Located in Mareuil-ser-Ay, Billecart-Salmon is a Grande Marque Champagne that was founded in 1818 via the marriage of Nicolas Francois Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. It’s one of the few Champagne houses still owned by the original family. Meticulous vinification ensures the entire range displays incredible purity, clarity of fruit and lightness of touch. The flagship Nicolas-Francois Black 2007 is a wine of profound complexity and depth that will reward the patient. Built for the long haul, this is a wine deserving of the finest occasions.

PENFOLDS X Thienot Lot 1 175 Blanc de Blanc, Champagne

Immerse yourself in aromas of fresh dark berries and a delicate floral lift, underpinned by intriguing hints of forest floor and a subtle smokiness. The taste is expansive, revealing layers of dark fruit, a fine chalky minerality, and a precise acidity that carries through to a persistent, beautifully structured finish, showcasing the strength of Pinot Noir.

Champagne authority Peter Liem writes that “among all Champagne villages, Aӱ is the most historically esteemed… Today, its terroir is still just as storied, and its grapes are sought after by winemakers across the region.” It is perhaps no surprise that the poet Alfred de Vigny declared in 1853 that “the mousse of Aÿ radiates happiness”. From a Grand Cru where Pinot Noir reigns supreme, Bérêche’s cuvée is sourced from less than a hectare of 40+-year-old vines at 280 metres’ elevation in the cool parcels of Brise Pot and Froide-Terre, bordering Mutigny in Grande Vallée de la Marne, where thin topsoils (at a maximum of 30cm) rest over dense Campanian chalk. Pinot Noir (75%) and Chardonnay (25%) fermented slowly in barrels and aged on lees in bottle for 78 months. The dosage was under 3 g/L. It’s a striking, penetrating Champagne whose depth of crystalline white fruits and soft spices is matched by its sinewy, chalky length and cut-glass precision. A flat-out stunner.