The champagne many wine experts rate a must-buy
The House of Jacquesson, founded in 1798, may not be as famous as some other champagne brands, but is quietly creating a great reputation under the stewardship of the Chiquet brothers. Find out why
When it comes to choosing champagne, it’s easy to pick one of the massively marketed grandes marques. However, it might pay to seek out a house that is quietly creating a great reputation. Jacquesson is often voted by wine experts as a must-buy champagne.
The House of Jacquesson was founded in 1798. Today, brothers Jean-Hervé and Laurent Chiquet are at the helm. With other brands, a non-vintage champagne usually showcases the “house style”, producing a wine that is consistent in taste regardless of vintage variation. This is achieved through blending and the use of reserve wines from back vintages. Jacquesson, however, is different. In 2000, the house started the Cuvée 700 series, which is described as the “opposite of a non vintage wine”. The goal is to “seek excellence rather than homogeneity, respect for the character of the vintage rather than its denial, and the preference to strive to produce a great wine rather than maintain a house style”.
The “700” denotes the production number of the cuvée’s record in the cellar book, with cuvée No 1 having been made in 1898. Cuvée 728 is that which is based on grapes from the 2000 vintage.
Jacquesson may change depending on vintage but it is always elegant and pure, with mineral notes and low dosage levels. Its low sugar levels make it a good food wine to be enjoyed throughout the meal.
Here are three standouts.