Bernard Lonclas Champagne Trio – 11.11 Deal

Bernard Lonclas has achieved cult status through exceptional quality and limited availability, earning recognition with a Chairman's Trophy at the 2022 Champagne and Sparkling World Championships. Their old vine vineyards produce grapes with concentrated flavours and complexity that can't be replicated by younger plantings. The combination of traditional champagne-making techniques and these mature vines creates wines that develop remarkable depth and character over time, making them highly sought after by collectors and connoisseurs.

This trio showcases the versatility of Bernard Lonclas across different styles and vintages. The Blanc de Blancs expressions highlight pure Chardonnay character with citrus and mineral notes, while the NV version offers consistent house style and the Grand Brut provides additional complexity. The 2013 Millesime represents a specific vintage expression, capturing the unique weather conditions of that year and offering more concentrated flavours with greater ageing potential than the non-vintage bottlings.

These distinctive flavours come from champagne's unique production process and terroir. The oyster shell minerality reflects Champagne's chalky limestone soils, which impart a distinctive saline quality that pairs beautifully with seafood. The toast and yeasty notes develop during the traditional method's second fermentation and extended lees ageing, where dead yeast cells break down and contribute biscuity, brioche-like flavours. This combination of terroir and technique creates champagne's signature complexity that distinguishes it from other sparkling wines.

A 95-point rating from James Suckling places these champagnes in the 'outstanding' category, representing wines of exceptional quality and character. Suckling is particularly respected for his champagne expertise, having tasted thousands of bottles from the region. This score indicates wines with remarkable complexity, perfect balance, and significant ageing potential that will continue to develop beautifully in the cellar for years to come.

While these premium champagnes are certainly special occasion worthy given their cult status and high ratings, the trio format makes them versatile for different moments. The non-vintage expressions work beautifully for celebrations and entertaining, while the 2013 Millesime is perfect for milestone events or cellaring. The variety of styles means you can match different bottles to various occasions - from aperitifs to food pairing - making this collection both celebratory and practical for champagne enthusiasts.