category in rude health. And while it’s tempting to think that Champagne’s strength stems from big budget promotions, as anyone with a passing interest in marketing will tell you, the most important aspect for long-term sales success is a good product. In other words, Champagne’s growth, despite some significant recent price rises, and a much-improved competitive set, has occurred because this French fizz is better than ever.
That’s certainly my impression from more than a decade of blind tasting Champagne, and certainly after this year’s Champagne Masters. In 2023, I found myself handing out a higher proportion of top scores than in the past, as I repeatedly tasted cuvées with depth and precision, flavour intensity with balancing freshness – and, I’m pleased to say, little in the way of greenness.
Of course, styles vary, and although my preference is for pristine fruit flavours allied to a nutty richness, I can see the quality in more oxidative styles, with their appealing notes of dried fruit and honey. Furthermore, while I like a certain creaminess in Champagne, I was surprised by the pleasure I took in the firmer feel of those producers who eschew malolactic fermentations: Lanson and Gosset in particular.
Indeed, riper base wines in Champagne may be favouring this approach to winemaking in the region – even if producers only opt to block the conversion of sharp-tasting malic acid to the softer lactic sort in a percentage of the blend.
And, on the subject of ripeness, yes, this is a function of warmer vintages, but also of better control of grape health through improved viticulture, along with the more
accurate monitoring of disease precursors in the region. Why? Because, without rot in the bunches, vignerons can harvest later – the pressure to pick in Champagne normally comes from the threat of disease.
In short, riper and cleaner base wines are yielding better cuvées, and this allows for lower dosages too, because you don’t need a lot of sugar to offset green notes – nor to mask unwanted flavours – if there aren’t any. Hence, the Champagne of today is fuller, but drier too. And, in my view, that’s a good place to be.
It’s also worth noting that two of the top Brut NVs tasted were certified organic – a viticultural philosophy we were once told would be almost impossible to practise in Champagne, at least for anything mid-priced and in mainstream distribution, which both these cuvées are.
Over the following pages I’ve picked out some highlights from the competition, taking in a range of styles and producers. This year showed a high degree of quality in all categories, with the most improved style being blanc de noirs – Champagne without Chardonnay is hard to get right – and the most irregular being rosé, with some lovely wines, but also some high-priced disappointments. Elsewhere, there were some delicious blanc de blancs, with their citrus and chalk characters shining like stars on a clear night, and wonderfully indulgent prestige cuvées – a category of great quality, but also huge stylistic variation.
But the sub-category to go for in Champagne is undoubtedly vintage. Remarkable wines were unearthed among the single-harvest Champagnes this year, and from a broad range of years. These were Champagnes with toasty interest, precision and layers of fine fruit, from peach to pear, and apple to lemon, in order of increasing zestiness. Such sparkling wines offer great relative value – you get at least 50% more complexity and intensity than a Brut NV for 20% more in price. Furthermore, you get around 80% of the power and longevity of a great prestige cuvée for half the outlay.
Most notably, you get such quality for the same price as the more mundane rosés we tasted. And, while you might say they are prettier in the glass, be they pale salmon-pink or more like gravlax, in my view, there is nothing more inviting than the straw-gold colour of a mature vintage Champagne.
Finally, it was notable to see the range of producers who are making such a good job of the vintage sub-category, from the famous brands to lesser-known labels. At each extreme there were surprises. Somewhat niche grower-cooperative Castelnau was reliably excellent. But it was the region’s biggest Champagne maker, Moët & Chandon, that yielded the best vintage expressions of the competition.
So read on to see all the medallists from this year’s competition, and scroll to the bottom to learn more about The Champagne Masters, as well as find a list of links to our top picks.
Non-vintage
Winery | Name of wine | Vintage | Dosage | Medal |
£10-£15 | ||||
Aldi | Veuve Monsigny No. III | NV | Brut | Bronze |
£15-£20 | ||||
Aldi | Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
£20-£30 | ||||
Champagne Joseph Perrier | Cuvée Royale Brut Nature | NV | Brut nature | Silver |
Champagne Joseph Perrier | Cuvée Royale Brut | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Jean-Noël Haton | Louis Régnier | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Castelnau | Champagne Castelnau Brut | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Marie de Moy | Brut | NV | Brut | Silver |
Heidsieck & Co. Monopole | Blue Top Brut | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Château De Bligny | Grande Réserve | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Victoire | Premier Cru Brut | NV | Brut | Bronze |
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Tradition Brut | NV | Brut | Bronze |
Champagne G.H.Martel | Prestige Brut | NV | Brut | Bronze |
Champagne Albert Lebrun | Collection Terroir Premier Cru | NV | Brut | Bronze |
£30-£50 | ||||
Champagne Castelnau | Extra Brut | NV | Extra-brut | Master |
Champagne de Venoge | Cordon Bleu Brut | NV | Brut | Master |
Champagne Collet | Extra Brut Premier Cru | NV | Extra-brut | Gold |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Organic Extra Brut | NV | Extra-brut | Gold |
Champagne Laurent-Perrier | La Cuvée | NV | Brut | Gold |
G.H Mumm | RSRV Cuvée 4.5 | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Deutz | Brut Classic | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Vieille France Brut | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Canard-Duchêne | P181 | NV | Extra-brut | Silver |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Réserve Exclusive Premier Cru Extra Brut | NV | Extra-brut | Silver |
Piper-Heidsieck | Essentiel | NV | Extra-brut | Silver |
Champagne Collet | Brut Art Déco Premier Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Piper-Heidsieck | Cuvée Brut | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Lanson | Le Black Label | NV | Brut | Silver |
G.H Mumm | Cordon Rouge | NV | Brut | Silver |
Pommery | Pommery Brut Royal | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Collery | Brut Grand Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Jacober | The Royal British Legion Champagne Jacober Brut Reveille | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Marie de Moy | Premier Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Vollereaux | Brut Réserve | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Palmer & Co. | Brut Réserve | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon depuis 1843 | Besserat de Bellefon Bleu Brut | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Vranken | Demoiselle Brut E.O. | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Gardet | Brut Réserve Premier Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Boizel | Brut Réserve | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Telmont | Réserve Brut | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Delamotte | Brut Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Henriot | Brut Souverain | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Réserve Exclusive Brut | nv | Brut | Bronze |
Champagne Vranken | Vranken Diamant Brut | NV | Brut | Bronze |
Champagne Abelé 1757 | Abelé 1757 Brut | NV | Extra-brut | Bronze |
£50-£70 | ||||
Champagne Barons de Rothschild | Concordia Brut | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Gosset | Grande Réserve | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Henriot | Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Gremillet | Cuvée Evidence | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Lanson | Le Green Label Organic | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Lanson | Le Black Réserve | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Vollereaux | Célébration Premier Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne de Venoge | Princes Brut 1st Edition | NV | Brut | Silver |
Piper-Heidsieck | Cuvée Sublime | NV | Demi-sec | Silver |
£70-£100 | ||||
Charles Orban | Cuvée Roger Daltrey | NV | Brut | Master |
Champagne Drappier | Trop m’en Faut | NV | Brut nature | Gold |
Vintage
Winery | Name of wine | Vintage | Dosage | Medal |
£20-£30 | ||||
Champagne Fallet Dart | Millésime | 2016 | Brut | Bronze |
£30-£50 | ||||
Champagne Gardet | Millésime Extra Brut | 2013 | Extra-brut | Master |
Champagne Joseph Perrier | Cuvée Royale Brut | 2013 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Victoire | Gold | 2017 | Brut | Silver |
£50-£70 | ||||
Moet & Chandon | Grand Vintage | 2015 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Lanson | Le Vintage | 2012 | Brut | Master |
Piper-Heidsieck | Vintage | 2014 | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Castelnau | Vintage | 2006 | Brut | Gold |
Pommery | Pommery Grand Cru | 2009 | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Vieille France Silver | 2007 | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon depuis 1843 | Besserat de Bellefon Triple B | 2015 | Brut nature | Silver |
Champagne Canard-Duchêne | V Vintage | 2012 | Brut nature | Silver |
G.H Mumm | Mumm Millésimé | 2015 | Brut | Silver |
£70-£100 | ||||
Champagne Deutz | Brut Millésime | 2016 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Boizel | Grand Vintage | 2013 | Extra-brut | Gold |
Champagne Gruet | Sabatina Champagne | 2016 | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Palmer & Co. | Grands Terroirs | 2015 | Brut | Silver |
£100+ | ||||
Moet & Chandon | Grand Vintage Collection | 1999 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Collery | Empyreumatic Grand Cru | 2014 | Brut | Gold |
Champagne de Venoge | Louis XV | 2014 | Brut | Gold |
VIK | La Piu Belle Champagne | 2009 | Brut | Gold |
Moët & Chandon | Grand Vintage Collection | 2006 | Brut | Silver |
Prestige Cuvée
Winery | Name of wine | Vintage | Dosage | Medal |
£30-£50 | ||||
Champagne Albert Lebrun | Collection Terroir Grand Cru | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne G.H.Martel | Prestige Premier Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Marie de Moy | Grand Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Stradivarius Gold | 2009 | Brut | Silver |
£50-£70 | ||||
Champagne Château De Bligny | Clos du Château | NV | Brut | Silver |
£70-£100 | ||||
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Palmes d’Or Brut Vintage | 2008 | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Gremillet | Clos Rocher | 2013 | Brut | Silver |
£100+ | ||||
Rare Champagne | Rare Millésime Magnum | 2008 | Brut | Master |
Perrier-Jouet | Belle Epoque | 2014 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Lanson | Noble Champagne Brut Vintage | 2004 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Abelé 1757 | Le Sourire de Reims Brut Vintage | 2009 | Extra-brut | Master |
Champagne Deutz | Amour de Deutz | 2013 | Brut | Gold |
Rare Champagne | Rare Millésime | 2008 | Brut | Gold |
Comtes de Dampierre | Cuvée Prestige | 2008 | Brut | Gold |
G.H Mumm | RSRV Cuvée Lalou | 2008 | Brut | Bronze |
Blanc de Blancs
Winery | Name of wine | Vintage | Dosage | Medal |
£20-£30 | ||||
Aldi | Veuve Monsigny Vintage | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Marie de Moy | Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Tradition Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Bronze |
£30-£50 | ||||
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Vieille France Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Master |
Champagne Château De Bligny | Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Brimoncourt | Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Silver |
£50-£70 | ||||
Champagne Delamotte | Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil-sur-Oger | NV | Brut | Master |
Champagne Pommery | Apanage Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Castelnau | Blanc de Blancs | 2008 | Brut | Gold |
Piper-Heidsieck | Essentiel Blanc de Blancs | NV | Extra-brut | Silver |
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon depuis 1843 | Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Collery | Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Lanson | Le Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Abelé 1757 | Abelé 1757 Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Palmer & Co. | Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Bronze |
£70-£100 | ||||
Champagne Ayala | Le Blanc de Blancs | 2016 | Brut | Gold |
G.H Mumm | RSRV Cuvée Blanc de Blancs | 2015 | Brut | Silver |
Perrier-Jouet | Blanc de Blancs | NV | Brut | Silver |
£100+ | ||||
Perrier-Jouet | Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs | 2012 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Lanson | Noble Champagne Blanc de Blancs | 2004 | Brut | Gold |
Blanc de Noirs
Winery | Name of wine | Vintage | Dosage | Medal |
£15-£20 | ||||
Champagne Fallet Dart | Cuvée de Réserve | NV | Brut | Silver |
£20-£30 | ||||
Champagne Albert Lebrun | Collection Terroir Blanc de Noirs | NV | Extra-brut | Gold |
Champagne Joseph Perrier | Côte à Bras Blanc de Noirs | 2014 | Brut nature | Silver |
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Senses | NV | Extra-brut | Silver |
Champagne Marie de Moy | Blanc de Noirs | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Charles Orban | Blanc de Noirs | NV | Brut | Silver |
£30-£50 | ||||
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Vieille France Blanc de Noirs | NV | Brut | Silver |
£50-£70 | ||||
Champagne Collery | Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Palmer & Co. | Blanc de Noirs | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Canard-Duchêne | Charles VII Blanc de Noirs | NV | Brut | Silver |
£70-£100 | ||||
G.H Mumm | RSRV Cuvée Blanc de Noirs | 2013 | Brut | Gold |
Champagne de Venoge | Princes Blanc de Noirs | NV | Brut | Gold |
£100+ | ||||
Champagne Telmont | Blanc de Noirs | 2014 | Extra-brut | Gold |
Rosé
Winery | Name of wine | Vintage | Dosage | Medal |
£15-£20 | ||||
Champagne Fallet Dart | Anthocyane Tirage | NV | Brut | Bronze |
£20-£30 | ||||
Champagne Jean-Noël Haton | Louis Régnier Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Marie de Moy | Rosé | NV | Brut | Bronze |
£30-£50 | ||||
Champagne Palmer & Co. | Rosé Solera | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Réserve Exclusive Rosé | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Drappier | Brut Nature Rosé | NV | Brut nature | Silver |
Champagne Lanson | Le Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Castelnau | Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Pommery | Brut Rosé Royal | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Château de Bligny | Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
G.H Mumm | Mumm Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Charles de Cazanove | Vieille France Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Brimoncourt | Rosé | NV | Brut | Bronze |
Champagne G.H.Martel | Prestige Rosé | NV | Brut | Bronze |
Heidsieck & Co. Monopole | Rosé Top Brut | NV | Brut | Bronze |
£50-£70 | ||||
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon depuis 1843 | Rosé Brut | NV | Brut | Master |
Champagne Laurent-Perrier | Cuvée Rosé | NV | Brut | Gold |
Piper-Heidsieck | Rosé Sauvage | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Deutz | Brut Rosé | NV | Brut | Gold |
Champagne Collery | Rosé Brut Grand Cru | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Gosset | Grand Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
G.H Mumm | RSRV Cuvée Rosé Foujita | NV | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Telmont | Réserve Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
Moet & Chandon | Grand Vintage Rosé | 2015 | Brut | Silver |
£70-£100 | ||||
Champagne Barons de Rothschild | Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
Perrier-Jouet | Blason Rosé | NV | Brut | Silver |
£100+ | ||||
Rare Champagne | Rare Rosé Millésime | 2012 | Brut | Master |
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte | Palmes d’Or Rosé Vintage | 2008 | Brut | Gold |
Perrier-Jouet | Belle Epoque Rosé | 2012 | Brut | Silver |
Champagne Abelé 1757 | Le Sourire de Reims Rosé Vintage | 2008 | Brut | Bronze |
Read more
The best vintage wines from The Champagne Masters 2023
The best Brut NVs from The Champagne Masters 2023
The best prestige cuvées from The Champagne Masters 2023
The best rosés from The Champagne Masters 2023
About The Champagne Masters
The Champagne Masters is a competition created and run by the drinks business, and is an extension of its successful Masters series for grape varieties, such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as regions like Rioja and Tuscany. The competition is exclusively for Champagne, and the entries were judged using Schott Zwiesel Cru Classic glasses supplied by Sensible Wine Services. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Champagne Master.
The Champagnes were judged on 14 March at The COMO at London’s Halkin Hotel by Patrick Schmitt MW, Patricia Stefanowicz MW, Jonathan Pedley MW, Siobhan Turner MW, Demetri Walters MW, Neil Sommerfelt MW, Adam Porter MW, Andrea Briccarello and Matthieu Longuere MS.
Please visit The Global Wine Masters website for more information, or, to enter future competitions – giving you the chance to feature online and in print – please call +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com
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