Champagne

At the northerly limit of French Viticulture, Champagne is a cool region; the vineyards face north, south and east across open plains. The key ingredient to the regions’ success is the chalk soil that reflects itself in the firm, crystalline constitution of the finished wine. Dom Perignon did not invent the Champagne process; he did however develop the practice of blending both vintages and vineyards, resulting in any ties with provenance within this roomy appellation of 33 000 being weakened. The combination of blending and production method means that the final wine shows little resemblance to the pallid vin clair with which the cellarmaster began his work.  Our range of Champagne is small but carefully chosen, with excellent wines from Pannier and Gremillet offering tremendous value.  We particularly enjoy our relationship with Billecart-Salmon.  Billecart-Salmon is one of the few remaining Champagne Houses to be owned by the founding family; the firm was actually established in 1818. Also without doubt, one of the finest, yet least known Grande Marque Champagnes.