Table of contents
- What is a Vintage Champagne?
- How to Choose the Best Vintage Champagne?
- The Greatest Champagne Vintages Since 1959
- Comparative Table of the 8 Greatest Champagne Vintages
- Are Prestige Cuvées Always Vintage?
- Has Laurent‑Perrier Vintage‑Dated the Greatest Years?
- Why Invest in a Vintage Champagne?
- Conclusion
- FAQ – Everything You Need to Know About Vintage Champagne
What is a Vintage Champagne?
A vintage champagne is crafted exclusively from grapes harvested in a single year, produced only when the harvest is deemed exceptional. Unlike non‑vintage champagnes (which blend several years), a vintage reflects the identity of one particular harvest.
The quality of a Champagne vintage is closely tied to the year’s climate. A mild, sunny spring encourages healthy flowering, while a temperate summer allows gradual ripening of the grapes, preserving freshness and vibrancy. Ideally, autumn is dry and sunny so the fruit is both ripe and balanced at harvest. Conversely, spring frosts, extreme summer heat, or autumn rains can compromise the harvest and diminish its potential. Each vintage thus bears the unique signature of the weather conditions under which it was born.
It is a wine for ageing, often more complex and structured, appealing to enthusiasts seeking a rare, exceptional champagne. To choose the finest vintage champagne, it is essential to know the years that have shaped the history of Champagne.
How to Choose the Best Vintage Champagne?
Several key factors should be considered:
- – The quality of the year: some years are unanimously acknowledged as exceptional.
- – The House style: every House has its signature, expressed most clearly in its vintages.
- – The ageing potential: some vintages can be enjoyed after several decades.
- – Food pairings: richer, more structured vintages are ideal companions for fine dining.
The Greatest Champagne Vintages Since 1959
Here is a selection of vintages regarded by experts, sommeliers, and collectors as the most remarkable:
- – 1959: A sunny, generous, and rich vintage — still considered one of the greatest of the 20th century.
– 1961: Elegance and power, highly sought after by collectors.
– 1966: Perfectly balanced, still magnificent after long ageing.
– 1971: Generous and harmonious, with enduring charm.
– 1975: Structured and long — a truly classic year.
– 1976: Exceptional maturity and richness due to an extremely hot year.
– 1982: Generous wines, complex and opulent.
– 1985: A great success, combining freshness with ageing potential.
– 1988: A benchmark vintage — balanced, powerful, and elegant.
– 1989: Warm and rich, though less long‑lived than 1988.
– 1990: Legendary — ample, ripe, and sumptuous.
– 1995: Elegant, structured, with great aromatic finesse.
– 1996: High acidity and power, with immense ageing potential.
– 2002: Considered one of the finest of the 21st century, combining purity and intensity.
– 2008: A classic vintage — fresh and balanced, still evolving beautifully.
– 2012: Powerful yet elegant, with great promise for long ageing.
These vintages regularly appear in rankings of the greatest vintage champagnes and are highly prized by connoisseurs.
Comparative Table of the 8 Greatest Champagne Vintages
| Year | Vintage style | Ageing potential | Aromatic profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Rich, sunny | High | Ripe fruit, opulence |
| 1976 | Powerful, generous | Medium–High | Honey, candied fruit |
| 1988 | Balanced, refined | Very High | Citrus, floral, mineral |
| 1990 | Ample, gourmet | Very High | Ripe fruit, spices, roundness |
| 1996 | Acidic, structured | Very High | Freshness, intensity, citrus |
| 2002 | Harmonious, pure | Very High | White fruit, finesse, elegance |
| 2008 | Fresh, taut | Very High | Floral, citrus, minerality |
| 2012 | Powerful, precise | Very High | Red fruit, citrus, complexity |
Are Prestige Cuvées Always Vintage?
In Champagne, Prestige Cuvées are generally vintage wines. Houses regard prestige as intrinsically linked to the expression of a great year.
By contrast, Grand Siècle, the Prestige Cuvée of Laurent‑Perrier, is founded on the art of blending. Grand Siècle looks beyond rare vintages and recreates the “perfect year” by blending three complementary years.
Has Laurent‑Perrier Vintage‑Dated the Greatest Years?
The decision to vintage is made by the Champagne Houses. It is not regulated by the Appellation.
Laurent‑Perrier vintages only exceptional years in the House style. From 1950 to 2015, Laurent‑Perrier produced just 31 vintages, whereas Champagne as a whole averaged 53.
Laurent‑Perrier’s vintage champagnes are:
- – Brut Millésimé: a blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir — the most recent vintages are 2015, 2012, and 2008.
- – Alexandra Rosé Millésimé: a Prestige Rosé made only in years when Chardonnay and Pinot Noir reach maturity at the same time — the most recent vintages are 2012 and 2004.
Comparative table of vintages declared by Champagne and by Laurent‑Perrier
| 1950s | 1950 / 51 / 52 / 53 / 55 / 56 / 59 |
| 1960s | 1961 / 62 / 64 / 65 / 66 / 69 |
| 1970s | 1970 / 71 / 73 / 75 / 76 / 78 / 79 |
| 1980s | 1980 / 81 / 82 / 83 / 85 / 86 / 87 / 88 / 89 |
| 1990s | 1990 / 91 / 92 / 93 / 95 / 96 / 97 / 98 /99 |
| 2000s | 2000/ 02 / 03 / 04 /05 / 06 / 07 / 08 / 09 |
| 2010s | 2010 / 11 / 12 / 13 / 14 / 15 |
Why Invest in a Vintage Champagne?
- – Heritage value: some vintages appreciate significantly over time.
- – Unique sensory experience: each vintage tells its own story.
- – A perfect gastronomic companion: ideal with fine dining.
Conclusion
The choice of the finest vintage champagne depends on your taste and the occasion. Whether you seek a legendary, long‑ageing vintage such as 2002 or 2008, or a more mature expression such as 1985 or 1990, you will discover rare and prestigious champagnes.
FAQ – Everything You Need to Know About Vintage Champagne
What is the best vintage champagne?
Legendary vintages such as 1990, 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2012 are considered among the finest. At Laurent‑Perrier, Brut Millésimé is an essential reference.
Which year should I choose for a vintage champagne?
Among recent vintages, 2008 and 2012 are highly recommended. They can be enjoyed now or cellared for the future.
How long can vintage champagne be kept?
Depending on the year, a vintage champagne can age for a decade or more — especially exceptional vintages and prestige cuvées.
What food should be paired with vintage champagne?
Vintage champagnes are gastronomic wines, ideally paired with noble fish, white meats, or refined dishes.
