Yields also confounded expectations. Chardonnay, usually the most generous of the varieties, produced far less fruit than initially calculated. As the harvest continues, it looks as though the appellation’s target will be comfortably met, there will be no awkward surplus left hanging on the vines, a result that suits all parties just fine.

The sanitary condition of this year’s grapes is nothing short of exceptional. I struggle to recall ever seeing such immaculate, picture-perfect bunches, with so little need for sorting. This has given growers a broad window to choose their harvest dates. Whether the early or later pick will prove the better decision remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that sugar levels are high and aromatics promising, while acidity trends lower – tartaric acid having dropped and malic acid levels reported by many as disproportionately high. The result could yield a distinctly different style of Champagne, depending on whether producers choose malolactic fermentation or retain a naturally sharper profile. Pinot Noir has particularly thrived this season, whereas Chardonnay may struggle to shine as brightly, with lower yields and high ripeness potentially translating into a heavier, less delicate expressions in the wines.

Overall, it’s all smiles in Champagne. The new-born wines are proving to be easy children in the cellar, while the signs in the vineyards already point to a generous crop next year. The message to the market is clear: this year’s yield may be modest but the quality is thrilling. With stocks gradually returning towards a balance, now is the moment to start buying Champagne again.

And this is where I hope The Grower Champagne Report 2025 will help you. I sampled an extensive range of bottlings for it and around 300 wines earned a place here by exceeding the 88-point threshold. In other words, every sparkling or still wine of Champagne featured can be recommended with confidence. Those familiar with my scoring approach know that I do not hand out points lightly, so breaking the 90-point barrier signals distinction. In fact, more than 96 wines achieved 93 points or higher, with the finest examples rising to an exceptional 97 points.

We carefully selected the domaines to be visited or invited to submit samples, although not all the growers I had hoped to include participated. Consequently, the report is selective rather than all-encompassing. That said, I am very satisfied with the quality of this year’s selections, spanning both sparkling and still wines from across Champagne.

The Chardonnays shone brilliantly, with the top ten including such benchmark Côte des Blancs cuvées as Dhondt-Grellet Le Bateau 2019 and Girard-Bonnet Les Mussettes Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 2019. Yet the finest blanc de blancs are by no means confined to the Côte des Blancs. Standouts such as Ulysse Collin Les Enfers NV (base 2017) from the Coteaux du Petit Morin, Savart Le Mont des Chrétiens NV (2019) in magnum from the Montagne de Reims, and Jacques Lassaigne Clos Sainte-Sophie 2018 from Montgueux highlight the breadth and brilliance of Chardonnay across the region.

Equally thrilling is the surge of outstanding, soulful Blanc de Noirs. Wines like Nicolas Maillart Montchenot 2019 and Gaspard Brochet Vieille Vignes de Pépé NV Tome II (2022) demonstrate the depth and finesse possible with this style. The dynamic Aube also continues to impress, with domaines such as Domaine de Bichery crafting beautifully pure Champagnes through low-intervention winemaking. And finally, one cannot overlook the remarkable rise of expressive, characterful Meuniers. For those seeking excellence in varietal expression, look no further than Gounel-Lassalle Les Agneaux NV (2020) or Geoffroy Les Tiersaudes 2019.

My tour of the estates began in January and concluded with the final visits in July, complemented by four days of centralised tastings held at Jeangeorges Communication in Reims. All tastings were conducted openly, allowing me to weigh harvest conditions, terroir and winemaking choices – factors that give the reader a fuller, more nuanced perspective.

It should be noted that not all producers featured here are grower-producers in the strictest sense, meaning those whose labels bear exclusively the R-M (Récoltant-Manipulant) designation. However, each embodies the ethos of the grower-Champagne philosophy through their vineyard ownerships, viticultural practices and deep-rooted connection to the vines.

I invite you to explore the results of my tastings. In the weeks ahead, I’ll be diving deeper into specific producers and topics, offering real-time insights and a closer look at the grower Champagnes currently worth discovering, savouring, and enjoying.

Tasting notes and scores from Club Oenologique’s Grower Champagne Report 2025 (featuring only those wines scoring 88 points and above) are available to all registered users of The Collection, the online home of our premium wine and spirits content. To register, click here.