It has been truly refreshing—really, there’s no refreshment quite like it—reminding ourselves, and everyone else, how scintillatingly original these wines remain. It was a pleasure to welcome Alexandre Garandel to Australia at the end of July to mark 20 years since the inaugural 700-series release. The first wine, released in 2005 with 2000 as its base vintage, did more than rewrite the rulebook on the non-vintage concept; it turned Champagne on its head. Suddenly, the big houses weren’t on top. Small was beautiful. Site, not cellar, reigned supreme. Transparency triumphed. With small yields, limited production, low dosage, every detail declared and vintage proudly reflected, the 700 series exalted the specific and relegated the generic. In doing so, it removed Jacquesson far from the luxury of complacency enjoyed by many Champagne houses, instead placing it where these bottlings belong: firmly within the world’s fine-wine paradigm.
Jacquesson has, of course, been a mainstay of the CellarHand portfolio since day dot. It was brothers Jean-Hervé and Laurent Chiquet who started the quality revolution here in the final quarter of the 20th century. The Chiquets, devoted viticulturists with a deep appreciation of great wine, took everything a step further in the new millennium with the 700-series, the late-disgorgement (dégorgement tardif or DT) programme and a series of utterly mind-blowing vintage parcellaire bottlings from their most singularly brilliant plots. While some things have changed, the pursuit of perfection remains a constant. Now, as the sparkling jewel in the crown of superb wineries that make up Artémis Domaines, the determination to be the very best—a path laid out by les frères Chiquet—is more evident than ever.
We don’t recall a better 700-series edition on release than the 748. It has all the tautness, energy and flecks of savoury-mineral interest that we’re used to, allied to a plenitude from the 2020 base vintage that makes it dangerously open and moreish. 743, based on 2015, is the new DT. As always, the extra time on lees turns back the clock with more invigorating, youthful vibrancy than its original incarnation, yet with greater depth of confit lemon, poached berry, dried stone fruit and ginger lent by time. And the lieu-dit Blancs de Blancs from Avize and Dizy are from 2014. Both are show-stoppers; Avize Champ Caïn is a touch more sleek, salty, and arrow-like, while Dizy Corne Bautray is rounder and enveloping—both are profound, engrossing, and ludicrously long.
It is our pleasure to offer these new wines alongside some gems from the cellar. Each is a unique, fascinating wine in its own right, and all are extremely limited, so if you see something you like the look of, please don’t hesitate. As is always the case with Jacquesson, time—along with place and precision!—is of the essence.
The Programme – 2025
Champagne Jacquesson ‘Cuvée No. 748’ 2020 base RRP $219
From 728 to 748, 20 years of creating the 700 cuvées. This wine is based on 2020. 55% of the harvest came from Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers and Champillon and 45% from Avize and Oiry. Winter was mild and very wet, whereas spring was particularly sunny and dry. After the stormy June weather, drought set in, and these conditions prevailed until the end of September. Beautifully balanced and ripe grapes were harvested early from 26th August until 10th September.
Respectful soil management and plant cultivation methods with the aim of expressing plot diversity. Vinification and ageing in large wooden vats on the lees without either filtration or fining. Our Chardonnay grapes characterise this blend despite the addition of reserve wines from the 747 to 743 and the 741 cuvées. We produced 170,320 bottles, along with 8,850 magnums and 400 jeroboams. The wine was bottled with a dosage of 2 g/L. – Champagne Jacquesson
Jacquesson’s NV Extra-Brut Cuvée No. 748 (base 2020), the 20th anniversary of this bottling, is gorgeous. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint, chamomile and spice all grace the palate. The No. 748 is not quite as austere as some recent releases in this series, which means it will drink quite well right out of the gate. Floral notes lift the finish, adding precision and energy. The No. 748 is one of the most elegant and refined editions of this wine I can remember tasting. 93 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous April 2025
Champagne Jacquesson ‘Cuvée No. 743’ Dégorgement Tardif RRP $355
From 733 to 743 DT, 10 years of creating the 700 Late Disgorgement cuvées. This wine is based on 2015. 60% of the harvest came from Aÿ, Dizy, Hautvillers and Champillon and 40% from Avize and Oiry. Winter and much of spring were wet and mild. This was followed by a period of drought and heatwaves, which lasted until mid-August. Alternating periods of wet and cool conditions and hot, dry weather characterised the rest of the growing season. We harvested a perfectly ripe and healthy crop from 10th to 30th September. Yields were modest, acidity levels adequate, and the quality consistently high, making this a truly splendid harvest. We can really feel the essence of Pinot in this blend, which is made up of reserve wines from the cuvées N°742 to 735. Aged 89 months on the lees with a cork closure. We produced 19,900 bottles, along with 1,009 magnums. The wine was disgorged in March 2024 and bottled with zero dosage. – Champagne Jacquesson
Sculpted and precise, the NV Extra-Brut Cuvée No. 743 Dégorgement Tardif (base 2015) impresses with its tension. There’s a touch of reduction that further adds to the wine’s freshness. All the elements are so well balanced. Lemon confit, candied ginger, spice and tangerine peel are some of the many nuances that take shape with a bit of air. Extended time on lees softened this quite nicely. Finished with no dosage. 94 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous April 2025
2013 Lieu-Dit
2013: The winter was very cold and snowy, with spring and early summer staying cold and very damp, causing coulure and millerandage as well as delaying the flowering. However, August and September were warmer and drier, giving a late but excellent harvest.
2013 Jacquesson Dizy Terres Rouges RRP $426
At the foot of a gently sloping hill, facing east. Reddish brown limestone of some considerable depth overlying chalky silt. Planted to Pinot Noir with 12,000 vines over 1.33 hectares in 1993. Cordon de royat pruning. The grapes were picked on 8th October 2013. 10.9% abv and 8,9 g/L acidity. 10,512 bottles and 584 magnums bottled on 9th July 2014. Disgorged in February 2021, Dosage 0.75 g/L.
Disgorged in February 2021 with 0.75 grams per liter dosage, the 2013 Extra-Brut Premier Cru Dizy – Terres Rouges is the latest iteration of a site formerly rendered as a macerated rosé. Offering up notes of crisp yellow orchard fruit, nougat, hints of honeycomb and white flowers, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, with an elegantly vinous profile, effortless balance and a pretty pinpoint mousse. Classy and understated, this has turned out beautifully. 95 points. William Kelley, The Wine Advocate February 2022
2014 Lieux-Dits
2014: Winter was wet and particularly mild. After a hot and dry spring, July and August were cool and very wet. A hot, dry and sunny September saved the vintage. The balance between alcohol and acidity was excellent, and the crop was relatively healthy, though some sorting was required upon picking.
2014 Jacquesson Avize Champ Caïn RRP $685
This plot is at the bottom of the slope and has a southerly aspect. Loamy and sandy clay soil with chalky gravel on Campanian bedrock. 12,000 Chardonnay vines were planted on this 1.3-hectare plot in 1962 and are pruned in the Chablis method. Harvested on 22 September 2014. 11% abv and 6.9 g/L acidity. 11,328 bottles and 406 magnums. Dosage: 0 g/L. Disgorged in January 2024
The 2014 Extra-Brut Avize Champ Caïn Grand Cru is a Champagne of extreme precision. Long aging on the lees built gorgeous texture and complexity throughout. Dried pear, chamomile, dried flowers and light hazelnut overtones all grace the 2014. The more mineral-driven, stricter size of Avize begins to emerge with a bit of time in the glass. The no-dosage style works quite well in this airy, focused Champagne. 95 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous April 2025
2014 Jacquesson Dizy Corne Bautray RRP $639
The plot is situated on the top of a steep slope with a south-west exposure. Clayey soil laden with flinty gravel on Campanian chalk. 9,000 Chardonnay vines were planted in 1960 on this 1-hectare plot and are pruned in the Chablis method. Harvested on 2nd October 2014. 12.3% abv and 6.3 g/L acidity. 5,680 bottles and 300 magnums. Dosage: 0.5 g/L. Disgorged in February 2024.
The 2014 Extra-Brut Dizy Corne Bautray Grand Cru, is rich, ample and effusive. Clay-rich soils yield a Chardonnay that is distinctly Pinot-leaning in its amplitude and overall breadth. This potent Champagne is very much built for the dinner table. 96 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous April 2025
