Champagne 75cl / 12.5%

An old bottle of Lanson’s superlative Black Label non-vintage Champagne. The famous house’s labelling and packaging have barely changed in decades, so this is a rather difficult bottle to date, but it seems consistent with the late 1990s or Noughties.

Lanson was founded in 1760, making it one of the oldest champagne producers still operating. The maison’s Black Label cuvee was developed especially for the UK market and features 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier grapes from a selection of 80 Crus, including 49 Grand and Premier Crus, with a 45% proportion of aged reserve wines used in the assemblage. The wines are aged in the company’s cellars for a minimum of 5 years before being bottled, and the result is a richly-flavoured but approachable and easy-drinking style.

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