25th anniversary Tokyo tasting | The Jancis Robinson Story

Champagne Week 2019 – part 2

Tuesday 28 May 2019
Image

Tim Hall of Scala Wine reports on a polarisation of the producers of grower champagne, and singles out his favourites of the week. See also Champagne Week 2019 – part 1 and Champagne – a thirsty insider's view

Growing pains? 

On the evening of Monday 15 April, while I was queueing in Reims to buy bread, my phone buzzed and there was Paris’s Notre-Dame, burning. I showed it to the shop assistant over the counter and she put hands to cheeks, as the French often do when astonished; her tears welled up. 

Champagne of course is another French icon...

Become a member or log in to continue reading
Member
$135
/year
Save over 15% annually
Ideal for wine enthusiasts
  • Access 290,894 wine reviews & 15,960 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
Inner Circle
$249
/year
 
Ideal for collectors
  • Access 290,894 wine reviews & 15,960 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
Professional
$299
/year
For individual wine professionals
  • Access 290,894 wine reviews & 15,960 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 25 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Business
$399
/year
For companies in the wine trade
  • Access 290,894 wine reviews & 15,960 articles
  • Access The Oxford Companion to Wine & The World Atlas of Wine
  • Early access to the latest wine reviews & articles, 48 hours in advance
  • Commercial use of up to 250 wine reviews & scores for marketing
Pay with
Visa logo Mastercard logo American Express logo Logo for more payment options
Join our newsletter

Get the latest from Jancis and her team of leading wine experts.

By subscribing you agree with our Privacy Policy and provide consent to receive updates from our company.

More Don't quote me

Ferran Adria and JR at al kostat
Don't quote me A short month in London with just one sortie, to Barcelona for 48 hours. Nick took this picture of Jancis...
Corbieres - vineyard island
Don't quote me Chris Howard contemplates the precarious balance of water, weather and vines in France’s Languedoc. Late summer sun beats down on...
Three Kings parade in Seville 6 Jan 2026
Don't quote me January is always a heavy month for professional wine tastings. This year Jancis fortified herself beforehand. 2026 got off to...
Sunny garden at Blue Farm
Don't quote me Jet lag, a bad cold, but somehow an awful lot of good wine was enjoyed. This diary is a double...

More from JancisRobinson.com

Duckhorn's Three Palms vineyard
Tasting articles Rumours of Merlot’s comeback have been greatly exaggerated – but there are certainly bottles worth seeking out. Above, Duckhorn’s famed...
Wooden racks of black grapes stretching into the distance
Wines of the week An unexpectedly ideal wine for spice that scores highly yet can be bought from only $19.77, £17.50. When researching Wine...
Still life of wine bottles and Asian greens
Inside information Part seven of an eight-part series on how to pair wine with Asian flavours, adapted from Richard’s book. Click here...
Academie du Vin Library California Elaine Chukan Brown - book cover
Book reviews Elaine Chukan Brown’s first book stands out from the crowd – in all the right and important ways. The Wines...
incense burning in a Japanese temple
Drinks not wine The magic of mizunara-aged whisky – and the patience it requires to realise it. ‘This is very special’, Seiichi Koshimizu...
Rosé Day bottle line-up
Tasting articles It can pay to age your rosé , Julian Leidy reports from Elizabeth Gabay MW’s Fine Rosé Day conference. We’re...
Missing Gate vineyard in Crouch Valley
Tasting articles The sunny Crouch Valley in Essex lures Burgundians across the Channel to make wine in England. The Times , Britain’s...
Jorge Navascues at Contino
Tasting articles A visit to one of the wineries that has decisively shaped Rioja’s modern history. Above, Contino’s winemaker Jorge Navascués. See...
Wine inspiration delivered directly to your inbox, weekly
Our weekly newsletter is free for all
By subscribing you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions.