21-Mar-2021
Mr Andrew Bannerman
"I bought this when it was "On Offer", as I'd always considered the normal price tag too high. I'm afraid I concur with those who have criticised the harsh acidity of this wine. I tried the first bottle and my son and I both grimaced. 6 months later it is still much too acidic, to the extent that my stomach complained. I will keep the remaining four bottles for another year or so and hope for improvement, as some others have found. However at £34 this is not competitive with several good supermarket bottles. Such a pity, as I am a big fan of other Society choices.
"
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28-Dec-2020
Kevin Finn Esq
"Initial view was of an ok mousse, slightly yeastiness, no obvious fruit and low acidity. My other half tried it, made a face and gave it back - totally unprecedented behaviour from her. I drank the rest throughout the rest of Christmas Day then remarked out loud "well that was a waste of money". Nothing actually wrong with it, just that it was totally inert and devoid of any interest. My local off licence sells a very good Alfred Gratien Champagne for around £20 and I had assumed that the Society version would outclass it. Maybe this was a dud bottle, but in future I'll buy the Society Cava and Antech Limoux both of which are outstanding VFM."
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27-Dec-2020
Mr Peter Waring
"I rarely comment.
But the story is ....that I really admire the Wine Society and the skill employed in choosing and describing wine.
So why is it that their house Champagne is so awful?
You see, in the light of all that wisdom I feel it might be me that doesn't understand.....but frankly I find it thin, astringent, lacking in any depth and not anywhere near other Champagnes at the same price readily available in any supermarket..
Come on Wine Society. Your Champagne is not admired. ...........
"
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"Economically priced but enjoyment short lived, rather harsh at the finish."
2 out of 2 users found this helpful
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13-Jun-2020
Dr Mark Player
"Lovely Champagne, In our opinion the best NV Champagne sold by the WS"
I would recommend this wine
2 out of 4 users found this helpful
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05-Apr-2020
Mr Sean Hardon
"For it's price was a cracking wine. Can age well. But at it's current price, when I can buy the producers own label from a local merchant. It's an easy pass noe. "
4 out of 9 users found this helpful
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"Wife's significant birthday, half a dozen bottles of TWS Champagne. And I have to say that the wine is every bit as good as I remember from the previous batch, thoroughly enjoyable and more-ish, totally worth the price. Only wish I had bought more when on offer pre-xmas @ approx £132 a case."
I would recommend this wine
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05-Feb-2020
Mr Russell M Davidson
"There is a marked difference to this wine that comes with keeping. I’ve been opening a batch I cellared for two years and the improvement in bottles I open now compared to the start of the case is remarkable. I do wish the Wine Society could drop some of the ‘you gotta buy this’ hype attendant in its current publicity material and be a bit more honest about its wines and how to enjoy them at their best. When loads of customers are making negative comments about acidity, someone at head office needs to look into that and give some constructive advice."
9 out of 9 users found this helpful
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13-Jan-2020
Mr Karl Elliott
"Well, it didn't go down the sink, but the latest batch of Gratien champagne was not to the same standard that I have previously experienced. There is definitely a higher level of acidity that wasn't present in this champagne over recent years. Bought a case and served a purpose on New Year's Eve, but not to expected standards."
1 out of 1 users found this helpful
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04-Jan-2020
Mrs Helen Fitzpatrick
"We really didn’t like this. It was so acidic and with a foam reminiscent of warm Prosecco. Afraid it went down the sink on Christmas Day. "
0 out of 3 users found this helpful
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07-Nov-2019
Mr Geoffrey Bolton
"I'm afraid I have to agree about the over-high acidity levels in this wine. It's seems out of balance; it shouldn't need keeping for years to soften that searing lemon flavour. Is it because the base wine is too young/cool vintage? You can taste some richer, more biscuity flavours but they are dominated by the acidity. I'll sit on my other three for while and see what happens. "
5 out of 5 users found this helpful
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31-Jul-2019
Dr David Lythall
"We always enjoy this champagne but as many others have pointed out, leave this in the cellar for 3-4 years, if you can, before you drink it. Our experience is that it is worth the wait. The acidity is toned down and the biscuity flavour is enhanced. Obviously it depends on your own taste."
I would recommend this wine
6 out of 6 users found this helpful
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20-Jul-2019
Soorat Singh Esq
"Not a fan, although I can see why many members swear by this Wine Society institution.
Not big or full enough for me.
This is very well made Champagne, that I have tasted enough times including the 2000 iteration.
Obviously my loss!!"
I would recommend this wine
1 out of 1 users found this helpful
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"The current cuvee is far too sweet, which is a shame as the underlying quality of the wine is really excellent. The dosage is just far too high. I would have to say that the Wine Society's '1 out of 9 bone dry' guidance is currently very incorrect."
3 out of 3 users found this helpful
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01-Mar-2019
Mr Justin F L Luxmoore
"Pleasantly surprised by this WS Brut Champagne - definitely more lemony and less biscuity than normal (as stated below) but well balanced all the same and very refreshing!"
I would recommend this wine
3 out of 3 users found this helpful
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12-Feb-2019
Mr Sean Hardon
"Glad to see this on sale. Bought a 6 pack 5 years or so ago and have enjoyed every bottle, the last being on Xmas day. It's evolution has been seemless. Was going to buy another pack but put off by the pricetag of £33 a bottle. Think I bought the original pack for £120. £22 a bottle is a decent enough price for it and glad to see it at this price so have just bought a pack. It's a good aperitf wine in it's youth, but will stand up to creamy dishes like Coquille St Jacques as it evolves. There is a depth that comes about through evolution and the fruit comes through to counter balance a dish like that."
I would recommend this wine
3 out of 3 users found this helpful
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11-Feb-2019
Mr Randle C Theobald
"Master Class!"
I would recommend this wine
1 out of 2 users found this helpful
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26-Dec-2018
Mr Paul Shepherd
"As my WS buying history shows I have drunk a lot of this wine. This is the first I've reviewed it however and unfortunately it's to complain. It has none of the biscuity nuances that balance acidy so well. At £33 a bottle I expect so much more and in future will look else where. A great shame and unfortunately an embarrassment too as I served it to my family for Christmas dinner."
4 out of 5 users found this helpful
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19-Dec-2018
Mr Graham F Purse
"Love it! Especially at the Christmas offer prices. Real depth, lovely biscuity flavour balanced with just enough acidity and dryness."
I would recommend this wine
0 out of 0 users found this helpful
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13-Nov-2018
Mrs Dawn E Waldron
"I've enjoyed The Society's Champagne in the past but this is too much like drinking lemon juice for me. We prefer our fizz more biscuity. "
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09-Nov-2018
Mr Adrian J R Stokes
"This wine is one for holding for a minimum of 6 months. A bottle opened after 10 month's cellar rest, had lost much of its initial (unpleasant) acidity and is now a treat and good value."
I would recommend this wine
3 out of 4 users found this helpful
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01-May-2018
Ms Leah Newman
"This is a lovely Champagne and would rival some of the big houses, you get a touch of oak on the nose as well as the palate with racing acidity and a dry zesty full flavoured mouthfeel. It has a long finish holding on the apple flavours right til the end."
I would recommend this wine
2 out of 2 users found this helpful
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12-Mar-2018
Mr James Brown
"It has a full on mousse! as my wife says it tickles my nose. Quite complex and interesting, but at the end of the palate an over indulgent sweetness just lingers too long. If you buy it for drinking now at £21.50 its great value, but if you keep it 6mths i think it will mature to be a very fruity champagne."
I would recommend this wine
1 out of 1 users found this helpful
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29-Nov-2017
Mr Charles Hawkins
"the first of the christmas mixed box we've tried, quite fruity at first, not quite dry enough for me but my partner enjoyed it...very subtle oak at the end and but less fizz than other brands in this price bracket."
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27-Sep-2017
Peter D Northen
"This is really high quality champagne and excellent value for money for those who like their champagne on the dry side. It also ages superbly well, rounding out and softening into a complex savoury delight. I routinely keep it for 3-4 years and most of my wine drinking friends who taste it at that age are surprised to find they are not drinking a much pricier vintage or special cuvee champagne."
I would recommend this wine
2 out of 2 users found this helpful
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09-Aug-2017
Mr Alberto Padrini
"Am I the only member wishing that the odd batch would "slip" through quality control during winemaking at Gratien, and undergo malolactic fermentation? I realise that others value the "freshness" but I just can't make friends with the overt acidity - which incidentally persists with ageing..."
8 out of 8 users found this helpful
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27-Jul-2017
Mr Tristan Ward
"Why buy any other champagne?"
I would recommend this wine
0 out of 0 users found this helpful
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18-Dec-2016
Mr Barry Smith
"A lemon drizzle cake of a Champagne. Nice complexity though the high level of acidity is an initial shock to the palate. I suspect this would be more popular with those who prefer their Champagne Extra Brut, although it's certainly a food friendly wine."
I would recommend this wine
2 out of 3 users found this helpful
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"Wonderful nose of spring flowers and evening primrose, a richer yellow than your average champagne and with very fine bubbles. Perfect with salmon. As many other reviewers say, this is the equal (or better than) Veuve Cliquot etc, head and shoulders above anything for under £35. Worth buying a 6 case and reducing the bottle price to £19.66."
I would recommend this wine
2 out of 2 users found this helpful
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11-Aug-2016
Professor Jo Arendt
I would recommend this wine
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11-Aug-2016
Mr Tom Nicholls
I would recommend this wine
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14-Feb-2016
Mr William McIldowie
"For a non vintage Champagne, this is a well structured and mature tasting Champagne. Although great as an aperitif, this is even better with snacks such as smoked salmon on blinis or canapés. For the quality which in my opinion is the equal or better of the likes of Veuve Cliquot and Bollinger, this is fabulous value for money. It isn't lightweight, so doesn't really lend itself to casual slurping."
4 out of 4 users found this helpful
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16-Dec-2015
Mr Adam Morris
"Superb champagne for the price, 10 out of 10."
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24-Sep-2014
Mr Henry Crane
"Delicious, well-rounded champagne. Comfortably the equal of most grande marque champagnes. Went down a storm with guests at a recent wedding reception and subsequent evenings. Very highly recommended. Top class fizz."
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29-Mar-2013
Martin S Heslop QC
"We bought this to celebrate relaunching our yacht for the new sailing season but because of the terrible cold weather over Easter we have abandoned those plans and drunk it at home instead! Fantastic well rounded full flavour and a beautifully dry refreshing taste. Looks like we will have to buy more for the delayed relaunch.
"
2 out of 4 users found this helpful
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07-Jan-2013
Mr Tristan Ward
"I bought some (OK half a dozen) and we started on the case over Christmas. I'm very impressed - a bigger rounder taste than the ovbious competitors. I won't abandon Pol Roger NV but I have to say that the Society's offering is a definite addition to the order book.
"
1 out of 1 users found this helpful
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02-Dec-2012
Mr Scott Martin
"This was one of the three wines that we chose for our daughter's wedding earlier this year. Simply the best combination of quality and price that you can buy. The guests thought this champagne was fantastic and many have bought it subsequently."
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26-Mar-2012
Andrew J Stanley Esq
"This year this is the one."
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