The Vintage Champagne To Buy This Year

20th January 2022

Like all Champagnes, vintage Champagne is also a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier - but all harvested in just one year.

The best vintage champagne bottles are prized for their complex notes and investment potential - stemming mainly from scarcity and meticulous winemaking practices. 

Let’s discover everything about vintage Champagne -  which vintages are worth buying, the difference between vintage and non vintage, and some of the best bottles available.

Each year, varying weather conditions in the champagne region affect the grape ripeness, leading some to be better than others. As a result, producers only declare a harvest worthy of a vintage bottling around two or three times a decade.

Both non-vintage and vintage Champagne are usually a blend of three main grape varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier (and sometimes the four rarer Champagne grapes as well.)  

However, 80 - 90% of Champagnes are non vintage cuvees. That’s because Champagne houses often keep reserve wine in tanks and blend them with wines produced from the current year to ensure consistency. 

So, how is vintage Champagne different from non-vintage?

The primary differences between vintage and NV Champagne include:

• Grapes: Champagne qualifies as vintage only if all grapes come from a single year’s harvest. Non-vintage Champagne includes a blend of three to five vintages.

• Aging: Vintage Champagne is aged for at least three years on lees (dead yeast), compared to 15 months for non vintage wines.

One common misconception is that vintage bottles are better than NV Champagne. While ample time and effort go into producing a vintage wine, the taste and quality will also depend on the terroir, your personal preference, and the talent of the Chef de Cave. So it’s good to be open to trying both.

Which Vintage Champagnes Are Worth Buying In 2021?

1. 1995 Krug Clos d’ Ambonnay Blanc de Noirs Brut ($3,626) - This Brut Krug vintage bottle has an enchanting flavor of lemon, stone fruit, apple peel, toast, caramel, and flowers.

2. 2008 Moet & Chandon Brut Rose Grand Vintage ($95) - The 2008 vintage year is a fantastic rose Champagne with tart red berries and orange rind flavor, minerals, and a smoky intensity.

3. 1921 Pol Roger Vintage Brut ($3,441) - This Champagne Cuvee is worthy of your cellar, offering a lively color in the glass with a very gentle mousse. The flavors of this sparkling wine include hints of chocolate, honey, and cream.

4. 1949 Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut ($3,241) - The palate is characteristic of a Chardonnay: smooth and delicate with a notable sweetness. Stone fruit and floral notes combine with a chalky minerality to create a superb palate.

5. 1976 Lanson Vintage Collection Brut ($677) - On the palate, the Lanson 1976 vintage bottle offers notes of nuts and yeast with a very subtle mousse.

6. 1973 Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut ($648) - This Champagne offers a unique combination of freshness and vivacity. The nose has a delicate and complex aroma, while the palate showcases yellow fruit, biscuits, and toasted nut flavors.

7. 1989 Pommery Champagne Cuvee Brut ($809) - This Champagne offers a rich aroma of earth, yeast, white fruit, and minerals. The palate has notes of fruit, coffee, and hazelnuts surrounded by distinct lemon acidity.

8. 1947 Dom Perignon Brut ($1,876) - This prestige Cuvee from the renowned Champagne house offers a complex taste that includes robust flavors of apricots, minerals, and apples.