Merry Christmas from all of us here at The Real Wine Company! Although we applaud you if you actually managed to wait until Christmas day to pop this. We don’t know a better way to make a toast than drinking this Champagne.

A giant amongst Champagnes, Marc Chauvet Cuvee Tradition, made by game changing female winemaker Clotilde, is a blend of one third each Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Traditional indeed. With over three years' aging 'sur lie' and made up of 70% vintage 2020 this much-recommended Champagne shows beautiful buttery brioche notes with hints of fresh citrus flavours. A Champagne to pop, toast and savour. Also, it goes extremely well with hot buttered toast! 

The Real Wine Story

We were introduced to Clotilde Chauvet by a French winemaker, whose opinion we highly value, and what a great introduction that turned out to be. Right from the start her Champagnes were widely recommended in the UK National Press (we like it when the journos agree with us!)

Two worthy mentions are Jancis Robinson M.W. who later went onto purchase this cuvée for her daughter’s wedding. Then Jamie Goode, wine writer and blogger (The Wine Anorak), selected it as top wine in a Blind Tasting of Champagnes scoring it 9½ out of 10 and knocking Krug (£130 a bottle) into second place.

Clotilde makes the wine while her brother, tends the vines. Classed as Récoltant-Manipulant means they not only grow the grapes but make the Champagne, too, unlike the majority of growers who sell their grapes to the big brands. No big advertising budgets to bump up the price here – everything goes into the wine. This is 70% vintage wine with 30% from previous vintages with the aim of giving a consistent style year-in, year-out. Aged for 36months before disgorging (not the minimum 15 months by law) so it develops a lovely, buttery, biscuity style. Round in the mouth, not sharp. Clotilde suggests enjoying it as an aperitif (Christmas morning!) or with a nice chunk of parmesan cheese.