22nd October 2023 | Top Drops | 4 minute read
We all love to pop a bottle of bubbly on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve. You may have a particular Champagne you always like to drink, but we’re here to introduce you to some lesser-known Champagne houses that we think are going to turn your head this party season. Not only that, we reveal what our favourite famous Champagne house is this Christmas for anyone whose loyalty to the big brands cannot be swayed.
First up we have the delectable Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur NV. One of the biggest Champagne houses back in the Roaring Twenties, Ayala was always the Champers of choice for Paris’ most glamourous soirées, and has remained hugely popular in France ever since. It’s only recently made its way to the UK though, which is why you may not have even heard of this iconic Champagne!
Ayala was one of the first houses to produce the drier style of Champagne we all enjoy today, making this historic bubbly feel even more special for the party season. Plus, we kind of love the idea of this 1920s favourite making a comeback a hundred years on in time for our very own Roaring Twenties! Expect lively bubbles, delicate floral aromas and an elegant palate of citrus, peach, warm bread and honey.
The award-winning Champagne Gremillet Brut Selection NV is another relatively unknown Champagne that should really be on your radar this party season. Gremillet is a small, family-owned Champagne house that certainly doesn’t have the size or fame that Ayala has in France, but offers a more humble backstory and truly stunning boutique bubbly.
Thanks to the vineyards being on a steep, sun-drenched hillside, the grapes grown at Gremillet are much riper than others across the region, resulting in a Champagne with richer fruit flavours than usual. Along with those classic baked biscuit notes, toasty overtones and crisp citrus finish you’d expect from a well-made Champers, this is a mouth-wateringly good bubbly with plenty of wow factor!
Another delightful, small grower’s Champagne is the Champagne Gaston Declos Brut NV. Extremely good quality and crafted with a huge amount of attention to detail, this is certainly a rather luxurious sparkling wine. In this Pinot Noir-dominant bubbly, you’ll find pronounced floral aromas and hints of red fruit such as cherry on the palate due to the large percentage of red grapes in the blend.
This fantastic fizz is actually pretty smooth, with finer bubbles than you might expect in a Champagne, making it ridiculously drinkable. Expect refreshing acidity, rich biscuit notes, vibrant citrus flavours, and a lush long finish.
Now, we understand that some of you will always prefer to stick to the big names. The most famous Champagne houses (known as Grande Maison or Grande Marque in France) are always going to feel like a real treat around Christmas time, and ensure your guests feel as though they’re being thoroughly spoilt by their generous host! So, we’ve chosen our favourite of the big players that we think ticks all the boxes this party season.
Laurent Perrier is our Grande Maison of choice! You really can’t go wrong with their timeless Champagne Laurent Perrier La Cuvee NV. Undoubtedly one of the best non-vintage Champagnes around, this brilliant brut has won many awards and is very much the crown jewel of this top Champagne house. Fabulously fragrant with beautifully balanced flavours and impeccable structure, this famous fizz is the epitome of a world-class Champagne.
Being more Chardonnay-driven, you can expect a gentle bouquet of citrus and flowers on the nose, while on the palate you’ll find a complex spectrum of flavours from flint and straw to peach and toasted brioche. A fair bit of ageing gives it this wonderful palate, along with an elegant structure. And if you’re planning on serving a glass of this to quite a few guests, the Champagne Laurent Perrier Magnum NV is a super-sized version that’ll fill 12 Champagne flutes.
For a real showstopper, look no further than the multi award-winning Champagne Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose Brut NV. This blush Champers not only looks spectacular in the glass, it has a very moreish palate too. With notes of redcurrant and apple, and a creamy yet light mouthfeel, this decadent pink LP will go down a treat at any party this festive season!
