The
story goes that it was the Brits who first
realised that the thin and acidic wines
of Champagne tasted a lot better
with a bit of fizz brought about by some
spring time induced fermentation. Whatever
the real story, the world’s love affair
with the sparkling wines of Champagne continues
despite what sometimes seems a greater emphasis
on marketing than winemaking. The small
family-run houses of Moutardier and
Joseph Perrier have small marketing
budgets but there is no lack of emphasis
and investment in fruit quality and winemaking.
Our other selections from some of the better-known
marques are those we know to produce consistently
high quality.
Keith Floyd tasted most of the NV Champagnes
available and the clear leader was Joseph
Perrier...very fine bubbles and a soft but
clean taste.
It intimates notes of citrus peel. A rich
but tamed length waiting to soar, myriad
noble tannins give a hint of raptures to
come with this woody vintage with fruit
flavours (blackcurrant, gooseberry, fig).
Family run by the delightful Jean Claude
Forman, this Grande Marque House was founded
in 1825 in Chalons en Champagne, where it
has over 3km of cellars carved out of the
chalk hillside.
Jean Claude Forman is a decendant of this
outstanding Grand Marque house. One of the
very few that can still claim to be family
run
Jean Claude Forman runs Joseph Perrier
Champagne, one of the few Champagne
Houses entitled to a 'Grande Marque’ status
and a favourite with successive British
Royal Families. Jean-Baptiste Bourotte is
heir to Jean-Baptiste Audy, a world-renowned
Bordeaux négociant and owner of acclaimed
estates in Pomerol and St Emilion.
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