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All the medallists from The Champagne Masters 2024

Champagne may have become more and more expensive since the Covid-19 pandemic – but there has also been a commensurate step up in quality, complexity and balance, reports Patrick Schmitt MW, as he reveals all the medallists from The Champagne Masters 2024.

IF I was asked to name the biggest change in Champagne during this decade, it would be the price of the product. Already fairly expensive, the post-pandemic Champagne shortage has led to sharp price increases, including another at the start of this year, until a bottle of the fine fizz can’t be had for less than £30 – even in UK supermarkets.

It wasn’t long ago that the entry-point price for Champagne was below £20, with promotional offers occasionally putting that figure down to sub-£15. Today, a grande marque is over £40, even when discounts are being applied. The change is dramatic.

Such a rise in the cost of a bottle might be a concern if Champagne wasn’t at the top of its game. But, as our annual Champagne Masters proved, quality is high, and there is value to be had, with some outstanding brut NVs achieving scores that would be worthy of fine white Burgundy, but at half the price.

Meanwhile, you can find relatively affordable vintage Champagnes that are not only benchmarks in the world of sparkling wine, but better than some much pricier prestige cuvées.

In other words, Champagne has become markedly more expensive, particularly at the bottom end, but the category still offers comparative value – if you know where to look. And that’s where the results of our annual competition come in, drawing attention to the best Champagnes of their categories, as well as the leading producers in our range of price bands.

The tasting also, as always, highlighted a few stylistic developments. One of these concerns Champagne sweetness – or rather, the lack of it: Champagne is getting drier. This may be a product of riper base wines, but I suspect it’s primarily a result of longer lees ageing times, increased proportions of reserve wines from a greater span of vintages – which tend to add richness – as well as a the desire for precision and transparency from cellar masters, particularly those proud of the high-quality and complex product they are making.

The result is that Champagne today tends to have a generous and appealing mid-palate depth, but a refreshing, zesty finish – providing an indulgent, balanced drink that few if any other parts of the world seem able to emulate. This may not be entirely a consequence of Champagne’s unique terroir, but rather the fact that few other sparkling wine regions or producers have a history of holding back vinous ‘reserves’ for blending with younger ‘base’ wines – most non-Champagne sparkling is essentially from a single harvest, even if it doesn’t state a vintage.

Meanwhile, in Champagne, where the vintage is stated, the wine tends to be significantly older than the equivalents from elsewhere. Commonly aged for 8-10 years, these wines have a grilled, nutty appeal that comes from long lees ageing on a fresh base, particularly Chardonnay, which seems to show these characters most obviously.

MARKED IMPROVEMENT

However, if there’s an area of marked improvement in Champagne, it’s the handling of the region’s red grapes. This is partly for the creation of better still wines – increasingly released as Coteaux Champenois – but primarily for blending with white wines to make rosé Champagne. It is also, however, for making a better partner for Chardonnay in Champagne blends and, notably, for the increasingly fashionable blanc de noirs. In the past, these wines were, in my view, often a little disappointing: Champagne made purely from red grapes seemed to lack the zesty, toasty appeal of those with Chardonnay. But times have changed, with a suite of delicious blancs de noirs in this year’s Masters, complete with flavours of pastry and apple, and plenty of freshness too, helped by low dosages. Some even wowed when made with a high proportion of Meunier, proving that this workhorse grape can be used to craft great Champagne.

Non-vintage

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£10-£15
Aldi Veuve Monsigny Brut NV Brut Silver
£15-£20
Champagne Jean-Noël Haton Cuvée Classic NV Brut Silver
£20-£30
Champagne Albert Lebrun Collection Terroir Premier Cru NV Brut Gold
Champagne Vieille France Brut NV Brut Gold
Champagne Jean-Noël Haton Cuvée Pure NV Brut Nature Silver
Champagne Marie de Moy Premier Cru NV Brut Silver
Champagne Charles de Cazanove Tradition Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne Marie de Moy Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne GH Martel Brut Premier Cru NV Brut Silver
Champagne Victoire Premier Cru NV Brut Silver
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Grande Réserve Brut NV Brut Bronze
Champagne GH Martel Brut Prestige NV Brut Bronze
Aldi Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru NV Brut Bronze
Champagne Jean-Noël Haton Reserve NV Brut Bronze
Champagne Charles Orban Carte Noire NV Brut Bronze
£30-£50
Champagne Collery Brut Grand Cru NV Brut Master
Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Nature NV Brut Nature Gold
Champagne Drappier Carte d’Or NV Brut Gold
Champagne Lombard Extra Brut NV Extra-Brut Gold
Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut NV Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Gardet Brut Réserve Premier Cru NV Brut Gold
Champagne Duval-Leroy Brut NV Brut Gold
Champagne Boizel Brut Réserve NV Brut Gold
Champagne Duval-Leroy Fleur De Champagne NV Brut Gold
Champagne Pommery Pommery Brut Royal NV Brut Gold
Champagne Castelnau Brut NV Brut Gold
Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Blue Top Brut NV Brut Gold
Champagne Palmer & Co. Brut Reserve NV Brut Gold
Champagne Collet Brut Art DéCo NV Brut Gold
Champagne Canard-Duchêne Léonie Brut NV Brut Gold
Champagne Gardet Dosage Zéro NV Zéro dosage Silver
Ayala Brut Nature NV Brut Nature Silver
Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Organic Extra Brut NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Pannier Extra-Brut NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Premier Cru Extra-Brut NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Collery Extra-Brut Grand Cru NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Henriot Brut Souverain NV Brut Silver
Champagne Gardet Brut Tradition NV Brut Silver
Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label NV Brut Silver
Charles Lafitte Grande Cuvée Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne Albert Lebrun Collection Terroir Grand Cru NV Brut Silver
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Depuis 1843 Bleu Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne Lanson Le Black Création 258 NV Brut Silver
Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence NV Brut Silver
Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial NV Brut Silver
Champagne Philippe Fourrier Reserve NV Brut Silver
Champagne Vranken Demoiselle Eo Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne Cattier Brut Premier Cru NV Brut Silver
Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne Vollereaux Brut Réserve NV Brut Silver
Champagne Abelé 1757 Brut NV Brut Silver
Champagne Jarry Heritage Alliance NV Brut Silver
Champagne Delamotte Brut NV Brut Silver
Piper-Heidsieck Sublime NV Demi-Sec Silver

Non-vintage (continued)

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£30-£50 (continued)
Champagne Castelnau Extra Brut NV Extra-Brut Bronze
Champagne Boizel La Montagne NV Extra-Brut Bronze
Champagne Canard-Duchêne P. 181 NV Extra-Brut Bronze
Champagne JM Labruyère Prologue Grand Cru Extra Brut NV Extra-Brut Bronze
Champagne Pannier Sélection NV Brut Bronze
Champagne Gardet Brut Organic Bio NV Brut Bronze
£50-£70
Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut NV Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Barons de Rothschild Concordia Brut NV Brut Gold
Champagne De Venoge Princes Brut 2nd Edition NV Brut Gold
Champagne Drappier Clarevallis NV Extra Brut Gold
Champagne Drappier Brut Nature NV Brut Nature Gold
Champagne Lanson Le Black Réserve NV Brut Gold
Champagne Telmont Réserve Brut NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Lanson Le Green Bio-Organic NV Brut Silver
Champagne Gosset Grande Reserve NV Brut Silver
£70-£100
Champagne Drappier Trop m’en Faut NV Brut Nature Master

Vintage

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£30-£50
Champagne Victoire Vintage Gold 2017 Brut Master
Champagne Lanson Le Vintage 2013 Brut Gold
Champagne Castelnau Vintage 2006 Brut Gold
Champagne Charles de Cazanove Stradivarius 2009 Brut Gold
Champagne Gardet Millésime 2015 Extra-Brut 2015 Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Vieille France Vintage 2007 Brut Silver
GH Mumm Cordon Rouge 2016 Brut Silver
£50-£70
Champagne Collet Millésime 2016 Brut Master
Champagne Canard-Duchêne V Vintage 2012 Brut Nature Gold
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon depuis 1843 Triple B 2015 Extra-Brut Gold
Piper-Heidsieck Vintage 2018 Brut Gold
Champagne Pommery Grand Cru 2009 Brut Gold
Champagne Vollereaux Blanc de Blancs 2014 Brut Silver
£70-£100
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon depuis 1843 Vintage 2013 Brut Master
Champagne Gardet Prestige Charles Gardet Millésime 2008 Brut Gold
Champagne Victoire Golden Eagle 2005 Extra-Brut Silver
£100+
Champagne Pommery Cuvée Louise Parcelle 2006 Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Gremillet Clos Rocher 2014 Brut Gold
Champagne Brimoncourt MMIX 2009 Brut Silver
Champagne Collery Empyreumatic 2014 Brut Silver

Multi-vintage

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£50-£70
Champagne Lallier R.020 Multi-Vintage Brut Gold

Prestige Cuvée

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£20-£30
Champagne Marie de Moy Grand Cru NV Brut Silver
£50-£70
Champagne Palmer & Co. Grands Terroirs 2015 Brut Gold
Champagne Philippe Fourrier Prestige NV Brut Gold
£70-£100
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Brut Vintage 2009 Brut Gold
£100+
Champagne Drappier La Grande Sendrée 2021 Extra-Brut Master
Champagne Henriot Cuvée Hemera 2008 Extra-Brut Master
Champagne Lanson Clos Lanson 2010 Brut Master
Rare Champagne Rare Millésime 2013 Brut Master
Champagne Duval-Leroy Femme NV Brut Master
Champagne Drappier Grande Sendrée Magnum 2008 Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Louis Salmon 2012 Extra-Brut Gold
Moet & Chandon Collection Impériale Création No. 1 NV Extra-Brut Gold
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Brut 2015 Brut Gold
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 2015 Brut Gold
Champagne Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle Iteration No. 26 Multi-Vintage Brut Gold
Champagne Abelé 1757 Le Sourire De Reims Brut Millésimé 2013 Brut Silver
Champagne Lanson Noble Champagne Brut Vintage 2005 Brut Silver

Blanc de blancs

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£20-£30
Champagne Marie de Moy Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Vieille France Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Silver
Champagne Charles de Cazanove Tradition Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Silver
Champagne Jean-Noël Haton Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Silver
£30-£50
Champagne Cattier Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru NV Brut Master
Champagne Castelnau Blanc de Blancs 2008 Brut Gold
Porte Noire Petite Porte NV Brut Gold
Champagne Vollereaux Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Silver
Champagne Collet Brut Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Silver
£50-£70
Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs NV Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Gremillet Cuvée Evidence NV Brut Gold
Champagne Palmer & Co. Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Henriot Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Abelé 1757 Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Jacober Blanc de Blancs Multi-Vintage Brut Gold
Champagne Lanson Le Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Duval-Leroy Blanc de Blancs 2008 Brut Silver
Champagne Gosset Grand Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Silver
Champagne Jarry Heritage Spirituelle NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Jarry Heritage Essentielle NV Brut Silver
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Depuis 1843 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV Brut Bronze
£70-£100
Champagne Pommery Apanage Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Master
Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs 2018 Brut Gold
Porte Noire Grand Cru 2013 Brut Gold
GH Mumm RSRV Blanc de Blancs 2014 Brut Gold
Champagne Collery Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Barons de Rothschild Blanc de Blancs NV Extra-Brut Silver
Champagne Laurent-Perrier Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature NV Brut Nature Silver
Champagne Delamotte Blanc de Blancs NV Brut Silver
£100+
Champagne Barons de Rothschild Rare Collection Blanc de Blancs 2013 Extra-Brut Gold
Telmont Blanc de Blancs 2014 Extra-Brut Gold

Blanc de noirs

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£20-£30
Champagne Charles Orban Carte Noire NV Brut Master
Champagne Vieille France Blanc de Noirs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Marie de Moy Blanc de Noirs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Charles de Cazanove Senses NV Extra-Brut Gold
£30-£50
Piper-Heidsieck Essentiel Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs NV Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Vollereaux Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature NV Brut Nature Silver
Champagne Albert Lebrun Collection Terroir Blanc De Noirs NV Brut Silver
Champagne Philippe Fourrier Blanc de Noirs NV Brut Bronze
£50-£70
Champagne de Venoge Cordon Bleu Blanc de Noirs NV Brut Master
Champagne Collery Blanc de Noirs NV Brut Gold
Champagne Canard-Duchêne Charles VII Blanc de Noirs NV Brut Silver
£70-£100
Champagne JM Labruyère Paradoxe Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Brut Nature 2016 Brut Nature Gold
GH Mumm RSRV Blanc de Noirs 2014 Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Joseph Perrier Côte à Bras Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature 2014 Brut Nature Silver
Champagne Lombard Brut Nature Verzenay Grand Cru NV Brut Nature Silver
£100+
Champagne Telmont Blanc de Noirs 2015 Brut Gold
Champagne Cattier Meunier Millésime Premier Cru 2016 Brut Silver

Rosé

Winery Name of Wine Vint. Dosage Medal
£20-£30
Champagne GH Martel Brut Rosé NV Brut Gold
Champagne Vieille France Rosé NV Brut Silver
Champagne Marie de Moy Rosé NV Brut Silver
Champagne Charles de Cazanove Senses Rosé NV Extra-sec Bronze
£30-£50
Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Rosé Top Brut NV Brut Master
Piper-Heidsieck Rosé Sauvage NV Brut Gold
GH Mumm Rosé NV Brut Gold
Champagne Palmer & Co. Rosé Solera NV Brut Gold
Moët & Chandon Brut Rosé NV Brut Gold
Champagne Collet Brut Rosé NV Brut Silver
Champagne Pannier Rosé NV Brut Silver
Champagne Cattier Brut Rosé Premier Cru NV Brut Silver
Champagne Pommery Brut Rosé Royal NV Brut Silver
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Rosé NV Brut Silver
Champagne Lanson Le Rosé Création 67 NV Brut Silver
Champagne Castelnau Rosé NV Brut Silver
Champagne Besserat de Bellefon Depuis 1843 Rosé Brut NV Brut Bronze
£50-£70
Veuve Clicquot Rosé NV Brut Master
Champagne Telmont Réserve Rosé NV Extra-Brut Gold
Porte Noire Petite Porte Rosé NV Brut Gold
Champagne Gosset Grand Rosé NV Brut Gold
Champagne Collery NV Brut Rosé Grand Cru NV Brut Gold
Champagne Philippe Fourrier Rosé De Saignée NV Brut Bronze
£70-£100
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV Extra-Brut Gold
Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé NV Brut Gold
Champagne de Venoge Princesse Rosé NV Brut Silver
£100+
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Elisabeth Salmon 2012 Extra-Brut Master
Rare Champagne Rare Rosé Millésime 2014 Brut Master
Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé 2015 Brut Gold
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Brut Rosé 2012 Brut Gold
Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Palmes d’Or Rosé Intense Vintage 2008 Brut Silver

About the competition

With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Champagne Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2024 competition was judged on 21 March at COMO The Halkin in London, employing experienced judges. 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. This report features the medal winners only. 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

Read more

the drinks business Champagne Report 2024

The judges (left to right): Elliot Awin, Antony Moss MW, Patrick Schmitt MW, Patricia Stefanowicz MW, Tim Tiptree MW, Andrea Briccarello, Matthieu Longuère MS, Neil Sommerfelt MW, David Round MW

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