Big-name Champagnes vs the small
How do the big-name Champagnes fare against their smaller counterparts? Carol Emmas of Hapers Wine & Spirit recently put them to the test in a blind tasting.
The event at London's Chamberlain's restaurant aimed to challenge pre-conceived notions of quality based on the label on the front of the bottle by pitting established brands against artisan Champagnes.
According to Ms Emmas, the favourite wines of the night were "pretty unanimous" within the group, with Pertois-Moriset Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru NV and Waris-Larmandier Cuvee Empreinte Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru 2002 emerging victorious.
In contrast, Cloudy Bay Pelorus Brut NV was "thin, with not much on the nose and only hints of flavour, although we were comparing it with drinks that were out of its league," the critic said.
The amount of Champagne sold in the UK last year rose by 14 per cent compared with the previous year, research by Nielsen has revealed.