Castelnau Brut Champagne

Wine Description & Tasting Notes

Our favourite Champagne ever since we first tasted it back in 2017! Excellent value for money and really smashes many of the big names out of the park. The experts think so too with this Cuvée winning over 10 awards to date, not including ones before it made it onto our shelves!

Complex, beautifully integrated and balanced Champagne from master-blender Élisabeth Sarcelet (now succeeded by her colleague Carine Bailleul), who selected from more than 155 different crus for this flagship cuvée. A high percentage of chardonnay and extensive lees ageing produce a richer style, offset by tart apple, brioche and a touch of flint on the nose, and pinprick bubbles that lift the palate.

This is the wine formerly called ‘Brut Réserve’.

Nose: Crunchy green apples, white peaches, buttery brioche and a note of nuttiness.

Palate: First impressions deliver a level of aromatic complexity rarely found in a non-vintage Brut. The toasty notes from the Chardonnay gradually recede to allow the sensation of spicy overtones of thyme and bay leaf to emerge. There are hints of white tobacco and dried flowers as well.

Food Pairings: Perfect with canapés such as scampi tempura or scallop croquettes; or if with a meal then with sole or lightly sautéed veal sweetbreads.

90 Points – Wine Spectator
“Fresh and lightly toasty, this creamy Champagne offers open-knit flavors of black currant, toasted brioche and lemon parfait. An accent of smoky mineral chimes in on the subtle finish.”

90 Points – Wine Enthusiast
“Crisp and fruity, this mature-tasting wine has a fine toasty element in the background. Ripe and full with a creamy texture and warming aftertaste.”

Champagne Masters GOLD medal- “A perennial top performer in our Champagne Masters, Castelnau’s non-vintage expression has all the delicious characters of long-lees aged fizz allied to the flavours one gets from a blend of wines from different vintages as well as vineyards across the appellation. That means a complementary mix of creamy coffee-like notes and hazelnuts, then ripe apple, dried peach and honeycomb, followed by a gently bitter, zesty finish, featuring matchsticks and marzipan.” – Patrick Schmitt MW 2024

Accolades:

• Gold Medal, Drinks business Champagne Masters 2024
• Gold Medal, Sommelier Wine Awards 2019
• Gold Medal, Mundus Vini Summer 2018
• Silver Medal, Decanter World Wine Awards 2019
• Silver Medal, International Wine and Spirits Competition 2019
• Silver Medal, Berlin Wine Trophy 2018
• Silver Medal, International Wine and Spirit Competition 2018
• Silver Medal, International Wine Challenge 2018
• Silver Medal, Mundus Vini Spring 2018
• Silver Medal, Decanter Wine Awards 2018
• 5*, Harpers Wine Stars 2018