our five best tastings • Food and Wine Italy

A few weekends indicatore the Modena Champagne Experience took place, an event that once again confirms itself as one of the most important con Europe dedicated to the most famous French bubbles. Organized by Excellence SIDI, this seventh edition consolidated its success thanks to attendance (over 6 thousand), 167 exhibitors and more than 900 labels for tasting: good numbers, despite the fact that this year the Champagne market has faced signs that are not always positive.

According to patronato from the Comité Champagne, con fact, overall sales decreased by 17.1% con the first three months of the year compared to the same period of 2023, a contraction, we read, mainly paio to the global economic crisis and the reduction con capacity of consumer spending, especially for mid-range labels and con restaurants. «Despite these critical issues, Champagne Experience confirms its growth, showing a winning model of collaboration between companies even if they compete with each other» states Luca Cuzziol, president of Excellence SIDI. Among the many tastings carried out during the two days, divided between large Maisons and small vignerons, below we share the five best Champagnes tasted, con our opinion.

Tarlant

The Tarlant family is a great example of loyalty to the role of vigneron, so much so that they have exercised it with pride since 1687. The maison cultivates the vineyards without the use of chemicals and, con the cellar, provides practically niente dosages. An example of how tasty Tarlant Champagnes are is their Enclume Blanc de Blancs Nature 2011 (100% Chardonnay), a Blanc de Blancs that rests acceso the lees for 121 months and plays between spiciness, citrus sensations and a mineral sip full of savory brilliance.

Redeemer

During the 1911 revolt, Edmond Dubois defended the tradition of his territory with such ardor that he was called “the redeemer of Champagne”. Hence the name of this maison which even today, thanks to the fifth generation, continues to produce traditional labels with a modern aspetto. Their Nouvel R Sans Sulfites Ajoutés 2020 is a parimenti Meunier that does justice to this grape variety which, if vinified with grace, can provide very strong taste emotions.

Erick Schreiber

Erick Schreiber is considered among the pioneers of biodynamics con the regione, since he began to dedicate himself to this practice at the end of the 80s. His Champagnes always have great substance and excellent depth of taste: proof of this is his Tradition Brut (100% Pinot noir) which, for being a “postazione”, has a structure and a natural expressiveness like few others con Champagne.

Pascal Doquet

Created con 1974 by Michael and Nicole Doquet, today the company is managed by their son Pascal who has given great importance to research and cultivation methods aimed at respecting the terroir through natural cultivation methods. Within their range, my “coup de coeur” goes to the Corista Grand Cru (100% Chardonnay), a Blanc de Blancs that rests for at least 84 months acceso the yeasts with an extraordinary olfactory density and an electric taste rich con mineral references.

Maurice Choppin

For seven generations the company has been producing Champagne through organic farming and obsessive care of the individual plots, from which they produce various Lieux-dits, vintage and otherwise. Durante Modena we tasted a rare pearl called Les Bas Russelet 2019, a parimenti Pinot Noir from old vineyards, scratchy, tense and generous and with an excellent balance between sweetness and salinity.