“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.”

“A crystalline and pure nose full of bright lemon, chamomile, green apple and soft honeysuckle. Crisp and dry, with racy acidity and tiny bubbles that lift the palate straight away. Mouthwatering but light and so fine in terms of texture with a chalky, long and softly salty finish. This really makes you want another glass straight away. A perfect aperitif wine still with lots of juice and fruity flavours but crisp and totally refreshing. The majority of this blend comes from the 2018 vintage.”

“By 2014, all of the grapes made for Cristal were being farmed biodynamically and certified organic since 2012. So alive on the nose, bursting with citrus and white fruit and floral aromas as well as some buttery toast nuances. Lemon meringue pie, summer strawberries and citrus tang on the palate - full with such a density to the texture, filling and persistent with tiny bubbles from start to finish. This has such a ‘cool’ element with minerality and a sense of tension that gives excitement and nicely offsets the more rich, round elements. Electric, clean and sharp, a thriller.”

“If the 2014 vintage was especially open and demonstrative, the 2015 Cristal is going to require more patience. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp stone fruits, white flowers, crushed mint and subtle hints of buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a deep, concentrated and rather introverted core of fruit framed by chalky extract and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse. This is a serious, vinous Champagne that has considerable substance to age and may well evolve along the lines of the lovely 1985.”