SUNDAY LETTER · WEEK 40 · 4 OCTOBER 2026
Four notes, one standout
Four Champagnes tasted this week, three of them on Friday.
Good morning, This week brought four new notes from four producers. Three of them were tasted on Friday, 2 October.
The one to find
"Then Bérêche's distinct oxidative stamp, with ripe red apple and candied blood orange." It shows a clear pink tinge, with raspberry, wild strawberry and a light herbal edge. The palate is rich, with oak bringing a light spice. The finish is long, with fine acidity keeping the fruit in check.
Also worth your attention
For an entry-level bottling from Alexandre Chartogne, this is a lot of wine for the money. It shows the opulent house style clearly, with rich fruit and chalk, balanced by lovely acidity. The palate is creamy, with ripe apples, baked citrus and light caramel.
This is a very precise Champagne, with rich fruit tightened by a cool chalk tone and taut acidity. It shows yellow apple, lime, jasmine blossom and white peach.
This is a classic, true-to-type Blanc de Blancs, with citrus, white flowers, chalk and a lovely salinity. For me, this is a very good way to understand the category. It shows a classically made Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs.
For the cellar
The week in numbers
Until next Sunday,
Magnus