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Champagne
About Champagne
Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône Valley are the best known wine regions of France except for Champagne. This sparkling wine from the chalk slopes east of Paris is France’s best answer to a global brand. It is the drink of celebration, of success, and the best way to drown sorrows. And, unlike the still French wines, which have been successfully copied around the world, Champagne remains inimitable, despite thousands of attempts. The combination of cool climate, chalk soil and — there’s no other word for it — terroir are just so special. Like virtually every part of France, the Champagne wine region is subdivided into smaller parts, but unlike in other parts of France, those subregions rarely appear on the bottle. Although there are exceptions, like Blanc de Blancs and vintage Champagnes, most Champagnes are blends from different areas and even different vintages, using the three Champagne grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir. Search our Champagne wine guide’s hundreds of Champagne reviews for more details on individual wines and for our comprehensive database of Champagne ratings.
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What We're Tasting:
Bouchard Père & Fils 2020 Le Corton Grand Cru (Corton)
Price
$225
Points
96
What We're Tasting:
ALDI 2021 Peaks & Tides Chardonnay (Sonoma County)
Price
$10
Points
91
What We're Tasting:
ALDI 2021 Peaks & Tides Pinot Noir (Sonoma County)
Price
$13
Points
86
What We're Tasting:
J. Lohr 2021 Hilltop Cabernet Sauvignon (Paso Robles)
Price
$35
Points
90
What We're Tasting:
Rutini 2019 Single Vineyard Gualtallary Cabernet Franc (Uco Valley)
Price
$70
Points
94
What We're Tasting:
Le Cadeau 2021 Trajet Reserve Pinot Noir (Chehalem Mountains)
Price
$80
Points
95
What We're Tasting:
Kenwood 2019 Discoveries Cabernet Sauvignon (California)
Price
$14
Points
89
What We're Tasting:
Donatella Cinelli Colombini 2018 Prime Donne Sangiovese (Brunello di Montalcino)
Price
$124
Points
94
What We're Tasting:
Castello Bonomi 2016 CruPerdu Grande Annata Extra Brut White (Franciacorta)
Price
$50
Points
97
What We're Tasting:
Castello Bonomi 2018 CruPerdu Brut Millesimato White (Franciacorta)
Price
$40
Points
95
What We're Tasting:
Browne Family Vineyards 2022 Bitner Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Columbia Valley (WA))
Price
$20
Points
90
What We're Tasting:
Lagar de Indra 2022 Albariño Albariño (Rías Baixas)
Price
$17
Points
90
What We're Tasting:
Harper's Bench 2020 Riverview Vineyard Pinot Noir (Monterey)
Price
$33
Points
91
What We're Tasting:
Blue Canyon 2022 Estate Sauvignon Blanc (Monterey)
Price
$15
Points
90
What We're Tasting:
Casa Primicia 2017 Julian Madrid Reserva Tempranillo (Rioja)
Price
$85
Points
94
What We're Tasting:
Dekreme 2022 Cuvée Brut Sparkling (Monterey County)
Price
$17
Points
89
What We're Tasting:
Bortolomiol 2022 Ius Naturae Organic Brut Glera (Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore)
Price
$20
Points
94
What We're Tasting:
Luli 2021 Lemoravo Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)
Price
$38
Points
95
What We're Tasting:
Luli 2021 Monte Linda Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands)
Price
$38
Points
92
What We're Tasting:
Laurent-Perrier NV Grand Siècle Brut Itération No. 26 (Champagne)
Price
$300
Points
97
What We're Tasting:
Masi 2013 Campolongo di Torbe Red (Amarone della Valpolicella Classico)
Price
$190
Points
97
What We're Tasting:
Shafer 2022 Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay (Carneros-Napa Valley)
Price
$70
Points
97
What We're Tasting:
Cristom 2021 Louise Vineyard Chardonnay (Eola-Amity Hills)
Price
$60
Points
93
What We're Tasting:
Poggio di Sotto 2018 Sangiovese (Brunello di Montalcino)
Price
$280
Points
95
