An Unforgettable Tasting day: Highlights from the 100-Best Champagnes 2026 tasting event
Day 5
The fifth and final tasting day of the 100-Best Champagnes 2026 event brought to a close an extraordinary journey through the highest echelons of sparkling wine. Having evaluated over 300 of the finest Champagnes currently on the market or slated for release soon, the tastingbook.com and Champagne Magazine's jury witnessed the immense diversity, precision, and cellaring potential defining modern Champagne winemaking. With the official results and the ultimate Best Champagne of 2026 set to be announced at the end of August, anticipation is at an all-time high.
Among the absolute triumphs of the session was the 2012 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises (98 Points), a monumental release from ungrafted pre-phylloxera vines that captivated tasters with its breathtaking concentration and endless mineral finish. Equally spellbinding were the 2013 Jacques Selosse Millésimé (97 Points) and 2008 Bollinger R.D. (98 Points), both delivering masterclasses in autolytic complexity and vinous grip.
Rosé offerings reached new heights with the radiant 2015 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé (98 Points), while grower showcases like Vilmart & Cie’s "Cœur de Cuvée" (95 Points) and Chartogne-Taillet’s pre-phylloxera "Les Barres" 2019 (96 Points) proved that single-plot precision stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the grandest houses.
Overall, the marathon tasting celebrated Champagne’s golden era—where traditional power, terroir authenticity, and chiseled freshness harmoniously meet.
