2015 Ulysse Collin Les Perrieres Blanc de Blancs

This blend of 60% reserve wine from 2014 with 40% 2015 is the same bottling sold by The Finest Bubble last year after 36 months on lees but with an additional year in bottle, as advertised by a strip label under the front label. Olivier Collin reports that, 'in general we have decided to increase ageing on lees for Pierrières, Enfers and Roises for the completeness of each cuvée. This was disgorged in March 2020 with each cork sniffed (denoted by a nose drawn on the cork). From 2020 we have used these corks for all the range.' This is an exclusive preview of a wine that has not yet been released. Note that that Olivier Collin's wines tend to be known by the youngest vintage in the blend however great or small a proportion of the blend it represents. All barrel fermented. Exceptionally rich nose. But then on the palate it's very firm and refreshing with masses to titillate both brain and palate. Clean, fresh finish – very appetising yet with many layers. Some hazelnut aroma and a definite relationship with white burgundy. The length and finesse of the finish is quite remarkable. This is a very fine wine indeed that happens to have bubbles. Extremely precise winemaking. So clean and energetic. (JR)

Light and fresh on the nose and very zesty on the palate but the real appeal of this wine is its peacock's tail finish that goes on and on. This is still very youthful and shows masses of acidity. Grapes here reach 11% alcohol naturally – very ripe by Champagne standards. (JR)