“The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay of mirabelle, grapefruit and lychee fruit with minty freshness and waxiness from lees contact. And all this is welded to a beautifully proportioned palate with plenty of structure, the acidity bright and the mousse animating. Very salty finish that pulls you back for more. A cuvee of 41% chardonnay, 33% pinot noir and 26% pinot meunier. Of these, 15% fermented in oak and 85% in stainless steel. The final blend contained 36% reserve perpetual and 10% reserve wines of the 2012 - 2018 vintage from oak. The dosage is 7 g/l. Drink or hold.”

“Roederer's newly released 2015 Brut Vintage is a strong effort, offering up aromas of freshly baked bread, citrus oil, pastry cream, dried white flowers and verbena, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and pillowy palate framed by bright acids and concluding with chalky grip. This can't quite match the tension or plenitude of fruit of the last few releases, but it is a lovely Champagne. It's a blend of Pinot Noir from Verzy and Chardonnay from Chouilly.”

“A wine that was reserved for enjoyment at the end of the family hunt from its inception in 1930 until commercialisation in 1950, this is made at a slightly lowerpressure than the other Champagnes in the Roederer stable at 4 bar giving a creamier mousse. Grapes come from four plots in Avize with two in the centre and one on the border of Cramant and Ogier. Designed to be consumed as an aperitif wine when young, the Blanc de Blancs epitomises freshness and delicacy. Lively and elegant on the nose and palate, with a long mineral streak from start to finish. Sharp and thrilling, intense with lemon pastry flavours and a creamy round mouthfeel. Straight yet wide, rich but lean, direct yet juicy, this really offers a complex and very individual style that captivates from the first sip. Delicious.”

“A nose full of rose petals with orange skin and berry fruits, not as expressive as some of the other Champagnes in the masterclass but this has a lovely soft, and delicate aromatic profile. Tangy lemon, raspberry, strawberry and orange on the palate with a sea spray, saline finish that is particularly moreish. Fully flavoured, round and complete with mouthwatering acidity, lots of sapidity and an extremely long finish. A lovely combination of both bitter and sour elements giving such complexity and nuance on the palate.”

“From the hot 2015 vintage which produced uneven results across the Champagne region comes this bright and fruity Champagne which benefited from grapes at the highest elevation in Verzy adding freshness and coolness to the palate. Brioche and strawberry patisserie notes on the nose with a touch of black pepper. Filled with red summer fruits on the palate, raspberries and strawberries from the majority of Pinot Noir in the blend (70%), this has a slightly full texture with crisp edges and juicy core. Fun, lovely freshness and exciting acidity but remaining round and wide. A gourmet style and one that Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon calls a ‘climate change’ vintage yet this keeps focus with tang and a touch of spice on the finish too.”