France: Gaston Chiquet - Spécial Club Millésime Premier Cru Brut 2016, Champagne (Haute Valeur Environnementale)

Grape varieties: 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir

7 years of ageing on the lees (dead yeast cells) in bottle. To me, this is one of the best value Champagnes for the quality.

Only winegrowers belonging to the “Club Trésors de Champagne” may produce a “Spécial Club” cuvée. The principle aim of this group is to uphold three principles – authenticity, originality and meticulousness – and to increase knowledge of their very best Champagnes through the “Special Club” cuvées. Each member uses grapes harvested on their own land to ensure typicity and character rather than a common product. A selection of blends is submitted to the rigorous regulations and standards of winemakers expert in the Champagne tradition. Only those that pass the test are deemed worthy of the Club!

This is a historic, family-run grower champagne producer founded in 1919 by brothers Fernand and Gaston Chiquet, tracing its roots back to 1746 when Nicolas Chiquet planted his first vines.

Being a grower champagne producer (known as a 'récoltant‑manipulant'), means that - unlike the ubiquitous brands we all know - the wine they produce originates ONLY from fruit grown in their own 23 hectares (57 acres) of Premier and Grand Cru vineyard. This makes them entirely self-sufficient, immune to spikes in grape prices, and able to control quality from grape to glass - although this does limit their annual volume to circa 168,000–180,000 bottles, much larger than the micro‑growers making 5,000–8,000 bottles but tiny compared with the grandes maisons producing many millions of bottles.

Sustainability at Gaston Chiquet: they received their Champagne Sustainable Viticulture and High Environmental Value certification in October 2015. They practice 'grassing' in their vineyards, being a solution to soil erosion and the development of unwanted vegetation that typically leads to chemical weeding.

What the experts say:

94 points: “Energetic, vibrant… lemon oil, chalk, mint, white flowers, slate…complex and dynamic personality. Drink 2026-2050” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

"It’s superb Champagne by any sane reckoning. In recent years Nicolas’ Club wines have been more and more remarkable" - Terry Theise