About Champagne Brut NV

About Champagne Brut NV
Non-Vintage Brut is the most important category of Champagne. The vast bulk of Champagne is Non-Vintage and the healthy sales of this category are what keeps the Euros flowing in the region. A typical Non-Vintage cuvée will be composed of wine from two of the most recent vintages blended together, with a very small amount of older vintages. The demanding task of a champagne blender is to keep a typical house style by blending many different batches of wine. Quality does vary, at least from year to year if not batch to batch. A succession of good vintages will result in great Non-Vintage champagne with inverse consequences for a run of lesser years.

At the bottling stage Champagne is nearly always sweetened by the addition of a small sweetened dose of wine, called the dosage. The vast bulk of Champagne (including all Vintage releases) is of the "Brut" level of dryness: Dry to the palate though very lightly sweetened. The exact level of dryness of a brut style will vary from producer to producer, but is generally between 0 and 1.2% residual sugar.

Top Picks for Champagne Brut NV

G.H. Mumm NV Grand Cordon Brut Champagne
95 points
$45
This is a wonderful everyday Champagne that balances acid with dosage and mild autolysis with citrus fruits, orchard fruits, bramble berries and delicate floral notes.
Perrier-Jouët NV Grand Brut Champagne
95 points
$64
A beautiful Champagne blend leaning into the red berry flavors that will make this a delicious aperitif as well as an easy companion for a wide range of dinner courses.
Champagne Lallier NV Ouvrage Grand Cru Extra Brut Champagne
94 points
$159
Ripe orchard fruit, particularly pear, with pronounced rich notes of freshly baked bread and cheese; an excellent Champagne that has seen extended lees contact and epitomizes the taste of luxury.
Champagne Lallier NV Réflexion R.019 Champagne
93 points
$59
Ripe and tart orchard fruits with refreshing citrus to balance the autolytic characteristics, plush mousse and and luxuriously long finish.
Vve Monsigny NV Brut Champagne
93 points
$19.99
Best Buy
A very nice non-vintage Champagne with rich nutty character accented by sweet floral nuance.
93 points $19.99 Best Buy
Champagne Trouillard NV Comte Decrion Brut Champagne
93 points
$44
A nutty, juicy, vanilla-kissed Champagne that is sure to please.
Awards: 2022 Best Champagne Brut NV
Champagne Georges Cartier NV Brut Tradition Champagne
90 points
$56
A vibrant mouthwatering, fruit-driven Champagne perfect for any occasion.
Champagne Trouillard NV Extra Selection Champagne
89 points
$48
A toasty, appetizing Champagne with that will be great with appetizers or elevated mimosas.
Champagne Lallier NV R.018 Champagne
86 points
$49
A dainty and appetizing Champagne with effortless drinkability.