2017 news from Champagne

It was a treat recently to whizz round nine of the most renowned champagne houses in 48 hours in blazing late August sunshine. See the resulting tasting notes.

The 2017 crop

I happened to arrive with the heat after the decidedly mixed August experienced by most French wine regions (see Gavin Quinney on Bordeaux) and before hail fell dramatically on Reims in the middle of last week. Just before my arrival, there had been a hailstorm in Montgueux in the north of the Aube’s vineyards. Summer hail seems to be becoming ever more prevalent in France.

Some champagne...