Following the UK's first major blind tasting of fine French fizz, we bring you the best brut non-vintage bottles from The Champagne Masters 2025 – featuring gold-medal winners from £30 to £75.
Scroll down to see our top picks from the competition, which was judged on 26 February at The Pelham Hotel in London, employing experienced Master of Wine judges, who are listed in full below.
Meanwhile, please click here to see all the medallists from this year's tasting, and click here to see the top 10 stylistic trends in Champagne right now, drawn from the results of this extensive tasting, which has been running annually for almost 15 years.
FLEUR DE CHAMPAGNE NV
- Producer: Champagne Duval-Leroy
- Grape varieties: 65% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir
- Approx. retail price: £39
A remarkable bargain in the non-vintage section, this was an exciting wine to find at this price point. The nose is lovely and complex – biscuity with notes of blossom, russet apples and hints of lemon zest. On the palate it is long and creamy, with some mature notes evident from the reserve wines. There’s a noticeable sweetness on the finish, but all is very well-integrated, and its juicy elegance greatly appeals. (Siobhan Turner MW)
MUMM CORDON ROUGE NV
- Producer: Champagne GH Mumm
- Grape variety: 100% Pinot Noir
- Approx. retail price: £31
Since 1876, Mumm’s well-recognised cuvée, with its red sash paying homage to the Légion d’Honneur, has expressed the rich diversity of Champagne’s terroirs. This exquisite edition is produced from Pinot Noir grapes from a wide range of villages in the Montagne de Reims, Marne-la-Vallée and the Aube. The nose is direct and expressive, with smoky autolysis supporting the red berry fruits of Pinot. Brut-style, the palate is elegant and intense, very harmonious with crisp, balancing acidity and good length. A really impressive wine. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
CHAMPAGNE THIÉNOT BRUT COLLECTION ORIGINE NV
- Producer: Champagne Thiénot
- Grape varieties: 45% Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
- Approx. retail price: £42
Founded as recently as 1985, Thiénot has quickly established a reputation for pristine Champagnes. This wine, pale lemon-green in colour, with tiny bubbles and a defined cordon, is packed full of crunchy yellow apple fruit with undertones of fresh baguette and cashew nuts. Brut-style, the light-bodied, elegant palate is framed by brisk acidity and crackling mousse texture. Purity of flavour suggests pairing with a light fish dish, such as sole Véronique. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
TELMONT RÉSERVE DE LA TERRE NV
- Producer: Champagne Telmont
- Grape varieties: 44% Meunier, 34% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Noir
- Approx. retail price: £77
An excellent organic brut NV with an appealing mix of bitter lemon and grilled nuts, allied to richer notes of peach and nectarine, along with creamy-textured bubbles. The finish is bone-dry, with a chalky note and a lingering combination of hazelnut and baked apple. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
POMMERY APANAGE 1874 BRUT NV
- Producer: Pommery
- Grape varieties: 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier
- Approx. retail price: £70
A really outstanding, long-lees-aged multi-vintage brut, this fairly new wine offers prestige cuvée quality for half the price. Wonderfully complex, the flavours range from evolved honey and dried fruit characters to cleansing younger notes of grilled lemon and chalk, with a touch of creamy coffee too. The finish is dry, but not biting, with a mix of roasted nuts and zesty citrus. Alayered, generous but also precise style of Champagne that’s ready to drink now, but could be cellared for 5-10 years. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
CHAMPAGNE COLLERY BRUT GRAND CRU NV
- Producer: Champagne Collery
- Grape varieties: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
- Approx. retail price: £47
A delicious non-vintage with a touch of oak, the wine has a pale gold colour, a narrow cordon and raspberry, apple and white peach fruit accented by buttered toast, hazelnut and a touch of acacia honey. Densely-flavoured, the palate is balanced by lively acidity and brittle mousse texture. Long and with well-defined flavours, the wine will pair well with smoked salmon and horseradish cream mousseline. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
CHAMPAGNE DUVAL-LEROY BRUT RÉSERVE NV
- Producer: Champagne Duval-Leroy
- Grape varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Meunier, 10% Chardonnay
- Approx. retail price: £34
This signature wine is bolstered by a significant amount of reserve wines, adding vinosity and complexity. Mid-gold in hue with persistent bubbles, it exhibits intense yellow peach, golden apple, pomegranate and strawberry with toasty-smoky autolysis. The palate tastes mature and round with lively acidity and creamy mousse texture giving structure. Intriguing notes of ginger and hazelnut add depth. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
CHAMPAGNE VRANKEN DIAMANT BRUT NV
- Producer: Champagne Vranken
- Grape varieties: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir
- Approx. retail price: £58
Founded by Paul-François Vranken in 1976, the Champagne Vranken group has continued to expand its range and reach. This Diamant Brut was first produced in the 2000s and is as finely chiselled as a diamond. Pale yellow-gold in colour with tiny bubbles, the wine shows yellow peach and white cherries with overtones of fresh bread, lemon blossom and yellow roses. Brutstyle, the palate sings with Chardonnay, showing lively acidity, good definition and brittle mousse texture. Quite a linear style with very good length, the wine will be a good match for butternut squash girasoli pasta with house-made pesto sauce. (Patricia Stefanowicz MW)
POL COURONNE L’ENVOL BLEU GRAND CRU NV
- Producer: Champagne Pol Couronne
- Grape varieties: 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay
- Approx. retail price: £55
Rich, very yeasty, almost Marmite-yaromas (and I’m definitely a Marmite fan), overlay rich raspberry and McIntosh apple notes with just a hint of hazelnut. The palate is rich and long, with grip from the lees ageing, and a really lovely, dry finish. Enticing and enchanting. (Siobhan Turner MW)
ABELÉ 1757 BRUT
- Producer: Abelé 1757
- Grape varieties: 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Meunier
- Approx. retail price: £45
A really lovely aroma greets you on meeting this wine – notes of brioche, fresh raspberries and a hint of pear, with perhaps a touch of toasted hazelnut. On the palate this is enhanced by crisp acidity and a zesty, bright citrus sense, with an elegant mousse and all elements well-integrated. A complete and very stylish wine. (Siobhan Turner MW)
LAURENT-PERRIER HÉRITAGE NV
- Producer: Champagne Laurent-Perrier
- Grape varieties: 55% Chardonnay, 45%Pinot Noir
- Approx. retail price: £75
Champagne Laurent-Perrier ’s new baby sibling to its rangetopping Grand Siècle is a stunning addition. There’s a delicious mix of clean, citrusy refreshment and nutty richness, making it pleasurable and mouthwatering to drink. Combined with a zestiness is some yellow peach and ripe apple, then toast, grilled lemon and chalky dryness. A precise, age-worthy and lively Champagne. (Patrick Schmitt MW)
About the competition
With high-quality judges and a unique sampling process, The Champagne Masters provides a chance for your wines to shine. The 2025 competition was judged on 26 February at The Pelham Hotel in London, employing experienced judges. The top wines were awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze medals according to their result, and those expressions that stood out as being outstanding received the ultimate accolade – the title of Champagne Master. This report features medal winners only. Please visit the
Global Masters website for more information or to enter future competitions with a chance to appear in print and online, call: +44 (0) 20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at:
sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com
For more in-depth coverage, our
2025 Champagne Report is available for digital download.
The judges
Read more
Top 10 style trends in Champagne
All the medallists from The Champagne Masters 2025
