The Best Champagne Vintage Years: A Cult Wines' Guide

Whispers of a Future Classic

The 2023 vintage in Champagne is generating significant excitement throughout the region, with many producers suggesting it may become one of the standout years of the decade. The growing season began with ideal conditions, including adequate winter rainfall that replenished soil moisture, followed by a mild spring that promoted even bud break and flowering.

Summer brought consistent warmth without extreme heat spikes, allowing for steady, gradual ripening. Crucially, periodic rainfall arrived at optimal times, preventing drought stress while maintaining the vines' healthy development. September delivered perfect harvest conditions with warm days and cool nights, preserving acidity while allowing full phenolic ripeness.

The resulting base wines show exceptional promise across all three primary varieties. Chardonnay displays remarkable purity and mineral precision with perfect acid balance. Pinot Noir has developed profound depth and aromatic complexity while maintaining freshness. Even Meunier shows unusual distinction and character, contributing valuable elements to potential blends.

Early tastings indicate a vintage that combines the structural precision of classic, cooler years with the generous fruit expression of warmer seasons, suggesting exceptional balance. The wines demonstrate clear terroir expression and vibrant energy that point to excellent ageing potential.

For collectors and investors, 2023 appears likely to deliver Champagnes of extraordinary quality with strong long-term appreciation potential. While most houses have yet to officially declare their vintage intentions, early indications suggest widespread enthusiasm for what could become a reference vintage for the region.

Harmony in the Face of Warming Trends

The 2022 vintage in Champagne emerges as an exemplary year that navigates the challenges of a changing climate with remarkable success. Following a relatively mild winter with adequate water reserves, the growing season saw consistent warmth without the extreme heat spikes that have characterised some recent years. Spring frosts, which have devastated yields in other recent vintages, were minimal, allowing for healthy bud break and flowering.

The summer brought sustained warmth and, critically, sufficient rainfall at key moments to prevent hydric stress. These conditions allowed for a rare combination in contemporary Champagne: full phenolic ripeness alongside preserved acidity, creating a foundation for wines with both depth and freshness. Harvest began in late August for some producers and continued into September under ideal conditions, with cool nights helping to maintain acidity.

The resulting base wines have displayed exceptional quality across all three main grape varieties. Chardonnay shows remarkable purity and mineral precision, while Pinot Noir demonstrates unusual depth and aromatic complexity. Even Meunier, sometimes considered the workhorse variety, has produced wines of notable character and balance.

Early assessments from producers suggest that 2022 may develop into one of the standout vintages of the decade, combining the ripeness that comes with warming trends while preserving the tension and energy that defines great Champagne. The vintage appears to offer both immediate appeal in its youth and excellent potential for long-term ageing.

For collectors and investors, 2022 represents a promising opportunity to secure wines that balance traditional Champagne characteristics with the influence of a warming climate. These Champagnes are expected to evolve beautifully over time, offering what we believe will be excellent return potential for those with patience.

Tenacity Conquers Challenging Conditions

The 2021 growing season in Champagne presented extraordinary challenges that tested the resilience and adaptability of the region's vineyards and winemakers. Following a mild, wet winter, spring brought devastating frost events in April that significantly reduced yields across the region. This was followed by persistent rainfall through much of the growing season, creating high disease pressure and requiring meticulous vineyard management.

Summer arrived late and without the sustained warmth needed for optimal ripening, resulting in a delayed harvest that extended into October for many producers. These conditions necessitated extremely selective picking and rigorous sorting to ensure only healthy, adequately ripened fruit made it to the press.

Despite these obstacles, the resulting base wines have shown surprising quality, particularly from the region's most skilled producers. The vintage is characterised by high acidity and moderate alcohol levels, creating wines with brightness, tension and a classically lean profile that harkens back to cooler vintages of previous decades.

The 2021 vintage demonstrates both the challenges of increasing climate volatility and the remarkable expertise of Champagne's producers in navigating difficult conditions. While production volumes are significantly reduced, the best examples show captivating freshness and mineral precision, with the potential to develop interesting complexity over time.

For collectors and investors, 2021 offers a distinctive expression of Champagne that contrasts with the warmer, riper profile of recent years. The scarcity resulting from low yields may create interesting investment dynamics for those Champagnes that successfully navigated the vintage's challenges.

Remarkable Early Ripening Amid Global Disruption

The 2020 growing season in Champagne set new records for its unprecedented early harvest, with some producers beginning as early as mid-August, the earliest in the region’s recorded history. The year commenced with a notably mild winter, followed by a warm, sunny spring that accelerated vine development from the outset. Flowering occurred approximately two weeks ahead of the historical average, paving the way for an exceptionally early growing cycle.

Summer conditions provided sustained warmth without the intense heat spikes observed in preceding vintages (notably 2018 and 2019), promoting steady, even ripening. Critically, adequate rainfall arrived at optimal intervals, preventing vines from shutting down due to hydric stress. This early harvest timing proved especially beneficial, allowing producers to harvest grapes in ideal conditions before rains arrived in September.

However, 2020 was not without challenges: the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted Champagne, leading to a historic decline in global demand. In response, the Comité Champagne implemented yield restrictions at 8,000 kilograms per hectare, considerably lower than in previous years, to balance production with reduced market demand. Consequently, this vintage is marked not only by its quality but also by the relative scarcity of wines produced.

Despite these challenges, the resulting wines display a compelling balance of ripeness and freshness. The warm season delivered excellent phenolic maturity and concentrated flavours, tempered by sufficient acidity preserved by Champagne’s chalk-rich soils. Chardonnay was particularly exceptional, offering striking purity and mineral precision, while Pinot Noir and Meunier displayed depth and aromatic complexity.

For collectors and investors, the 2020 vintage represents a unique opportunity to acquire Champagnes that showcase the region’s ability to adapt to warming climates and economic challenges. The best examples promise significant potential for both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring, with the reduced yields from COVID-impacted production further enhancing their potential rarity and investment appeal.

Sun-kissed Grapes Yield Classical Charm 

The 2018 vintage stands as one of the most remarkable recent years in Champagne, delivering wines that combine unusual ripeness with surprising freshness. The growing season began with plentiful rainfall that replenished water reserves, followed by a consistently warm, dry summer that provided perfect conditions for even ripening without the extreme heat spikes that can stress the vines.

This ideal combination of factors led to one of the region's most abundant harvests in recent memory, with quality to match the quantity. Grapes achieved excellent phenolic ripeness while maintaining sufficient acidity, producing base wines with remarkable depth and aromatic complexity alongside the energy essential to fine Champagne.

The 2018 vintage particularly favoured Pinot Noir and Meunier, which developed exceptional richness and fruit intensity while preserving structural integrity. Chardonnay also performed admirably, showing impressive depth with slightly less of the laser-like precision found in cooler years, but with compelling breadth and texture to compensate.

What distinguishes 2018 is its successful balance between generosity and restraint. Despite the warm conditions, the best Champagnes maintain freshness and mineral character alongside their more opulent fruit expression. This combination of accessibility and structure suggests both immediate appeal upon release and excellent potential for long-term development.

For collectors and investors, 2018 represents a compelling opportunity to experience a new expression of Champagne that reflects changing climatic conditions while maintaining the region's distinctive character. The vintage's generous nature ensures broad appeal, while its underlying structure promises rewarding evolution in the cellar.

Finesse Emerges From a Challenging Season

The 2017 growing season in Champagne presented substantial challenges, testing the resilience and skill of the region’s winemakers. Following a mild winter, spring brought significant frost events that dramatically reduced yields in many, but not all, vineyards. Late spring rains further complicated vineyard management, increasing disease pressure and requiring meticulous care.

Conditions improved significantly during summer, with warm, dry weather allowing vineyards to regain momentum. However, the return of rainfall in late August and early September created further challenges during harvest, necessitating careful grape selection.

Despite these difficulties, many wines from skilled producers exceeded expectations. The vintage generally features moderate alcohol levels paired with vibrant acidity, favouring elegance, precision, and clarity of expression over power and richness.

Chardonnay emerged particularly strong in 2017, demonstrating notable purity, tension, and mineral precision. Pinot Noir was less consistent but achieved impressive results in select premier and grand cru vineyards, notably in the Montagne de Reims and parts of the Côte des Bar (Aube). Meunier faced notable difficulties, but expert growers still produced commendable examples from carefully managed vineyards.

Overall, the 2017 vintage highlights how Champagne’s best producers successfully navigate challenging conditions, resulting in classically styled wines with refined elegance. While it lacks the broad consistency or power of warmer vintages like 2018 or the intensity of acclaimed years such as 2012, its best wines offer a sophisticated alternative characterised by freshness, balance, and traditional charm.

For collectors and investors, 2017 represents an appealing opportunity to acquire Champagnes that showcase a classical, acid-driven style that is becoming increasingly rare in a warming climate. The refined character of these wines, combined with lower production volumes, positions the best examples for intriguing investment potential.

Tenacity Overcomes Seasonal Obstacles 

The 2016 vintage in Champagne is a testament to the resilience and skill of its producers, who navigated exceptionally challenging conditions to produce wines of remarkable quality. The growing season began with significant spring frost events followed by persistent and unprecedented rainfall throughout May and June, creating some of the most challenging early-season conditions in recent history. Disease pressure reached extreme levels, resulting in significant losses in many vineyards.

A decisive turnaround occurred in July, ushering in a sustained period of warm, dry weather that lasted through August and into September. This dramatic improvement allowed surviving grapes to ripen fully under near-ideal conditions, imparting unusual complexity and elegance to the wines.

The resulting Champagnes possess a compelling combination of natural concentration (due to significantly reduced yields) and freshness, preserved by moderate temperatures during late-season ripening. Chardonnay-based wines stood out, delivering notable acidity, mineral precision, and impressive depth, thanks to the concentrated fruit. Pinot Noir also performed admirably, especially in premier and grand cru vineyards, achieving complexity and structure under challenging circumstances.

The 2016 vintage highlights Champagne producers' ability to overcome severe seasonal obstacles through diligent vineyard management and rigorous grape selection. Though production volumes were notably lower, the finest examples display purity, elegance, and strong potential for extended ageing.

For collectors and investors, the 2016 vintage offers an appealing opportunity to acquire Champagnes that embody a powerful narrative of overcoming adversity. The vintage's limited availability, combined with its exceptional quality and ageing potential, creates intriguing investment potential for distinctive and sophisticated expressions of Champagne.

Solar Intensity Meets Traditional Structure

The 2015 vintage in Champagne produced wines of notable ripeness and intensity while successfully preserving the freshness essential to the region's distinctive style. Following a mild winter and an uneventful spring, summer arrived with sustained warmth and extended dry periods, which accelerated grape ripening and concentrated flavours.

Timely rainfall in August alleviated vine stress, facilitating full maturation under near-ideal conditions. Harvest commenced in early September, yielding grapes with excellent sugar levels, accompanied by surprisingly robust acidity for such a warm year, thanks in part to Champagne's chalky soils, which naturally help retain freshness.

The resulting Champagnes exhibit a harmonious balance of generous fruit, structural depth, and mineral-driven tension. Pinot Noir performed outstandingly, producing wines rich in flavour, with impressive aromatic complexity and elegance. Chardonnay also delivered remarkable results, demonstrating greater breadth and texture than usual, while preserving its hallmark precision and finesse, particularly in premier and grand cru vineyards.

The 2015 vintage represents a compelling interpretation of Champagne in an increasingly warm climate, combining ripeness with traditional freshness. Although it lacks the laser-like intensity of cooler vintages like 2008, the best examples offer captivating depth and complexity, suggesting significant potential for further development in the bottle.

For collectors and investors, the 2015 vintage presents an excellent opportunity to explore Champagnes that showcase a generous yet classically structured profile. It's an appealing balance between immediate accessibility and cellar-worthy longevity that makes these wines attractive for both early enjoyment and long-term investment.

Champagne wines to watch from 2015

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2015 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 2015 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2015 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 2015 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger
• 2015 Dom Ruinart Rose, Ruinart

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Textbook Precision Within Seasonal Fluctuations 

The 2014 vintage in Champagne presents a study in contrasts, delivering wines of remarkable precision and classicism despite a growing season marked by significant variability. Following a mild, wet winter and warm early spring, the growing cycle began with promise before cool, damp conditions in late spring and early summer created disease pressure and slowed development.

A dramatic improvement arrived in late July, with warm, dry weather continuing through August and September, allowing for ideal ripening conditions leading up to harvest. This late-season recovery proved crucial, enabling grapes to achieve full maturity while preserving the bright acidity that forms the backbone of fine Champagne.

The resulting wines showcase a compelling classical profile with vibrant acidity, precise fruit expression and pronounced mineral character. Chardonnay was the standout variety, producing wines of exceptional clarity, tension and ageing potential, particularly from the grand cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs. Pinot Noir also performed well in favoured sites, yielding elegant wines with refined red fruit notes and excellent structure.

The 2014 vintage demonstrates how Champagne can excel in years that lack the obvious warmth of seasons like 2015 or 2018. The best examples display a pristine, focused character that harks back to a more traditional style, offering precision rather than power and subtlety rather than opulence.

For collectors and investors, 2014 represents an opportunity to acquire Champagnes with excellent ageing potential and a classic profile that has become less common in our warming climate. The vintage's bright acidity and structural integrity suggest these wines will evolve beautifully over many years, potentially gaining complexity while maintaining their essential freshness.

Champagne wines to watch from 2014

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, one opportunity stands out:

• 2014 Cristal, Louis Roederer

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding this wine or any others to your portfolio.

Winemaking Expertise Elevates A Tense Year

The 2013 vintage in Champagne stands out as one of the most classically structured years of the past decade, producing wines defined by remarkable tension, precision, and ageing potential. The growing season posed significant challenges, beginning with a cold, wet spring that delayed flowering and reduced potential yields in many vineyards. Summer arrived later than usual but brought much-needed warmth and dryness, enabling vines to recover and continue ripening at a slow, steady pace.

A defining characteristic of the vintage was its unusually late harvest, extending into October for many producers, among the latest picking dates seen in recent decades. This prolonged hang time under cool autumn conditions proved crucial, allowing for full phenolic ripeness while preserving Champagne's hallmark acidity and fostering impressive aromatic complexity.

The resulting Champagnes offer a captivating combination of intensity and restraint, with vibrant acidity providing a taut structural backbone that enhances precise fruit expression and pronounced minerality. Chardonnay was particularly successful, delivering wines of crystalline purity, laser-like focus, and mineral-driven precision, especially from the Côte des Blancs. Pinot Noir also performed well, benefiting from the long ripening cycle to develop excellent depth, elegance, and fine red-fruit complexity, particularly in the Montagne de Reims.

The 2013 vintage serves as a fascinating counterpoint to the warmer years that have dominated Champagne in recent decades. The finest examples exemplify tension, linearity, and sophisticated aromatic complexity, rather than power or opulence. These wines promise exceptional ageing potential, with their structural integrity suggesting evolution over many decades.

For collectors and investors, 2013 represents a rare opportunity to acquire Champagnes that embody a traditional, acid-driven style, increasingly rare in a warming climate. The vintage's brilliant acidity and precise expression make these wines particularly appealing to connoisseurs who value finesse and longevity, suggesting excellent potential for appreciation as they develop.

Champagne wines to watch from 2013

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, one opportunity stands out:

• 2013 Cristal, Louis Roederer

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding this wine or any others to your portfolio.

Perfect Equilibrium Between Power & Precision

The 2012 vintage is widely regarded as one of the finest in recent Champagne history, producing wines of extraordinary depth and complexity while maintaining the region's essential freshness and verve. The growing season began with a challenging winter and a wet, cool spring, leading to frost events that significantly reduced yields. Disease pressure from spring rainfall made vineyard management difficult, but a dramatic turnaround arrived in summer, with warm, dry conditions allowing the surviving grapes to develop exceptional concentration and aromatic intensity.

Crucial rainfall in late July and early August helped prevent drought stress, followed by a dry, warm September that provided near-perfect conditions for ripening. The naturally low yields, a result of the difficult early season, contributed to intense concentration in the fruit, creating base wines with remarkable power and depth.

The resulting Champagnes exhibit a stunning balance of richness and energy, displaying generous fruit expression, impressive textural depth, and vibrant acidity. All three major grape varieties performed exceptionally well, with Pinot Noir achieving particular intensity and aromatic complexity, while Chardonnay contributed finesse and longevity, and Meunier added roundness and approachability.

What sets 2012 apart is its seamless integration of power and precision. Despite their concentration, the best examples retain clear terroir expression and structural definition, combining generosity with focus. This balance ensures both immediate enjoyment upon release and exceptional long-term ageing potential.

For collectors and investors, 2012 presents an outstanding opportunity to acquire top-tier Champagnes with long-term appreciation potential. The vintage's natural concentration, balance, and relative scarcity due to low yields make it one of the most sought-after recent releases.

Refined Character Emerges From Difficult Conditions

The 2011 growing season in Champagne presented extraordinary challenges that tested even the region's most experienced vignerons. The year began with record-breaking warmth in spring, which accelerated flowering unusually early. This rapid start left vines highly vulnerable to weather fluctuations, including sporadic frost events that damaged some vineyards, followed by a summer marked by erratic swings between heat spikes, rainfall, and even a damaging hailstorm in July.

August continued this volatile pattern, with conditions alternating between humidity and cooler periods, complicating ripening and increasing disease pressure. The rapid pace of the growing season led to one of the earliest Champagne harvests on record, with picking beginning as early as late August in some areas. Producers faced difficult decisions, needing to balance concerns over under-ripeness and the risk of rot. Those who implemented meticulous vineyard management and highly selective harvesting were able to produce wines of surprising elegance and refinement despite the season's difficulties.

The resulting 2011 Champagnes tend to be softer and more accessible in youth, with moderate acidity, delicate fruit expression, and a refined rather than powerful profile. Chardonnay fared best, particularly in top sites in the Côte des Blancs, delivering wines of clarity and finesse. Pinot Noir and Meunier were more variable, though some well-situated vineyards, especially those in Montagne de Reims, produced charming, early-drinking wines.

The 2011 vintage underscores Champagne's ability to produce quality wines even in challenging years, particularly from top producers who employed rigorous grape selection and careful blending. While the vintage lacks the depth and longevity of benchmark years like 2012 or 2008, it offers an appealing immediacy, making it a strong choice for those seeking Champagnes with early drinking charm.

For collectors and investors, the 2011 Champagne vintage offers selective opportunities. The finest examples come from top-tier houses and growers who applied strict selection and blending expertise. While not a vintage for long-term ageing, its limited-production nature and compelling backstory may enhance its appeal for those interested in Champagnes that triumph over adversity.

Traditional Character Arises from a Complex & Selective Vintage

The 2010 growing season in Champagne delivered a vintage of classical proportions despite presenting vignerons with a complex series of challenges throughout the year. Following a cold, harsh winter that delayed the growing cycle, spring brought welcome warmth that accelerated vine development, only to be followed by a significant flowering issue that reduced yields and created uneven ripening.

Summer conditions were variable, featuring adequate warmth without excessive heat, interrupted by sporadic rainfall that complicated disease management. September proved critical, delivering predominantly dry, moderately warm conditions that allowed for extended hang time and the development of complex flavours while preserving vibrant acidity.

The resulting wines display a fascinating balance of accessibility and structure. The naturally reduced yields created base wines with good concentration, while the moderate summer temperatures preserved freshness and precision. Particularly successful were wines based on Chardonnay, which developed beautiful aromatic complexity alongside pronounced mineral character.

The 2010 vintage represents a compelling expression of Champagne's classical side, producing wines with excellent tension and precision rather than power or opulence. While perhaps overshadowed by the celebrated 2008 vintage that preceded it, the best examples offer sophisticated aromatic complexity, refined mousse and elegant structure with excellent potential for development.

For collectors and investors, 2010 presents an opportunity to acquire Champagnes that embody a traditional, terroir-driven style. While these wines may not have generated the immediate excitement of more powerful vintages, their balance of accessibility and structure suggests they will evolve beautifully, potentially offering excellent value for those with patience.

Champagne wines to watch from 2010

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, one opportunity stands out:

• 2010 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding this wine or any others to your portfolio.

The 2009 Champagne vintage offers a collection of standout wines, providing compelling opportunities for both enthusiasts and investors:

• 2009 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2009 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2009 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2009 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2009 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2009 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 2009 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 2009 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 2009 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Contemporary Legend of Exceptional Balance

The 2008 vintage is widely regarded as one of Champagne's greatest in recent decades, producing wines of extraordinary precision, energy and ageing potential. Following a generally cool, wet spring that delayed the growing cycle, summer brought mostly moderate temperatures with perfect timing of sunshine and rainfall. September delivered the crucial conditions that defined the vintage: bright, clear days with cool nights that allowed for slow, perfect ripening while preserving exceptionally vibrant acidity.

This extended, cool-climate ripening period created grapes with an ideal balance of sugar, acidity and phenolic maturity, producing base wines of remarkable tension and purity. The resulting Champagnes showcase a compelling combination of concentration and precision, with vibrant acidity providing the structural backbone for extraordinarily pure fruit expression and pronounced minerality.

All three primary varieties performed exceptionally well in 2008, though Chardonnay has earned particular acclaim for its laser-like focus and mineral intensity. Pinot Noir also excelled, developing complex aromatic profiles and refined structure while maintaining unusual freshness and energy.

What distinguishes 2008 is its perfect balance of classical proportions with modern depth. The vintage delivers the high-definition clarity, vibrant acidity and precise mineral expression of a traditional cool-climate year alongside the phenolic maturity and aromatic complexity more commonly associated with warmer vintages. This rare combination suggests exceptional ageing potential, with the structural integrity to evolve beautifully over many decades.

For collectors and investors, 2008 represents a landmark opportunity to acquire Champagnes with extraordinary development potential. The vintage has already gained recognition among critics and collectors as one of the all-time greats, setting the stage for continued appreciation as these wines evolve over time.

Champagne wines to watch from 2008

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2008 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2008 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2008 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 2008 Krug, Krug
• 2008 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2008 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2008 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2008 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 2008 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 2008 Dom Ruinart Rose, Ruinart
• 2008 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 2008 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Accessible Elegance Rises from Inconsistent Weather 

The 2007 growing season in Champagne presented vineyard managers with a series of challenges that required careful navigation to produce quality results. Following an unusually warm spring that accelerated vegetative growth, summer arrived with disappointingly cool, wet conditions that slowed ripening and created disease pressure in the vineyards.

A significant improvement arrived in late August with the emergence of warm, dry conditions that continued through much of September, allowing for a recovery in ripening and the development of good sugar levels. However, rainfall returned during harvest, requiring careful timing of picking to secure healthy fruit.

Given these obstacles, the wines that emerged from 2007 show surprising charm and balance. The vintage generally produced Champagnes with moderate alcohol, bright acidity and elegant fruit expression rather than power or concentration. Chardonnay performed particularly well, creating wines of clarity and precision despite the variable season.

The 2007 vintage demonstrates Champagne's resilience and the skill of its producers in challenging years. While lacking the consistency or ageing potential of acclaimed vintages like 2008, successful examples display an appealing transparency and accessibility that offers earlier drinking pleasure.

For collectors and investors, 2007 requires a selective approach. The most successful wines come from top-tier producers who implemented rigorous selection processes. These Champagnes typically offer earlier maturity curves than more structured vintages, potentially providing excellent drinking while waiting for the 2008s to develop.

Champagne wines to watch from 2007

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2007 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2007 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 2007 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2007 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2007 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2007 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 2007 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 2007 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger
• 2007 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Abundant Warmth Creates Approachable Sophistication

The 2006 vintage in Champagne delivered wines of unusual ripeness and immediate charm following a growing season characterised by predominantly warm, dry conditions. After an initially cool spring, summer arrived with consistent warmth that accelerated ripening, though well-timed rainfall in August prevented excessive stress on the vines and ensured sufficient moisture for continued development.

September brought cooler temperatures with some rainfall that complicated the harvest for later-picking areas but provided welcome freshness to balance the season's warmth. Grapes achieved excellent sugar levels with moderate acidity, creating base wines with generous fruit expression and accessible structure.

The resulting Champagnes showcase a compelling combination of ripeness and elegance. They display rich fruit profiles and supple textures while maintaining sufficient freshness for balance and development. Pinot Noir performed exceptionally well, developing impressive depth and aromatic complexity, while Chardonnay produced broader, more textural expressions than in cooler vintages.

The 2006 vintage represents an appealing expression of Champagne in a warm year, offering wines that balance generosity and refinement. While perhaps not possessing the tension or longevity of the greatest vintages, the best examples provide remarkable drinking pleasure with their combination of immediate accessibility and sophisticated development.

For collectors and investors, 2006 offers Champagnes with both immediate appeal and medium-term ageing potential. The vintage's generous nature ensures broad appreciation, while its underlying balance allows for interesting evolution over the next decade and beyond.

Champagne wines to watch from 2006

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2006 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2006 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 2006 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2006 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 2006 Krug, Krug
• 2006 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2006 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2006 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2006 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 2006 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 2006 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 2006 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 2006 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 2006 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger
• 2006 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Ripeness Defines an Immediately Pleasurable Year 

The 2005 vintage in Champagne produced wines of generous character and immediate appeal following a growing season marked predominantly by warmth and moderate drought conditions. After a mild winter and spring, summer arrived with consistent heat that accelerated ripening, though occasional rainfall prevented extreme stress on the vines.

Harvest began relatively early under mostly dry conditions, with grapes showing excellent sugar levels but moderate to low acidity, creating base wines with unusual richness and approachability. The resulting Champagnes display generous fruit expression, broad textures and accessible structure, offering immediate pleasure while generally lacking the tension and precision of cooler vintages.

Pinot Noir and Meunier performed particularly well, developing impressive ripeness and aromatic complexity that translated into wines with expansive fruit profiles and supple mouthfeel. Chardonnay proved more variable, producing wines with less pronounced mineral precision than in classically cooler years but with appealing breadth and texture.

The 2005 vintage represents an interesting expression of Champagne in a warm year, offering wines that provide generous enjoyment earlier in their development curve than more structured vintages. While perhaps not possessing the ageing potential of years like 2002 or 2004, the best examples deliver substantive pleasure with their combination of richness and sophistication.

For collectors and investors, 2005 presents Champagnes with more immediate drinking appeal than long-term investment potential. The vintage offers excellent options for current consumption while waiting for more structured years to reach maturity, potentially providing good value as they approach their optimal drinking windows.

Champagne wines to watch from 2005

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2005 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2005 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 2005 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2005 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 2005 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2005 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2005 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2005 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 2005 Dom Ruinart Rose, Ruinart
• 2005 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 2005 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Textbook Harmony Creates Lasting Impression

 The 2004 vintage in Champagne stands as a benchmark year, producing wines of remarkable balance and classical proportions. The growing season unfolded under near-perfect conditions, with a mild, dry spring leading to an even, successful flowering. Summer brought steady warmth without excessive heat, with well-timed rainfall ensuring vine health and preventing drought stress. The season concluded with a long, dry harvest, allowing growers to pick at optimal ripeness.

These textbook conditions yielded base wines with outstanding equilibrium, balancing fruit ripeness, acidity, and structure. The resulting Champagnes exhibit impressive harmony, offering generous fruit expression, precise structural definition, and excellent ageing potential.

All three primary grape varieties excelled in 2004:

• Chardonnay delivered wines of clarity, finesse, and mineral-driven precision, particularly from Côte des Blancs grand cru sites.
  
  
• Pinot Noir and Meunier provided depth, elegance, and refined aromatic complexity, adding to the vintage's layered profile.
  
  
• The defining feature of 2004 is its outstanding balance, offering accessibility without compromising structure or longevity. While it lacks the sheer power of 2002 or the taut tension of 2008, the best examples continue to evolve beautifully, with some now drawing comparisons to the legendary 1996 vintage.

For collectors and investors, 2004 represents an exceptional opportunity. These Champagnes offer both immediate drinking pleasure and the ability to age gracefully for decades, often at strong value compared to more hyped vintages.

Champagne wines to watch from 2004

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2004 Bollinger R.D., Bollinger
• 2004 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2004 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 2004 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2004 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 2004 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 2004 Krug, Krug
• 2004 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2004 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2004 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2004 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 2004 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 2004 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 2004 Dom Ruinart Rose, Ruinart
• 2004 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 2004 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 2004 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger
• 2004 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Extraordinary Heat Forges Distinctive Personality

The 2003 vintage in Champagne is one of the most singular and extreme years in the region's history, shaped by record-breaking heatwaves and prolonged drought. Following an early budbreak, a spring frost reduced yields in some areas, but the defining factor of the vintage was the relentless summer heat. With temperatures exceeding 40°C (104°F) for prolonged periods, ripening was dramatically accelerated, and water stress limited berry development, leading to historically low acidity and unusually high sugar levels.

These extreme conditions challenged traditional Champagne profiles, resulting in base wines of exceptional richness, power, and atypical structure. Many producers chose not to declare a vintage due to the marked deviation from Champagne's classical style, but those who did created remarkably unique wines.

The resulting Champagnes are full-bodied, broad, and fruit-driven, with less pronounced acidity but intense concentration. Pinot Noir fared best, particularly from cooler vineyard sites, retaining better balance and complexity despite the heat. Chardonnay proved more challenging, often yielding broader, less mineral-driven wines, though some notable exceptions exist from carefully selected cooler terroirs.

The 2003 vintage is a fascinating case study in how Champagne reacts to extreme climate conditions, an insight that may become more relevant as global warming intensifies. While these wines lack the classical tension and ageing potential of benchmark years, the best examples offer compelling richness and an unusual aromatic profile that distinguishes them from traditional Champagne styles.

For collectors and investors, 2003 presents a rare opportunity to own Champagnes that embody a singular climatic event. With few houses declaring a vintage, the wines produced hold historical significance, offering a distinctive perspective on the Champagne terroir under extreme conditions.

Champagne wines to watch from 2003

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2003 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2003 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 2003 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 2003 Krug, Krug
• 2003 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2003 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 2003 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Near-Perfect Conditions Create a Modern Classic

The 2002 vintage in Champagne is widely regarded as one of the finest of the 21st century, producing exceptionally balanced, long-lived wines. The growing season unfolded under near-perfect conditions, with a mild winter, a dry, warm spring ensuring excellent flowering, and a summer marked by consistent warmth without excessive heat. Timely rainfall in late August refreshed the vines, leading into a dry, sunny September that allowed for ideal ripening and an extended harvest window.

These superb conditions resulted in base wines with exceptional balance, showcasing ripe fruit concentration, vibrant acidity, and superb structure. The 2002 Champagnes are defined by power, elegance, and precision, combining richness and energy in a way that ensures both immediate appeal and long-term ageing potential.

All three grape varieties excelled in 2002:

• Chardonnay delivered wines of clarity, finesse, and mineral-driven intensity, particularly from Côte des Blancs grand cru vineyards.
  
  
• Pinot Noir thrived in Montagne de Reims and Aÿ, producing wines with depth, structure, and expressive red fruit.
  
  
• Meunier, while slightly less prominent, contributed roundness and generosity to blends.

The 2002 vintage stands as a benchmark for modern Champagne, offering wines that are both powerful and refined. While they initially showed accessibility, they have since developed remarkable complexity, reinforcing their status as some of the most age-worthy Champagnes of recent decades.

For collectors and investors, 2002 represents a must-have vintage, with many prestige cuvées now entering their prime drinking window while continuing to appreciate in value. Its stellar reputation, coupled with its exceptional balance and longevity, makes it one of the most sought-after Champagne vintages in recent memory.

Champagne wines to watch from 2002

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2002 Bollinger R.D., Bollinger
• 2002 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2002 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 2002 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2002 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 2002 Clos d’Ambonnay, Krug
• 2002 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 2002 Krug, Krug
• 2002 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2002 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2002 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2002 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 2002 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 2002 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 2002 Dom Ruinart Rose, Ruinart
• 2002 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 2002 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 2002 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger
• 2002 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

A Notably Weak Vintage with Very Few Prestige Cuvées

The 2001 vintage in Champagne was shaped by cool, wet conditions, resulting in a difficult growing season that required meticulous vineyard management and strict grape selection. The year began with a mild winter, followed by a cool, damp spring that delayed flowering and increased disease pressure. Summer was marked by irregular weather, including periods of rain and limited sunshine, leading to uneven ripening. September remained cool and damp, making harvest decisions particularly critical.

Due to these challenging conditions, many producers opted not to declare a vintage, choosing instead to focus on non-vintage blends. However, a handful of skilled growers and top houses successfully navigated the season, producing elegant, fresh Champagnes with lower alcohol levels and bright acidity.

The 2001 Champagnes tend to be lighter and more delicate, with subtle fruit expression, crisp structure, and a mineral-driven profile. While they lack the richness and ageing potential of stronger vintages, the best examples showcase purity, finesse, and earlier-drinking charm.

• Chardonnay performed best, particularly in cooler sites of the Côte des Blancs, where it retained good acidity and mineral precision.
  
  
• Pinot Noir and Meunier were more variable, with some wines showing attractive red fruit but less depth and longevity.

The 2001 vintage is a rarity, as few prestige cuvées were released. However, for those seeking Champagnes with a lighter, more refined profile, careful selection can uncover elegant, food-friendly wines that have matured gracefully.

For collectors and investors, 2001 requires a highly selective approach. The scarcity of declared vintages, combined with the refined character of the best wines, makes well-chosen bottles an interesting addition for those seeking unique expressions of Champagne from a cooler year.

A Warm Year Producing Generous Wines

The 2000 vintage in Champagne started with promise but encountered challenges as the growing season progressed. A relatively mild winter and a favourable spring set the stage for good early development. However, July brought significant rainfall and localised hailstorms, increasing disease pressure, particularly mildew and botrytis, in certain areas. This made careful vineyard management and fruit selection crucial.

Conditions improved significantly in August and early September, with warm, sunny weather helping to rescue the vintage. This late-season warmth allowed better-than-expected ripening, though uneven fruit set and disease issues meant that rigorous selection during harvest, beginning around 11 September, was essential. Pinot Noir was more affected by the summer's inconsistent conditions, while Chardonnay generally fared better, thanks to its natural resilience and higher acidity.

The resulting 2000 Champagnes are known for their accessibility, ripe fruit character, and generous texture. The wines typically exhibit:

• A full-bodied structure with ripe fruit and moderate acidity
  
  
• Expressive, forward flavours that developed quickly in bottle
  
  
• A golden hue that deepened relatively quickly with age
  
  
• A more approachable, earlier-drinking profile compared to more structured vintages

While lacking the precision and longevity of benchmark years like 1996 or 2002, the 2000 vintage produced many wines that were immediately appealing. The warm conditions led to softer, rounder wines, yet in the best examples, enough freshness remained to support graceful evolution.

Chardonnay was the standout variety of the vintage, with its acidity helping to balance the ripeness of the year. Many of the most successful cuvées featured significant Chardonnay components, providing structure and ageing potential to counterbalance the vintage's generosity. Some Pinot Noir-based wines from well-managed sites also performed well, though they tended to mature more quickly.

For collectors, the 2000 vintage is one that has largely reached its plateau of maturity. Most wines are now best enjoyed rather than held, though a handful of top cuvées, such as Dom Pérignon, Krug, and Salon, continue to evolve and may still offer further complexity with careful cellaring. While not considered a top-tier vintage for long-term investment, well-stored bottles from prestigious producers can still provide rewarding drinking experiences as mature expressions of this warm and generous year.

Champagne wines to watch from 2000

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 2000 Bollinger R.D., Bollinger
• 2000 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 2000 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 2000 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 2000 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 2000 Clos d’Ambonnay, Krug
• 2000 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 2000 Krug, Krug
• 2000 Cristal, Louis Roederer
• 2000 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 2000 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 2000 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 2000 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 2000 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

The 1999 Champagne vintage offers a collection of standout wines, providing compelling opportunities for both enthusiasts and investors:

• 1999 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 1999 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 1999 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Structured & Long-Lived Wines from a Variable Season

The 1998 vintage in Champagne was shaped by an erratic growing season, producing wines with solid structure and ageing potential from producers who managed the challenges well. The year began with a mild winter and a warm spring, leading to successful flowering. However, summer was unsettled, with hot, dry spells alternating with cooler, wetter periods, making ripening uneven across the region.

September brought a crucial shift, with ideal conditions leading up to harvest, allowing for good levels of ripeness and well-balanced acidity in the best wines. However, grape selection was essential, as some later-picked fruit suffered from dilution due to rain.

The 1998 Champagnes have proven to be more structured and long-lived than initially expected, offering good depth, firm acidity, and layered complexity. They started off tightly wound, but have since unfolded into expressive, age-worthy wines.

• Chardonnay performed exceptionally well, producing precise, mineral-driven wines with excellent longevity.
  
  
• Pinot Noir was more variable, with some exceptional examples but also somewhat rustic expressions in certain areas.
  
  
• Meunier was less consistent, with some wines showing less structure for extended ageing.

While 1998 was initially overshadowed by 1996, many wines have aged gracefully, demonstrating impressive evolution and rewarding those who exercised patience.

For collectors and investors, 1998 remains an underappreciated but rewarding vintage, with top cuvées now showing their full potential. The best wines offer a fine balance of freshness, complexity, and depth, making them a smart addition to a well-rounded Champagne collection.

Champagne wines to watch from 1998

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1998 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 1998 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 1998 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 1998 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 1998 Clos d’Ambonnay, Krug
• 1998 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 1998 Krug, Krug
• 1998 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 1998 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 1998 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 1998 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 1998 Dom Ruinart Rose, Ruinart
• 1998 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 1998 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Early-Maturing Wines with Soft Charm

The 1997 vintage in Champagne was shaped by a warm growing season and an early harvest, resulting in soft, fruit-driven wines that provided early drinking pleasure rather than long-term ageing potential. A mild winter led to an early bud-break, and spring was warm, allowing for successful flowering. Summer continued the warm trend, but intermittent rain in August introduced some challenges, particularly for Pinot Noir and Meunier.

Harvest began early in September, with many grapes reaching high ripeness but with lower acidity than in more structured vintages. While the fruit expression was generous and appealing, the wines lacked the backbone for extended cellaring.

The 1997 Champagnes are soft, round, and fruit-forward, making them excellent for early enjoyment:

• Chardonnay fared best, particularly from cooler sites in the Côte des Blancs, offering freshness and elegance.
  
  
• Pinot Noir was more variable, with some overripe notes in certain areas but still providing richness and body in well-managed vineyards.
  
  
• Meunier was approachable early on, contributing a supple, easy-drinking character.

While 1997 was not a widely declared vintage, some prestige cuvées from top houses offered appealing, well-balanced wines that aged surprisingly well in the short-to-medium term.

For collectors and investors, 1997 is a vintage best suited for immediate enjoyment, with most wines now past their peak. However, well-cellared bottles from top producers may still offer a charming, fully mature Champagne experience.

Champagne wines to watch from 1997

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1997 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger
• 1997 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Legendary Acidity & Remarkable Longevity

The 1996 vintage in Champagne is widely regarded as one of the most structured and long-lived of the 20th century, producing wines of extraordinary acidity, concentration, and ageing potential. This year was marked by a rare combination of high sugar levels and extremely high acidity, creating taut, powerful wines designed for long-term evolution.

The growing season was warm, with ideal ripening conditions during summer, while cool nights preserved acidity. Harvest took place under generally dry conditions, though some uneven ripening and early signs of rot required careful selection. Winemakers faced a crucial decision: pick early to capture piercing acidity or wait for maximum ripeness at the risk of potential over-ripeness.

The resulting 1996 Champagnes are intensely structured, with remarkable energy and longevity:

• Chardonnay was exceptional, delivering razor-sharp precision, citrus-driven intensity, and deep minerality. However, some wines still feel piercingly acidic even after decades.
  
  
• Pinot Noir was bold and structured, adding weight and complexity to blends, with layers of red fruit, spice, and savoury depth.
  
  
• Meunier played a smaller role, as its naturally softer acidity was less suited to the vintage's powerful profile.

Now nearly three decades on, many 1996 Champagnes remain vibrant and continue to develop complex secondary characteristics of toast, honey, nuts, and smoke. However, ageing has been inconsistent across producers, with some wines displaying premature oxidation while others remain strikingly youthful.

For collectors, 1996 remains a sought-after vintage, particularly for prestige cuvées such as Krug, Dom Pérignon, Salon, and Bollinger La Grande Année, which continue to show remarkable life and appreciation potential. However, bottle condition and provenance are increasingly critical, as storage has played a significant role in how individual wines have aged.

Despite some variability, 1996 remains a benchmark Champagne vintage, revered for its structure, tension, and longevity, an essential reference for those who appreciate powerful, age-worthy Champagnes.

Champagne wines to watch from 1996

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1996 Bollinger R.D., Bollinger
• 1996 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 1996 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque, Dom Perignon
• 1996 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 1996 Clos d’Ambonnay, Krug
• 1996 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 1996 Krug, Krug
• 1996 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 1996 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 1996 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 1996 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 1996 Dom Ruinart, Ruinart
• 1996 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 1996 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger
• 1996 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Refined Balance & Early Elegance

The 1995 vintage in Champagne is often regarded as a classic, producing elegant, well-balanced wines with refined acidity and early charm. While not as extreme or long-lived as 1996, 1995 offered a more harmonious structure, with a combination of ripe fruit, fresh acidity, and early accessibility that made many wines enjoyable from a younger age.

The growing season was relatively consistent and favourable, with a warm summer and cooler nights helping to preserve acidity while allowing full phenolic ripeness. Harvest took place under stable conditions, with grapes picked at a good balance of sugar and acidity. While the year did not produce the piercing tension of 1996, it delivered wines of classic proportion, depth, and elegance.

The resulting 1995 Champagnes are known for their balance and refined ageing potential:

• Chardonnay excelled, delivering freshness, citrus vibrancy, and mineral complexity. Many Blanc de Blancs from this vintage remain beautifully structured.
  
  
• Pinot Noir was rich and generous, adding depth, red fruit complexity, and structure to blends, though slightly softer than in more powerful vintages.
  
  
• Meunier performed well, contributing to the vintage's overall approachability, though its role remained secondary in top cuvées.

Now three decades on, many 1995 Champagnes are in peak drinking condition, with mature notes of brioche, toasted nuts, and honey, while still retaining an attractive freshness. The best examples from prestigious producers continue to evolve gracefully, though most wines have now entered their optimal drinking window.

For collectors, 1995 remains an attractive vintage, particularly for Chardonnay-led wines, which have aged with great finesse. While not as heralded as 1996, top cuvées from Dom Pérignon, Krug, Bollinger, and Salon still show remarkable life and depth. With its refined balance and relative approachability, 1995 represents an excellent vintage for drinking now, with select wines still offering investment potential.

Champagne wines to watch from 1995

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1995 Dom Perignon Oenotheque, Dom Perignon
• 1995 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 1995 Clos d’Ambonnay, Krug
• 1995 Krug, Krug
• 1995 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 1995 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Challenging Conditions & Early-Maturing Wines

The 1994 vintage in Champagne was a difficult year, marked by inconsistent weather and demanding vineyard conditions, resulting in wines that were generally softer, earlier maturing, and less structured than those from stronger vintages. While some well-managed vineyards produced charming, approachable Champagnes, overall longevity and concentration were limited, making it a less favoured vintage for collectors and long-term cellaring.

The growing season began with a mild spring, but a cool, wet summer and persistent humidity increased disease pressure, particularly affecting Pinot Noir and Meunier. While September brought some late-season warmth, it was not enough to fully compensate for the vintage's earlier setbacks. Harvest conditions were variable, requiring rigorous selection to ensure quality fruit.

The resulting 1994 Champagnes are known for their approachability and soft acidity:

• Chardonnay performed best, retaining freshness and minerality, though lacking the depth of top vintages.
  
  
• Pinot Noir struggled, with many wines displaying lighter fruit and lower structure than ideal for long ageing.
  
  
• Meunier was inconsistent, as the wet conditions made it more susceptible to rot and dilution.

Now three decades on, most 1994 Champagnes have reached or passed their peak, with mature notes of dried fruit, honey, and toasted nuts, but often with fading acidity and a shorter finish. While some prestige cuvées from top producers have aged better, this was not a vintage built for long-term evolution.

For collectors, 1994 is not a widely sought-after vintage, and most wines are best enjoyed now rather than held for further ageing. However, top cuvées from houses like Krug, Bollinger, and Dom Pérignon have proven more resilient, offering rewarding mature expressions for those who appreciate evolved Champagnes. Given its softer structure and limited long-term potential, 1994 is generally considered a drinking vintage rather than an investment year.

Elegant, Early-Drinking Wines with Charm

The 1993 vintage in Champagne was a softer, earlier-maturing year, producing elegant, approachable wines with moderate acidity and gentle fruit expression. While not among the most structured or long-lived vintages, 1993 offered finesse and charm, making it a pleasurable drinking vintage rather than one for extended cellaring.

The growing season was largely favourable, with a warm summer, though sporadic rainfall in August and early September created some inconsistency in ripening. Harvest conditions were generally stable, allowing producers to pick at reasonable sugar and acidity levels, but without the extreme structure or longevity of stronger vintages.

The resulting 1993 Champagnes are known for their refined balance and early-drinking appeal:

• Chardonnay performed well, offering bright citrus, floral, and mineral notes, though with softer acidity than more age-worthy years.
  
  
• Pinot Noir was light and delicate, contributing red fruit and subtle spice, but lacking the depth for very long-term evolution.
  
  
• Meunier was well-suited to the vintage, bringing roundness and approachability to many blends.

Now more than 30 years on, most 1993 Champagnes have reached full maturity, with developed notes of honey, toasted almonds, and baked apple, though many have softened considerably. A few prestige cuvées have held up well, but the best drinking window for most wines has now passed.

For collectors, 1993 is not a high-profile investment vintage, as its wines were more about elegance than longevity. However, top cuvées from houses such as Krug, Bollinger, and Dom Pérignon have shown surprising resilience, offering a refined drinking experience for those who appreciate mature Champagnes. While not a vintage for long-term holding, 1993 remains an enjoyable year for well-stored bottles from top producers.

Champagne wines to watch from 1993

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, one opportunity stands out:

• 1993 Dom Perignon Oenotheque, Dom Perignon

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding this wine or any others to your portfolio.

A Delicate Year with Limited Ageing Potential

The 1992 vintage in Champagne was a challenging and delicate year, producing light, early-maturing wines with modest acidity and gentle fruit expression. While some producers crafted elegant, easy-drinking Champagnes, the overall vintage lacked the structure and concentration needed for long-term cellaring.

The growing season was marked by a warm spring, leading to early flowering, but a cool, damp summer with intermittent rain created difficulties in ripening. Disease pressure was a concern, particularly for Pinot Noir and Meunier, which were more susceptible to rot. Harvest conditions were variable, and careful selection was required to maintain quality.

The resulting 1992 Champagnes are known for their soft, approachable style:

• Chardonnay fared best, maintaining a degree of freshness and minerality, though without the drive of stronger years.
  
  
• Pinot Noir struggled, leading to lighter-bodied wines with less depth and ageing potential.
  
  
• Meunier was inconsistent, contributing to the vintage's overall softness but lacking intensity.

Now, more than 30 years on, most 1992 Champagnes have passed their peak, with developed notes of dried fruit, caramel, and honey, but often with fading acidity and structure. While a few prestige cuvées have held up better, this was not a vintage built for longevity.

For collectors, 1992 is not a sought-after investment vintage, as its wines were more suited to early enjoyment. However, top houses like Krug, Bollinger, and Dom Pérignon managed to produce some well-preserved cuvées, which can still provide a mature and evolved drinking experience. Given its fragile structure, this vintage is best suited for those looking to drink rather than hold.

Champagne wines to watch from 1992

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, one opportunity stands out:

• 1992 Vieilles Vignes Francaises, Bollinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding this wine or any others to your portfolio.

A Difficult Year with Few Standouts

The 1991 vintage in Champagne was a challenging year, producing light, early-drinking wines with limited complexity and ageing potential. While a handful of producers crafted respectable cuvées, the overall vintage was inconsistent, with many wines lacking the structure for long-term development.

The growing season was marked by difficulties from the start. A cold, damp spring led to uneven flowering and reduced yields, followed by a cool, rainy summer that hindered ripening and increased disease pressure, particularly for Pinot Noir and Meunier. September brought some late warmth, which helped improve conditions slightly, but the damage had already been done, resulting in lower-than-average quality across most vineyards.

The 1991 Champagnes are known for their light body and modest acidity:

• Chardonnay was the strongest performer, retaining a degree of freshness and minerality, but lacking the depth seen in better years.
  
  
• Pinot Noir struggled, leading to thin, underwhelming wines that lacked richness and complexity.
  
  
• Meunier was particularly affected by rot, making it a difficult component for blends.

Now, more than 30 years on, nearly all 1991 Champagnes have reached or surpassed their peak, with dominant tertiary notes of baked apple, caramel, and toasted nuts, often with fading acidity and structure. Few wines from this vintage have retained their vitality.

For collectors, 1991 is not a vintage of interest, as most wines were meant for early consumption. However, a handful of prestige cuvées from Krug, Bollinger, and Dom Pérignon managed to perform better, benefiting from rigorous fruit selection and longer lees ageing. These rare bottles can still offer some intrigue for those who enjoy well-evolved Champagne, but this is a vintage best suited for drinking rather than investment.

A Superb Year of Richness & Longevity

The 1990 vintage in Champagne is widely regarded as one of the finest of the late 20th century, producing rich, well-structured wines with exceptional balance, depth, and ageing potential. It followed the highly regarded 1988 and preceded the legendary 1996, yet 1990 stands out for its generosity, ripeness, and early appeal combined with remarkable longevity.

The growing season was near-perfect, with a warm spring encouraging early flowering, followed by a hot summer with just enough rainfall to avoid drought stress. Harvest conditions were excellent, allowing grapes to be picked at full maturity with a rare combination of high sugar levels and fresh acidity. This balance resulted in wines of both power and finesse, making 1990 one of Champagne's greatest vintages.

The 1990 Champagnes are defined by their generosity and structure:

• Chardonnay was exceptional, contributing elegance, citrus vibrancy, and chalky minerality, with superb ageing potential.
  
  
• Pinot Noir delivered richness and depth, bringing layers of ripe red fruit, spice, and structure, making it a key component in many top cuvées.
  
  
• Meunier performed well, adding roundness and early approachability to blends without compromising longevity.

Now, over 30 years on, 1990 Champagnes remain impressive, with beautifully developed notes of brioche, honey, roasted nuts, and dried fruit, while still retaining energy and complexity. The finest examples continue to evolve, offering extraordinary depth and balance.

For collectors, 1990 is a benchmark vintage, with prestige cuvées from Krug, Dom Pérignon, Bollinger, and Salon still showing remarkable longevity. Well-stored bottles remain highly desirable, offering both investment potential and exceptional drinking experiences. This vintage is a must-have for those who appreciate Champagne at its most powerful and refined.

Champagne wines to watch from 1990

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1990 Bollinger R.D., Bollinger
• 1990 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 1990 Dom Perignon, Dom Perignon
• 1990 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 1990 Clos du Mesnil, Krug
• 1990 Krug, Krug
• 1990 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 1990 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 1990 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 1990 Dom Ruinart Rose, Ruinart
• 1990 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 1990 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Structure, Precision & Legendary Longevity

The 1988 vintage stands as one of Champagne's most celebrated years for collectors who value structure and longevity. Following a mild winter and relatively cool spring, summer brought consistent moderate temperatures without excessive heat, maintaining slow, even ripening while preserving the region's characteristic high acidity. Well-timed rainfall prevented drought stress while keeping disease pressure low.

These conditions continued through harvest, allowing growers to pick grapes with perfect balance between ripeness and acidity. The resulting base wines displayed remarkable precision and structural definition, immediately suggesting exceptional potential for long-term development despite initially appearing somewhat austere in their youth.

The Champagnes from 1988 showcase a compelling combination of concentration and tension, with precise fruit expression perfectly framed by vibrant acidity and pronounced mineral character. Chardonnay reached extraordinary heights, developing crystalline purity and intense mineral definition that continues to evolve beautifully with age. Pinot Noir also excelled, contributing depth and complexity while maintaining exceptional structural integrity.

The 1988 vintage represents the epitome of classical Champagne built for extended ageing. These wines have evolved at a glacial pace, gradually revealing new dimensions of complexity while maintaining remarkable freshness even three decades after their creation. For many connoisseurs, 1988 represents the perfect vintage for those who appreciate the most structured, terroir-driven expression of Champagne.

For collectors and investors, 1988 stands with 1996 as the most celebrated vintage of the late 20th century for age-worthy Champagne. These wines continue to appreciate in both quality and value as they approach their full maturity, representing cornerstone holdings in serious Champagne collections.

Champagne wines to watch from 1988

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1988 Bollinger R.D., Bollinger
• 1988 La Grande Annee, Bollinger
• 1988 Dom Perignon Oenotheque, Dom Perignon
• 1988 Dom Perignon Rose, Dom Perignon
• 1988 Krug, Krug
• 1988 Cristal Rose, Louis Roederer
• 1988 Clos Goisses, Philipponnat
• 1988 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger
• 1988 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 1988 Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

A Delicate, Early-Drinking Vintage from a Tricky Season

The 1987 growing season in Champagne presented significant challenges that required exceptional skill from vineyard managers and winemakers. Following an uneven spring that affected flowering and fruit set, summer brought inconsistent conditions with alternating periods of warmth and rainfall that created disease pressure and complicated ripening across the region.

September continued with variable weather, requiring careful timing of harvest to secure healthy fruit with adequate ripeness. Many producers implemented strict selection, significantly reducing yields to ensure quality. Given these obstacles, the wines that emerged from 1987 show surprising elegance despite lacking the concentration of more celebrated vintages.

The resulting Champagnes generally display moderate intensity with bright acidity and refined fruit expression. Chardonnay performed relatively well, producing wines with good mineral definition and precise structure despite the challenging season. Pinot Noir proved more variable but delivered decent results from top vineyard sites.

The 1987 vintage demonstrates Champagne's resilience and the skill of its best producers in difficult years. While not reaching the heights of great vintages like 1985 or 1988, successful examples offer elegant, classically proportioned Champagnes that have developed beautiful maturity over their lifespan.

For collectors and investors, mature 1987 Champagnes offer insight into how skilled producers can overcome challenging conditions. The best examples have evolved gracefully to provide sophisticated drinking pleasure today, representing excellent value for those seeking fully mature Champagne with elegant complexity.

Refined Balance & Depth from an Overlooked Vintage

The 1986 vintage in Champagne delivered wines of remarkable structure and precision following a growing season characterised by generally cool conditions. After a mild winter, spring brought moderate temperatures that led to even flowering, while summer continued with predominantly cool weather interspersed with adequate rainfall that maintained vine health without creating significant disease pressure.

These cool conditions continued through harvest, resulting in grapes with high acidity and moderate sugar levels, creating base wines with exceptional structure and tension. The resulting Champagnes showcase classical proportions with precise fruit profiles, vibrant acidity and statuesque structure that has allowed for beautiful evolution over time.

Chardonnay performed exceptionally well in 1986, developing remarkable purity and mineral precision that formed the backbone of many of the vintage's most successful wines. Pinot Noir also delivered good results, contributing aromatic complexity and depth while maintaining structured elegance.

The 1986 vintage represents a fascinating expression of cool-climate Champagne, offering wines that initially appeared somewhat austere but have evolved gracefully over decades to reveal remarkable complexity. These Champagnes demonstrate how the region's high acidity can translate into extraordinary ageing potential when balanced by skilled winemaking.

For collectors and investors, mature 1986 Champagnes offer insight into how classically structured vintages evolve over extended periods. The best examples continue to provide sophisticated drinking pleasure today, having developed fascinating tertiary complexity while maintaining surprising freshness after more than 35 years.

Champagne wines to watch from 1986

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1986 Blanc de Blancs, Pol Roger
• 1986 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill, Pol Roger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

Perfect Balance Creates Enduring Elegance

The 1985 vintage in Champagne is widely celebrated for producing wines of exceptional balance and harmony following a near-perfect growing season. After a cold winter that helped control vineyard pests, spring brought moderate temperatures that led to even flowering and healthy fruit set. Summer continued with ideal conditions featuring warm days, cool nights and perfectly timed rainfall that maintained vine health while promoting optimal ripening.

Harvest proceeded under dry, sunny conditions, allowing growers to pick at perfect ripeness across the region. The resulting base wines displayed remarkable balance between fruit expression, acidity and structure, immediately suggesting exceptional potential for both immediate pleasure and long-term development.

The Champagnes from 1985 showcase classical proportions with pure fruit profiles, elegant acidity and refined structure. Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir performed exceptionally well, developing beautiful complexity and depth while maintaining the freshness essential to fine Champagne.

The 1985 vintage represents a quintessential expression of Champagne at its most harmonious, offering wines that combined immediate accessibility with excellent ageing potential. These Champagnes have evolved beautifully over time, developing remarkable complexity while maintaining freshness and vitality even after more than 35 years.

For collectors and investors, 1985 stands as one of the greatest vintages of the 1980s, alongside the more structured 1988. These wines have demonstrated remarkable longevity and continue to provide sophisticated drinking pleasure at their peak of maturity, offering excellent value for those seeking the complexity of fully developed vintage Champagne.

Champagne wines to watch from 1985

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1985 Krug, Krug
• 1985 Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs, Salon
• 1985 Comtes de Champagne Rose, Taittinger

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.

A Difficult Year Producing Few Memorable Wines

The 1984 growing season in Champagne presented extraordinary challenges that tested the resilience and expertise of the region's producers. Following a cool, wet spring that delayed the growing cycle, summer brought predominantly cold, damp conditions that created significant disease pressure and complicated ripening across the region.

September continued with challenging weather, requiring careful vineyard management and highly selective harvesting to secure healthy fruit. Many producers opted not to declare a vintage at all, using the limited quality grapes for their non-vintage blends instead. Those who did produce vintage Champagnes implemented extremely strict selection, significantly reducing already diminished yields.

The resulting Champagnes generally display modest concentration with high acidity and lean structure. The vintage's challenging conditions manifest in wines with more austere profiles than in more favourable years, though the best examples have developed interesting complexity over their extended maturation.

The 1984 vintage demonstrates how Champagne's producers can navigate even the most difficult growing seasons. While not reaching the heights of acclaimed years, successful examples from top producers offer fascinating insight into the region's ability to produce distinctive wines even under adverse conditions.

For collectors, mature 1984 Champagnes from prestigious houses represent rare curiosities that provide historical context for understanding Champagne's evolution. These wines offer a window into how challenging vintages develop over time, representing important reference points for experienced enthusiasts.

Character & Complexity from Mixed Conditions

The 1983 growing season in Champagne presented vineyard managers with a series of challenges that required careful navigation to produce quality results. Following a mild winter and warm early spring that accelerated the growing cycle, late spring brought frost events that reduced yields in some areas. Summer continued with mixed conditions featuring alternating periods of heat and rainfall that created inconsistent ripening patterns across the region.

September improved somewhat but continued these variable conditions, requiring precise decisions around harvest timing. Many producers implemented strict selection to ensure quality, further reducing yields affected by the spring frosts. Despite these obstacles, the wines that emerged from 1983 show interesting character and complexity.

The resulting Champagnes display moderate concentration with distinctive aromatic profiles and good structural definition. Pinot Noir performed particularly well in certain areas, developing interesting depth and character despite the season's difficulties. Chardonnay proved more variable but delivered precise results from top vineyard sites.

The 1983 vintage demonstrates Champagne's resilience and the skill of its best producers in navigating challenging conditions. While perhaps overshadowed by the exceptional 1982 that preceded it, successful examples from 1983 offer interesting aromatic complexity and textural depth that have evolved fascinatingly over four decades.

For collectors and investors, mature 1983 Champagnes offer insight into how distinctive vintages evolve over extended periods. The best examples continue to provide sophisticated drinking pleasure today, having developed remarkable tertiary complexity while maintaining structural integrity after nearly 40 years.

Warmth & Generosity Create Modern Classics

The 1982 vintage in Champagne delivered wines of exceptional quality and remarkable accessibility following a growing season characterised by predominantly warm, dry conditions. After a mild winter, spring brought favourable weather that promoted healthy flowering and fruit set. Summer continued with consistent warmth interspersed with just enough rainfall to prevent drought stress while maintaining healthy vine development.

Harvest began relatively early under ideal conditions, with grapes showing excellent sugar levels and moderate acidity, creating base wines with unusual richness and immediate appeal. The resulting Champagnes showcase a compelling combination of generosity and elegance, with concentrated fruit expression balanced by sufficient structure for extended development.

Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir performed exceptionally well in 1982, developing beautiful complexity and depth that has allowed these wines to evolve gracefully over four decades. The vintage's warm conditions manifest in Champagnes with broader, more generous profiles than in cooler years, yet with remarkable harmony and sophistication.

The 1982 vintage represents a fascinating expression of Champagne in a warm year, offering wines that bridge traditional and contemporary styles. These Champagnes provided immediate pleasure upon release yet possessed surprising structure that has allowed for beautiful evolution over time, creating modern classics that continue to impress today.

For collectors and investors, 1982 stands as one of the finest vintages of the early 1980s, producing Champagnes with both immediate appeal and remarkable longevity. These fully mature wines continue to offer sophisticated drinking pleasure at their peak of development, providing fascinating insight into how generous vintages evolve over extended periods.

Champagne wines to watch from 1982

For enthusiasts and investors exploring this vintage, several opportunities stand out:

• 1982 Dom Perignon Oenotheque, Dom Perignon
• 1982 Krug, Krug

Please contact our Investment Management Team to discuss adding these wines or any others to your portfolio.