Reliable grower champagnes

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11 June 2015 Today's Throwback Thursday revisits a list of approved grower champagnes from nine years ago. The collection of about 100 tasting notes on current  'artisan' champagnes (most of them produced by those producers deemed récoltant-manipulants with the initials RM on the label) also published today includes a few additional names but, since there are so many growers with  only a small proportion of them good winemakers, we reckon all information is helpful. 

7 July 2006 I thought it would be useful to publish this updated list of growers who produce superior champagne since they generally offer much better value than the big houses. It is based on one kindly supplied by David Schildknecht of Ohio, which includes those wines imported into the US by Terry Theise via Skurnik Wines, but I have added some more names.

Michael Arnould, Verzenay
A Aubry, Jouy-lès-Reims
Paul Bara, Bouzy
Beaufort, Ambonnay 

Henri Billiot, Ambonnay
Bonnaire, Cramant
Boulard, Cauroy-les-Hermonville 

Chartogne-Taillet, Merfy 

Gaston Chiquet, Dizy
Clos de la Chapelle, Villedommange
André Clouet, Bouzy
Paul Clouet, Bouzy
Diebolt-Vallois, Cramant 

J Dumangin, Chigny-lès-Roses
Egly-Ouriet, Ambonnay 

Fleury, Courteron (Aube, organic) 

Gatinois, Aÿ 

René Geoffroy, Cumières 

Pierre Gimonnet, Cuis 

Gosset-Brabant, Aÿ
Hostomme, Chouilly 

Jean Lallement, Verzenay 

Lancelot-Royer, Cramant 

Guy Larmandier, Cramant 

Larmandier-Bernier, Vertus 

J Lassalle, Chigny-lès-Roses 

Launois Père et Fils, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Lilbert, Cramant 

A Margaine, Villers-Marmery 

Serge Mathieu, Avirey-Lingey (Aube) 

Jean Milan, Oger 

Pierre Moncuit, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 

Pierre Peters, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Jérôme Prévost, Gueux 

Alain Robert, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
Camille Savès, Bouzy
Jacques (Anselme) Selosse, Avize
Tarlant, Oeuilly
Michel Turgy, Le Mesnil
Varnier-Fannière, Avize
Georges Vesselle, Bouzy
Jean Vesselle, Bouzy 
Vilmart, Rilly-la-Montagne