Champagne Gosset

There are definitely some perks to working in the wine industry and I was thrilled to have been able to combine a visit to one of our producers, Champagne Gosset in Épernay, as part of a holiday road trip to Lake Como for a wedding.

Gosset prides itself on being the oldest "Wine House in Champagne" having started out in 1584 making still (and predominantly red) wines before the advent of Champagne itself. In fact, it wasn't until the 18th century that Gosset began to make sparkling wines for the first time and adopting the instantly-recognisable bottle shape that is still used today.

Our tour began in the winery where we learnt that Gosset works with around 200 growers (many for several generations) in the region and keeps all grower lots separate until it is time to blend the cuvées. Furthermore, unlike many other Champagne producers, Gosset carefully avoids malolactic fermentation in its vinification process in order to maintain the natural acidity and fruit characteristics. And when it comes to assemblage, all lots are tasted blind and allocated accordingly, meaning there's no set "recipe" each year.

We followed in the steps of the bottle (and there were many!) into the depths of the chalk cellar. It was fascinating to be able to explore some of the 1.7km of tunnels underneath the estate and experience first-hand where the bottles will remain for at least four years. I'd highly recommend a visit if you're ever in the area - it really is the cliché that words can't describe how impressive it was.

Back above ground, we had a delicious tasting of some of the range - several of which were rather special bottles that had (luckily for me!) been left over from Gosset's annual growers party the day before:

Grande Rosé NV

It was an exceptionally hot day in Épernay when I visited Gosset and this was the first glass on offer at our tasting. It was fantastic. Beautifully refreshing from the get-go, delicate strawberries and raspberries jumped out of the glass but were then restrained by a crisp citrus acidity.

Grande Réserve NV

Gosset's signature Champagne is a blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier. Fresh on the palate, there are delicious notes of apple, lemon and pear that are complemented by lighter honey and toast notes. This is one of my go-to Champagnes so do give it a try if you've never tried Gosset before!

Grand Blanc de Blancs NV

This was Gosset's first Blanc de Blancs and was originally created in 2011. Interestingly, it is the only product in the range that comes in a clear bottle - and this is a nod to Suzanne Gosset who was the first in Champagne to use a clear bottle. If classic Blanc de Blancs is your thing, this won't disappoint. Bright, elegant and beautifully precise, it was packed with citrus and mineral freshness and would be absolutely superb with oysters, scallops or tuna tartare.

Grand Millésime 2015

A nod to Gosset's history in red wine, this is a Pinot Noir dominant Champagne from a year that was particularly kind to the variety. Notes of red apples, baked pastry and red berry coulis can all be found on the palate together with an interesting salinity. We were offered some parmesan to taste alongside this - and it worked very well!

Petite Douceur Rosé NV

Guys. This spends 11 years in the cellar. It was one of the highlights of the tasting and a slightly higher dosage (17g/l, although I didn't think it was that noticeable) means that it's perfect for pretty much any occasion - think brunch or by the pool or afternoon tea or with spicy food or at a BBQ or post-dinner. Very versatile.

12 Ans de Cave à Minima Rosé NV

Whilst the Petite Douceur was delicious, this was my favourite wine of the entire tasting. A minimum of 12 years ageing on the lees gives it incredible depth and complexity, yet it somehow still feels wonderfully fresh and vibrant. Wild strawberries, blood orange and rose petals mingle with richer notes of brioche, toasted almonds and spice, while Gosset's trademark freshness keeps everything beautifully balanced. It's one of those Champagnes that makes you pause after every sip because there's always something new to discover. I may have taken three bottles home...

CELEBRIS Rosé 2008

This vintage is only the fourth edition that has been made in the past 25 years. As a limited edition of 15,000 bottles, there really isn't much to go around. It's a blend of 72% Chardonnay and 28% Pinot Noir that was disgorged in April 2021. Whilst it's not included in the photo, I did get some snuck out to me as I was leaving(!) and it was very special indeed. It's got everything you could want in a Champagne: fruitiness as it's a rosé, toast and brioche richness as it's been on the lees for 12 years, honeyed and nutty complexity as a result of ageing, and that classic crisp apple acidity and freshness as Gosset had the foresight to stop malolactic fermentation at the very start of the process. Really phenomenal stuff.

CELEBRIS Blanc de Blancs 2012

This is the very first Blanc de Blancs that has been released in the CELEBRIS range and is also a limited edition run of 15,000 bottles. Gosset had to source grapes from across nine different sites to ensure that only the best Chardonnay is in this wine. Complex and sophisticated, this is one of the finest examples of a Blanc de Blancs that I've come across, however, if I'm being very honest, it was ever so slightly overshadowed by its rosé counterpart! 🫢 Still very tasty though and one to try if you're a BdB fan!!

As I drove away from Épernay, one thought kept coming back to me: great Champagne rewards patience. Whether it's the long-standing relationships with growers, Gosset's decision to preserve freshness by avoiding malolactic fermentation or the years each bottle spends quietly ageing in the chalk cellars, everything here happens for a reason. Perhaps that's why the wines feel so complete when they finally reach the glass. Visits like these are a reminder that the most memorable bottles are never just about what's in the glass - they're about the people, the place and the time behind them.