At Atlas, we have championed a select number of Champagne growers whose wines deliver a quality over and above that of a general, widely available Grande Marque, and at a more affordable price.
Producers such as Cédric Bouchard, De Sousa and Ulysse Collin have featured in our offers these past few years and will continue to do so, such is the quality and individuality of their wines. What might not be so obvious to clients is the fact that we carry various non-vintage and vintage Champagnes from these growers in stock; some with just a handful of cases and others as more substantial stock lines.
While many of the wines are well-followed by clients, we thought it would be helpful to provide a list of current stocks and prices, along with a little guidance on style and composition. Please let us know if you are interested in the following wines, we have not included a tasting note on each but the team will be happy to field any questions.
NB: Wines listed as 'NV' are non-vintage. If a year is shown in brackets, it relates to the base component in that blend.
Champagne Cédric Bouchard
'The explosive, kaleidoscopic Champagnes of Cédric Bouchard are some of the most compelling wines coming out of the region today.’ - Antonio Galloni, The Wine Advocate
The wines of Cédric Bouchard are fast achieving cult status as their volume only allows them to be known to a limited audience. Produced in the Aube Valley, the wines are all made at lower atmospheric pressures – still sufficiently effervescent but not as ‘sparkling’ as most Champagne. All of the wines are fermented in stainless steel and all are bottled without dosage, yet there is a textural softness so they never come across as nervy or racy. They are also single varietal and single vineyard Champagnes – never a blend of different grape varieties or vineyard parcels.
The Bouchard wines are refined, silky, layered, textural with a gentle mousse and chalky minerality – they are never heavy, rather they are subtly complex. These are very much vinous styles that can be judged as wines in their own right.
| Cédric Bouchard |
Quantity |
Price/6 btl case |
| NV Côte de Bechalin La Parcelle (2007) |
2 |
£340 |
| NV Côte de Val Vilaine (2011) |
2 |
£ 220 |
| 2009 La Haute-Lemblé |
2 |
£ 450 |
| 2010 La Haute-Lemblé |
4 |
£ 450 |
Champagne De Sousa
‘This single-minded strive for quality comes through very clearly in all their range' - Andrewas Larsson, previous winner of the Sommelier du Monde
‘It’s no accident that De Sousa is found in many of France’s best restaurants’ - Peter Liem, Champagneguide.net
The scale here is modest; there are just 9.5 hectares and production barely exceeds 6,000 cases. One notable key to de Sousa’s success is the age of their vines, the vast majority of which were planted over 45 years ago. In 1999, De Sousa converted from organic to biodynamic viticulture which - if anything - has lowered yields. This does not lead to increased quality per se, but it does demonstrate the intent to favour quality over quantity which is typical of every step taken by this forward-thinking family team.
The wines of De Sousa always exhibit an effortless ripeness of fruit. Always bright and lively, they are backed by impressive structure and concentration. We should mention that the non-vintage has become somewhat of a house Champagne here at Atlas.
| De Sousa |
Quantity |
Price/6 btl case |
| NV Brut Tradition |
15 |
£ 110 |
| NV Brut Rosé |
10 |
£ 150 |
| NV Cuvée des Caudalies |
7 |
£ 200 |
| 2006 Cuvée des Caudalies |
2 |
£ 540 |
| NV Cuvée 3A |
3 |
£ 190
|
Champagne Ulysse Collin
'A visit with Olivier Collin is always a highlight of a trip to Champagne. Collin's boundless energy and enthusiasm comes through so clearly in the fine, artisan Champagnes.' - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
Olivier Collin of Ulysse Collin is nothing short of a rising star in Champagne. Attributing much of his success to inspiration from his time at Selosse, Olivier then went on to recover a portion of his family's vines, in Cogny, from a négociant. Now practicing biodynamic viticulture, Olivier says his aim is to let each of his three vineyard parcels show off it's unique characteristics. Given that these wines are solely from Premier Cru classified vineyards and from a lesser known corner of Champagne, the Côte Sézannais, it is remarkable to witness such head-turning quality.
The wines of Ulysse Collin are unfined and unfiltered and are all bottled without dosage. In part due to the ripeness of fruit, the wines remain elegant and balanced. Here, there is a sense of harmony and completeness with an alluring, seamless core.
| Ulysse Collin |
Quantity |
Price/6 btl case |
| NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs |
8 |
£ 260 |
| NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Roises (2010) |
4 |
£ 330 |