Our March event this year will, again, focus on ‘Vintage Cuvées’ from each of the 16 houses, outstanding wines that have been created to show off their signature styles and most prized vineyards and wines.
This years vintage tasting will be on the 5th March 2025 starting at 7pm at The Great Hall at The Insurance Hall, 20-21 Aldermanbury, City of London, London EC2V 7HY
Wines being shown on the night
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2015
This wine stands out for its elegance, tension and energy. The first impression is of its tension, verticality and minerality, after which the wine unfolds its aromas of toast, roasted coffee beans and praline. The excellent structure makes this a fine, upstanding vintage.
Bright yellow with notes of orange, grapefruit, lemon peel. Flavours of biscuit, brioche, crumble, marmalade, dried apricot, date, roasted almond, hazelnut, honey
Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésimé 2013
The bouquet of the 2013 Brut Millésimé is compellingly fresh and minty, complicated by notes of white fruit-notably pear and apple-citrus and gentle spices, as well as a light touch of smoke. With aeration, elegant pastry notes come to the fore. On the palate, this is a structured, tension-filled but airborne Champagne with racy acidity, fleshy and charming texture and a long, penetrating finish
Bollinger La Grande Année 2015
Yellow gold reflections, evidence of the wine’s maturity, but also of Bollinger’s vinification methods. Initial scents are full of small stone fruits, with notes of Pomme Gris, plum and Mirabelle plum, layered with a touch of honey. Aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, cherry, and raspberry follow; a medley of red fruits dances with notes of almond. Exotic touches of mango follow, dissolving into tertiary scents of vanilla and a delicate woody aroma.
On the palate the wine is plump, generous and enticing, reminiscent of Mirabelle plum jam. Texture and richness define the tasting experience. The finish blends notes of chocolate and citrus fruits, bringing a touch of acidity, lengthened further by hints of schist. A hugely generous wine!
Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2018
The colour is a crystalline pale yellow, punctuated by a very fine effervescence that is expressed through a delicate and very elegant string of bubbles.
The first nose, subtle on the approach, is a little closed. It gradually opens with notes of fresh fruit, exotic fruits (especially pineapple) and white peach. The evolution in the glass is very discreet, barely perceptible. With aeration, there are notes of fresh butter and pastry cream that rise from the glass.
The palate is characterized by its roundness and volume while presenting a beautiful aromatic freshness. It has the breadth and length for which Pol Roger is renowned. In line with the nose, the palate has notes of pastry, which gives it a lot of character. The finish is a little tangy with hints of lemon and citrus, which leave a nice sensation of freshness and foreshadows promising ageing potential.
Taittinger Vintage Brut 2016
The nose of this 2016 vintage expresses beautiful complexity. There are floral aromas of
hawthorn and pleasant notes of pear, kumquat, verbena, gingerbread and white flowers,
underpinned by a subtle minty note.
On the palate, it releases superb energy; a fresh and dynamic attack with floral tones
such as honeysuckle combined with delightful notes of peach and citrus fruits. The finish
is subtle with lovely long-lasting aromas on top of pleasingly bitter orange peel. There is
a charming complementarity between the elegance of the chalky soils of the Côte des
Blancs and the broader shoulders of the Pinots Noirs from the Montagne de Reims. It is
the perfect confluence of terroir, year, climate and our House style.
Louis Roederer et Philippe Stark Brut Nature 2015 Blanc
Yellow hue with shimmering highlights and an even flow
of lively bubbles. The bouquet is pure, elegant, vertical, rich and concentrated. Nuances of ripe fruit combined with exceptional finesse: fine, delicate citrus peel and vanilla along with warmer notes of baked apple and Tarte Tatin that gradually give way to aromas of nougat. The palate offers a marked and singular contrast: it is very expressionist thanks to the broad, juicy, almost sensual texture of the Cumières clay soils in a sunny year, yet distinctly minimalist due to a fresh, pure, mineral and mouth-watering backbone associated with its zero dosage. Ripe citrus fruit combines with warm stone notes further accentuating the mouth-watering, umami sensation. The finish is light, energetic and ethereal.
Krug Vintage 2011
A nose of white fruits give way to tangy star fruit and citrus followed by nuances of liquorice and basil leaf.
In an interplay of delightful contrast, this Champagne opens with enveloping roundness of pastry and stewed fruit. These give way to a hint of smokiness and herbs on the palate. As if by surprise, the chiselled finish lingers with salivating notes sea salt and grapefruit zest.
Ruinart Dom Ruinart 2013
The wine presents an intense golden hue with green reflections, displaying silvery nuances that attest to its youthful character, supported by this late vintage.
The nose offers a complex array of aromas, with exceptional freshness. It opens with distinct toasty notes, featuring hints of dried fruits like almond and ripe wheat, with pastry-like undertones. Intense citrus scents and zesty juicy fruits accentuate the wine’s freshness. These aromas harmoniously blend with spring flower fragrances and a more mineral and powdery dimension reminiscent of chalk, complemented by delicate smoky notes.
On the palate, the wine distinguishes itself with its straight and chiseled structure, once again supported by the wine’s crystalline freshness, in perfect harmony with the nose. The overall aromatic palette asserts itself with intensity and precision. Citrus aromas, in particular, find their extension in lively and fruity spicy fragrances, where peppery notes carry the wine’s length.
Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2016
Slightly golden yellow with vibrant green reflections. Initial fleeting aromas are brown and dry: toasted bread, grains and hazelnut. The secondary aromas are softer: gingerbread, marzipan, barley sugar. Finally, the most persistent background notes are fruity and floral: plum, mirabelle, quince, orange blossom and aniseed.
A serene, round palate. Sensations enfold effortlessly, akin to a fading scene in a movie or a gentle wave rolling over smooth sand before softly retreating. The initial round, supple attack effortlessly transitions into a structured core-like sensation, culminating in a finish reminiscent of the sweet, tangy freshness of a clementine or pomelo.
Lanson Le Vintage 2013
Crystalline gold with silver shimmers.
The initial bouquet, intense and harmonious, reveals aromas of orchard fruit, praline, flint and acacia honey. This is followed by subtle notes of orange blossom, lemon and pistachio.
Chiselled on the palate with these same delicate aromas and an intense, concentrated tension. A superb balance of power, complexity and harmony that ends with a mineral, zesty freshness
Piper Heidsieck Brut 2014
The 2014 vintage is elegant, radiant and intense. Golden in colour, the nose delivers aromas of orange blossom, apricot, brioche and a hint of toasted almond. On the palate, there are notes of tangerine, lime zest and liquorice. It has a refreshing acidity with a long, silky finish.
Mumm Millésimé 2015
Mumm Millésimé 2015 is a pale yellow hue with subtle golden highlights.
The first nose reveals slightly reduced notes, followed by aromas of peach, ripe pear and acacia honey that find wonderful harmony against subtle notes of honeysuckle and kiwi and toasted aromas.
The attack is fresh and expressive, with enticing aromas of blood peaches and ripe pear with honeyed notes. Hints of exotic fruit (kiwi, litchi), honeysuckle and hawthorn precede a finish characterized by toasted aromas and notes of biscuit that bring the wine's balance to utter perfection.
Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque 2015
White gold with silvery highlights. Delicate aromas of white flowers, followed by fruity notes of white peach & grapefruit. Notes of flower, fruit & spices, including elderberry, poached pear, cumin & green pepper. The structure of this cuvée recalls the grace of the Carnation, an emblematic motif of Art Nouveau. Its notes evoke the delicacy of this flower.
Laurent Perrier 2015
The wine is white gold in colour with a fine and persistent sparkle.
A nose of great complexity offering notes of beeswax, candied lemon, honeysuckle and hawthorn followed by aromas of toast and orange.
A lively attack that gives way to a creamy and elegant palate with notes of candied lemon and honeysuckle.
Laurent‑Perrier is selective when declaring vintages from only the very best years to create a rare and exceptional wine, characteristic of the House’s style.
Pommery Grand Cru Vintage 2009
On the eye, pale gold with delicate golden hues, signs of elegance and maturity. Exceptional brilliance. Very fine effervescence.
Remarkably elegant, the first nose is discreet and very fresh. The first notes are floral and sweet, reminiscent of honeysuckle and acacia flower. As the wine opens up, it reveals fruitier nuances of dried figs and also frangipane. The Pinot Noir asserts itself after a few seconds with aromas of violet and blueberry.
On the palate; very straight and exceptionally mineral, the structure of the wine is velvety, reminiscent of Champagne chalk. The balance is perfect. Notes of lime blossom and flaked almonds mingle with the fig aromas detected on the nose. A sign of great maturity after more than twelve years of ageing in the cellars, hints of toasted bread add complexity to this cuvee. The finish is a perfect balance between tension and gourmandize through a dash of pink grapefruit.
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