To celebrate Champagne Day today, a few French wine importers have shared their recommendations of our favourite bubbly, which we share below. You’re sure to discover some champagnes you’ve not heard of or tried before.
Want to delve into the world of champagne? – read our 20 facts about champagne here
Interested in some famous quotes about champagne? Click here
Do you know the different types of champagne? Find out more here.
CHAMPAGNE DAY 2022 RECOMMENDATIONS
Ashleigh Huggins recommends Champagne Dehours – Terre de Meunier Extra Brut NV for Champagne Day.
Why?
Most Champagne drinkers enjoy a glass of Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, or maybe a blend but the Dehours Champagnes are eagerly sought after by champagne enthusiasts for their renowned ‘Meunier style’; bold, flavourful and demonstrating a clear terroir-orientated approach. This is the third grape varietal of the region that expresses sparkling wine in a whole new way. The cuvée “Terre de Meunier” is a blend of selected vineyards of Pinot Meunier from different villages such as Mareuil-le-port, Troissy and Oeuilly with Jérome Dehours advocating for richer champagne styles by starting a perpetual reserve of wine in 1998 to best capture the terroir identity of his Domaine without vintage influences.
How does Champagne differ from other sparkling wines?
Champagne is one of the original sparkling wines of the world, taking the traditional French approach of terroir before varietal. Many other sparkling wines focus upon the grape type and the process in which the bubbles are formed but the Champagne growers work to cultivate their grapes just like any other region of France and bring nuances from each plot as they blend them together. Furthermore, these growers are under much stricter instruction than other countries, with control measures put in place to ensure no bottle tarnishes the Champagne name. While other sparkling winemakers can experiment with different varietals and dosage levels, Champagne must adhere to one of the three accepted grapes and keep their dosage to a measured level, checked upon by the Comité Champagne.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
Nice as an aperitif but pairs beautifully with a summery day alongside oysters, charcuterie platters, and sushi.
Pierre Stock recommends the 2012 Champagne Hure Freres Terre Natale Brut Ludes for Champagne Day 2022.
Why?
I love this producer, 10 hectares grower champagne, working with organic practises. You can really taste terroir of the Montagne de Reims, clean, subtle and so precise
How does champagne differ from other sparkling wines?
Chalk and cheese
What would you pair with this champagne?
As an apéritif or with white meat, or grilled fish.
Kimberly from Single Vineyard Sellers has recommended 9 different champagnes for Champagne Day 2022 so there’s something for every budget and every taste!
Why?
Upright, graceful & refined, the Mosaïque label offers an elegant rendition of Jacquart’s signature style, encapsulating their uncompromising selections. The nose is fresh and delicate, with notes of white fruits, pear and peach, fresh apricot and white flowers with roses. Dried fruit aromas reveal it is starting to mature. On the palate, this Champagne is lush, generous and creamy. Beautiful exuberance driven by white fruits and lemon zest notes on the finish.
How does Champagne differ from other sparkling wines?
Champagne wine hails from the winemaking region of Champagne France, which is located just outside of Paris. It must be made using only Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meuiner grapes. Champagne is also produced using the traditional method and ages on lees, developing a more complex nutty or toasty flavour as opposed to the fresh and fruity flavour some other sparkling wines produce.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
This Champagne is an excellent aperitif or accompaniment to fine hors-d’oeuvres, tempura, or chicken.
2014 Champagne Jacquart Blanc de Blancs
Why?
Solar and mineral, the 2014 Champagne Jacquart Blanc de Blancs vintage champagne, iconic of the House, is finely cut by the best Crus of Chardonnay and radiates the personality of a year. On the nose it is fresh and delicate, refined flowers with refreshing menthol notes. The palate is focused and clean then becomes more powerful, offering up a fusion of tension and minerality. Pure aromatics with clear lemon zest. Substantial length supported by a fine, dense chalky structure.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
This Champagne is excellent with Thai cuisine, seafood, and sashimi.
Champagne Jacquart Mosaique Extra Brut
Why?
Upright, refined & mineral, this cuvée differentiates itself from the Mosaïque Brut with its minimalist dosage that highlights the mineral aspect of the champagne. The nose is very pure with iodine and mineral aromas along with lightly toasted and floral notes, dried fruits and citrus. The palate is beautiful creamy attack yet stays fresh. Chalky and mineral feel. Balanced with lemon zest, white fruits and some dried fruits sensations.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
The Jacquart Mosaique Extra Brut pair excellent with tuna sashimi, sweet breads, and oysters.
Champagne Jacquart Mosaique Rosé
Why?
Fruity, fresh & refined, the Champagne Jacquart Mosaique Rosé is the fruitiest and the most gourmet cuvée in the Mosaïque collection. It combines both the punch of the Chardonnay and the strength of black grapes. The nose is fresh with lovely delicate fruity notes recalling yellow peach, raspberry and redcurrant along with floral notes reminiscent of elderflower. With a palate that is lively and fruity with a juicy, fleshy edge of fresh fruits and raspberry. Great length with minerality and lovely crisp characters on the finish.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
This Champagne pairs well with sushi, crayfish, and lamb.
2010 Champagne Jacquart Cuvee Alpha Brut
Why?
Elegant, mineral & structured, thanks to its finesse and its depth, the prestigious Cuvée Alpha Blanc is a bold rendition of Champagne Jacquart’s flagship label. The nose has toast and roasted coffee notes followed by dried fruit aromas and displays the elegance of a perfectly mature Champagne. The palate is fresh with a sensation of candied citrus fruits. Reveals notes of roasted coffee. Long finish with aromas of honey and candied fruits.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
This Champagne pairs well with fresh truffle salad, spider crab, and capon.
2010 Champagne Jacquart Cuvee Alpha Rosé
Why?
Elegant and refined, rarely produced, the prestigious Cuvée Alpha Rosé expresses a deep tenderness and a touch of extravagance. The nose is very fruity, recalling beautifully ripe fresh grapes, blackcurrant and elderberries before exuding perfumes of sweet spice suffused with cinnamon, liquorice and star anise aromas. On the palate it is fruity core of blood orange and lemon curd, crunchy and fleshy. After airing, candied fruits, marzipan, nuts and rose petals. The finish delivers a slightly sweet feel.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
The 2010 Champagne Jacquart Cuvee Alpha Rosé pairs excellent with seafood, tartares, and raw fish.
Champagne Jacquart Mosaique Brut ‘5 Years Signature’
Why?
Voluptuous, graceful & refined, offering a promise of fulfilment, the Signature label is only disgorged after 5 years’ ageing during which the wine matures and bubbles gain refinement. The nose unfurls nicely with cooked fruit aromas of pear and apple, biroche notes, hazelnut and dried flowers. Complex nose offering up fully mature aromas. The palate is fresh, rich and very lush and fleshy with aromas reminiscent of the nose. Long, lively finish driven by citrus fruits and minerality.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
This Champagne pairs well with truffles, teppanyaki, and John Dory in a salt crust
2014 Champagne Jacquart Mono Cru Cepage Chouilly
Why?
Champagne Jacquart has given its superb collection of vintages time to mature over several seasons and become a showcase for its expertise and wealth of vineyard sites. Each of the labels turns the spotlight on one of the grapes that forms the company’s varietal mosaic.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
This Champagne pairs well with oysters, shellfish, and chicken.
Why?
The Cuvée Brut is fleshy and fruity, perfect for sharing with family and friends. Champagne Montaudon Brut is pleasant on the nose with notes of green apples, toast and lime, giving way to notes of cherries and strawberries. A luscious sensation of white fruit develops on the palate, with a spicy finish and a fresh aromatic aftertaste.
What would you pair this Champagne with?
This Champagne pairs well with sauteed cockles with coriander, scallops, and chicken.
Sue from The French Store recommends the whole of the Christian Patis range. It a small producer located in the heart of Champagne between Reims and Epernay, nestled on the slopes of the Montagne de Reims amongst a cluster of wine-growing localities: Sermiers, Courtaumont, le Petit Fleury, Montaneuf, la Bastille and Courtagnon.
The French Store currently offers the following Christian Patis champagnes:
- 750 ml format:
- GRANDE RÉSERVE BRUT – 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier – has a fruity and aromatic nose with hints of apricot, caramel and a final touch of brioche. Perfect to drink before a meal.
- ROSÉ BRUT – 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 17% Pinot Meunier, 8% Rouge Champenois – has an expressive and fragrant nose with hints of currant, cherry and grapefruit. Ideal as an apéritif or as an accompaniment to dinner, particularly grilled meat.
- BLANC DE BLANCS – 100 % Chardonnay – has a fine, elegant nose with notes of white flower and lemon. Perfect to drink as an aperitif and alongside an entree particularly white fish and seafood.
- CUVÉE PRESTIGE BRUT – 50% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier – This blend is made mainly from the first juices, and embodies the excellence of the house through its finesse, precision, and harmony. The elegant fine bubbles balance the complexity.
- 700ml
- RATAFIA DE CHAMPAGNE – Ratafia is a liqueur made from must(freshly crushed juice that contains the skins, seeds and stems of the fruit usually from the later press runs), marc (solid matter of the must after being pressed) and champagne. It is best enjoyed chilled as an aperitif. Perfect accompaniment to foie gras, melon, blue cheese, and chocolate desserts (18 degrees alcohol).
- Larger format for big celebrations:
- MAGNUMS (1.5 litres) – 60% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier
- JEROBOAM BRUT SELECTION (3 litres) – 60% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier
- Smaller format to quench a small thirst or when few are drinking:
- HALF-BOTTLES BRUT TRADITION (375 ml) – 15% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 60% Pinot Meunier – A blend of first and second press, this is a young, fresh champagne. Ideal for cocktails and ceremonies. It will be appreciated for its roundness coming mostly from the Pinot Meunier.
Prices inclusive of GST are:
- Grande Réserve (750ml) $312 per carton of 6 bottles or $55 per bottle
- Rosé Brut (750ml) $324 per carton of 6 bottles or $58 per bottle
- Blanc de Blancs (750ml) $330 per carton of 6 bottles or $60 per bottle
- Cuvée Prestige Brut (750ml) $330 per carton of 6 or $60 per bottle
- Magnums (1.5L) $540 per carton of 6 or $95 per bottle
- Jeroboams (3L) $250 each
- Brut Tradition (half-bottles) (375ml) $370 per carton of 12 bottles
- Ratafia de Champagne $270 per carton of 6 bottles or $48 per bottle
As for collection or delivery, let us know what suits you best. Delivery is free-of-charge within the Adelaide metropolitan area. For delivery outside of the Adelaide metropolitan area, delivery is priced based on the order and we always seek the most competitive price.
Want more Champagne Day recommendations?
Read our article from last year which features other recommendations from other French wine importers and champagne specialists.
Interested in reading more about champagne? There’s an Australian magazine dedicated to it. Read our interview with VINE & BUBBLE founder, Sara Underdown here.
Get social!
Tag #ChampagneDay in all of your champagne social media posts and tag @matildamarseillaise so we can see which champagnes you’re drinking.
Happy Champagne Day 2022!
What’s your ultimate champagne/food pairing?