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IT Champagne fascinates like no other wine region in the world. Across approximately 34,000 hectares, at the northern limit of viticulture at 49° North, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier produce sparkling wines of incomparable finesse. The dual climate – both oceanic and continental – makes every vintage a balancing act between ripeness and freshness.
Unlike most wine regions, Champagne houses only declare a vintage in exceptional years – typically three to four times per decade. The art of assemblage remains the foundation of the region. Yet it is precisely the small grower Champagnes (Récoltant-Manipulant), such as those represented in our portfolio, that pursue a different philosophy: single vineyards, single vintages and minimal dosage bring the expression of terroir and vintage to the fore.
Vintages at a Glance
JR Jancis Robinson
RP Robert Parker
RJ Richard Juhlin
AG Antonio Galloni
RJ An outstanding vintage – „best harvest in 30 years.“ Calm, steady growing season, exceptionally early harvest from 20th August. Sanitary condition of grapes impeccable. Pinot Noir particularly strong. Optimal sugar-acid balance.
RJ Rainy year with severe downy mildew – particularly devastating in the Côte des Bar. 46% lower yield than 2023. Ten crucial sunny days in September „saved the harvest.“ Good balance and acidity in the surviving grapes. The wines recall the style of the 1990s.
RJ Third-largest harvest in Champagne’s history. Chardonnay with „remarkable purity“, Pinot Noir with „profound character“, Meunier with „unusual distinction.“ Combines structural precision of cooler years with the generous fruit expression of warmer vintages. However: Dom Pérignon discarded the entire 2023 cellar – the fourth time this century.
JR Outstanding – reminiscent of 1947, 1959 and 1976. Dry summer without extremes, disease-free grapes with excellent ripeness. All three main varieties show exceptional quality.
AG Chardonnay with remarkable purity and mineral precision. Pinot Noir with unusual depth and aromatic complexity.
JR Devastating April frosts reduced yields to a 35-year low. Persistent rain and high disease pressure. Delayed harvest until October.
AG „Brightness, tension and classically lean profile“ amongst experienced producers. Côte des Blancs least affected.
JR Record-early harvest in mid-August – the earliest in Champagne’s history. Mild winter, warm sunny spring, sustained summer warmth without extreme heat.
AG Convincing balance of ripeness and freshness. Phenolic maturity and concentrated aromas. Chardonnay particularly outstanding.
JR Severe spring frosts, then record heat of 42.9°C on 25th July – scorching damage destroyed around 10% of the crop. August brought balance back.
RJ „Not as sunny as 2018, more finesse and structure.“ Probably the finest of the warm trilogy 2018–2020. Superb ageing potential.
AG Good tension and fine purity. Pinot Noir particularly outstanding.
JR Record winter rainfall, abundant sunshine, earliest harvest on 17th–20th August. Second-warmest summer. Clean, opulent wines with remarkably low acidity (5.9 g/l).
AG „Remarkable balance between generosity and restraint.“ Soft character, immediately appealing.
RP 93–96/100
JR Most difficult vintage of the decade. Severe April frosts, scorching summer heat, unexpected July/August rain triggered botrytis and sour rot. 20–30% crop damage.
AG Very weak year, especially for Pinot Noir. Chardonnay strongest. Only selectively declared – exceptions: Taittinger Comtes, Dom Ruinart BdB.
RP 83/100
JR Excessive rainfall, frosts, downy mildew, hail, drought, sunburn – practically everything. 20–30% yield reduction. Fruit-forward, opulent with lively acidity.
AG Good amongst nimble producers. Dom Pérignon declared. Concentration through low yields.
RP 92/100
JR Similar to 2003 but better balanced. Hottest vintage to date. Exceptionally dry summer from mid-May onwards.
AG Immediately appealing, attractive fruit. However: ashy aromas problematic in some wines – drought stress leaves its mark. Quality controversial.
RP 94–97/100
JR Initially dismissed as average, now „showing beautifully.“ Precision rather than power, bright acidity and structural integrity.
AG Chardonnay is the „star variety.“ Krug and Dom Pérignon did NOT declare – but Roederer Cristal and Bollinger La Grande Année did.
RP 91–94/100
JR Greatly underestimated. Delayed growth cycle, cool spring, hot dry summer, late harvest until October. Comparisons with 1971.
AG „Captivating combination of intensity and restraint“ with lively acidity and pronounced minerality. Increasingly appreciated with time.
RP 94/100
JR Outstanding vintage. Severe winter frosts and hail damage, but August heatwave with cool nights created a rare combination: high acidity AND high sugar with impeccable concentration.
AG „One of the most complete and charming vintages of the modern era.“ Immediate charm AND structure for ageing. Roederer Cristal 2012 was the first biodynamically produced prestige cuvée. Krug invested in reserves – no vintage released.
RP 95/100
JR Earliest harvest in history, but cool damp summer with mildew. Soft and accessible, but little depth.
AG Few vintage declarations. Dom Pérignon did NOT declare.
RP 79/100
JR Very cold winter, August/September storms complicated ripening. Chardonnay outstanding – the best within 10 years. Pinot Noir with rot problems.
AG Classic character with excellent tension and precision. Few houses declared.
RP 88/100
JR Sunny, generous. Gloriously sun-filled summer, almost no rain August–September. High sugar, soft acidity.
AG Generous wines with early drinking pleasure. Pinot Noir and Meunier particularly successful.
RP 93/100
JR Benchmark vintage of the 21st century. Bright, clear days with cool nights allowed slow, perfect ripening whilst preserving exceptionally lively acidity.
RJ „The finest vintage of the last 20 years.“ Extraordinary precision, energy and ageing potential. Cool-fruited, classically styled, saline freshness. All varieties excellent – even Pinot Meunier showed top quality.
AG „Expect brilliance over the next two decades.“ Universally praised. Houses held back releases due to the exceptional ageing potential.
RP 97/100
JR Unusually warm spring, cool damp summer. Early harvest on 24th August. Chardonnay significantly outperformed the Pinots.
AG Restrained ripeness, cutting acidity. Salon Le Mesnil 2007 remarkable.
RP 89/100
JR Cold winter, spring frosts, perfect June/July. High sugar, remarkably low acidity.
AG Open-hearted and inviting. Supple wines with good ageing potential. Taittinger Comtes, Krug Vintage, Philipponnat Clos des Goisses all declared.
RP 93/100
JR Warm and dry, then July mildew and rot. Expected quality not realised – „negative evolution“ even in the finest wines.
AG Rich but heavy wines with overripe character. Little ageing potential. Disappointing.
RP 90/100
JR Large harvest, cool August. Underestimated in the shadow of 2002 and 2008 – but „living wines with refined charm and refreshing lightness.“
AG „A classic vintage in the best sense. Linear, pure and age-worthy.“ Rare balance of freshness and fine aromatic intensity.
RP 92/100
JR Unprecedented heatwave over 40°C. Earliest harvest since 1822 on 21st August. Very low acidity (5.8 g/l). Round, ripe – but atypical for Champagne.
AG Exceptional fullness and power, but atypical structure. Many producers declined vintage declaration.
RP 88/100
JR Near-perfect vintage. Wind-induced dehydration promoted ripeness, cool nights preserved acidity. Dom Pérignon 2002 received Jancis Robinson’s only 20/20 rating.
RJ Universally praised for outstanding balance of fullness, acidity and ageing worthiness. Flawless combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. Nearly all houses declared.
AG „An exceptional vintage with incredible clarity and balance. The best 2002s are amongst the finest champagnes I have ever tasted.“
RP 94/100
JR Very weak vintage. Huge, diluted harvest ruined by last-minute rain. Botrytis problems. Hardly any vintage champagne produced.
JR Warm start, July rain and hail, September sunshine. Voluptuous, ripe, easily accessible wines.
AG Generous and open-hearted. Rapid evolution – most wines now at optimal drinking window.
RP 89/100
JR Hot dry summer, wet September. Soft, low acidity, voluptuous. Outstanding rosé prestige cuvées.
RP 89/100
JR High sugar AND high acidity – rare combination. Variable, but the best show elegance and freshness.
RJ More structured and long-lived than expected. Chardonnay exceptional. Krug Clos d’Ambonnay 1998 as top wine.
RP 91/100
JR Small harvest. Overlooked in the shadow of 1995 and 1996. Soft, round, fruit-driven – drinking pleasure rather than long-term ageing.
RP 87/100
JR One of the most structured and long-lived vintages of the 20th century. Northerly winds dehydrated the berries to extraordinary concentration. Sugar AND acidity at record levels – acidity: 10.0 g/l at 10.3% alcohol. „A year like no other.“
RJ His personal favourite vintage. Majestic, but requires exceptionally long time. Dom Pérignon Œnothèque 1996: 97 points.
AG Krug Clos du Mesnil 1996: 97.5/100. Louis Roederer Cristal 1996: 96.8/100.
RP 96/100
JR In the shadow of 1996, but very good. Elegant, inviting fruitiness, beautiful balance. Many are still in their prime drinking window with notes of brioche, toasted nuts and honey.
RP 94/100
JR September rain, normal harvest. Balanced, but weak fruitiness. Mature notes of honey, toasted almonds and baked apple.
JR Hot summer, considerable harvest. Superb ripeness combined with high acidity. Elegant with finesse. Particularly good for Chardonnay.
JR Ripest vintage since 1959. Third largest harvest, long hot dry summer. Wonderful harmony and structure. Celebrated as the best of the 88/89/90 trilogy, but matured faster than expected. Premature oxidation in some bottles.
RJ Depth and finesse, opulent and legendary.
RP 97/100
JR Hot sunny summer, early September harvest. Rich, opulent, soft – seductive, but matured early. Warm, generous.
RP 95/100
JR The finest of the 88/89/90 trilogy for long-term ageing. Slow grape ripening. Powerful, firm, classic. Taut, structured, impeccably built. Delicate complexity and elegant texture.
RJ Salon Cuvée, Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill and Ruinart Dom Ruinart as top wines.
RP 95/100
JR Warm summer. Careful selection necessary. In the shadow of the great vintages surrounding it.
RP 88/100
JR Extreme winter with -25°C destroyed 10% of the vines. Tiny harvest with perfect grape health. Beautifully balanced, intense, great length. Still improving.
RJ Dom Pérignon 1985: 97 points. „Bold aromas of ripe fruit, honey and nuts.“
JR Underrated vintage. Sunny warm summer, huge harvest (15,012 kg/ha). Classically lean structure, lovely freshness – nearly perfect.
JR „Nearly perfect.“ Ideal growing season, most generous harvest in history. Consistently magnificent: rich, elegant, finely balanced.
RJ Dom Pérignon 1982 Œnothèque: 97 points. Opulent and complex.
JR Spring frosts destroyed 20–25% of the harvest, tiny yield. Nevertheless excellent quality. Chardonnay outstanding.
JR Penetratingly cold winter, cool spring with May frosts. Impressive character and length. Chardonnay particularly successful.
JR Record heat across Europe, very early harvest on 1st September. Super-ripe, rich, powerful. Low acidity (7.2 g/l), but longevity proven – a multitude of majestic 1976s refutes the concerns.
RJ Dom Pérignon 1976 P3: 98 points.
JR Late October harvest, long summer. Great character and density.
RJ Dom Pérignon 1975: 97 points.
JR Huge harvest after long, warm summer. September rains caused rot. Nevertheless good results. Bollinger, Dom Pérignon, Krug all declared.
JR July storms, August hail, then dry hot September. Tiny, elegant harvest with proven ageing ability.
RJ Dom Pérignon 1971 P3: 98 points.
JR Abundance of sunshine and rain at the right time. Largest harvest on record. Most major houses declared.