Blanc de Blancs: Your Guide to White from Whites
Updated
Blanc de Blancs Champagne offers a distinct profile for your cellar, made exclusively from white grape varieties. The term, meaning "white from whites" in French, designates Champagnes produced solely from Chardonnay grapes, or in rare cases, Pinot blanc. This focus on white grapes, particularly Chardonnay, imparts a characteristic liveliness, minerality, and notes of citrus fruits and white flowers, according to Comité Champagne. Understanding this style helps you anticipate its evolution and optimal drinking window, especially when considering if it's ready to drink now. All Champagne undergoes a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The grape selection for this style shapes its unique aromatic and structural qualities. That makes it a specific choice for collectors who appreciate purity of expression. Consider its potential for extended aging and how it fits into your existing collection.
What defines Blanc de Blancs Champagne?
The style is defined by its exclusive use of white grape varieties. This term specifically designates Champagnes made entirely from Chardonnay grapes, or in rare instances, from Pinot blanc, such as La Bolorée from Cedric Bouchard. The Comité Champagne describes Chardonnay as contributing liveliness, minerality, and notes of citrus fruits and white flowers to the wine's profile. We further add that Chardonnay gives the wine its acidity and biscuit flavour. This contrasts with other Champagne styles that may include red grape varieties like Pinot noir and Pinot meunier. For a deeper dive into this key varietal, consult our Chardonnay grape guide.
Where are the grapes for Blanc de Blancs grown?
The primary region for growing Chardonnay grapes used in this Champagne is the Côte des Blancs. We specify this as a north-south-running strip located south of Épernay. Notable villages within the Côte des Blancs include Avize, Oger, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. These vineyards are east-facing, and their terroir is described as similar to that of the Côte de Beaune. Chardonnay is the main white grape. The list includes Arbane, Petit Meslier, and Pinot blanc as other permitted white grape varieties, although they are sparsely cultivated and rare in current usage. You can explore the specific terroir of these regions on our Champagne region map, focusing on the Côte des Blancs grand crus (Le Mesnil, Avize).
How does dosage impact Blanc de Blancs?
Dosage, the addition of a "liqueur de dosage" or "liqueur d'expédition" after disgorgement, significantly impacts the final sweetness and balance of this Champagne. This liqueur is typically a blend of cane sugar and wine. Caroline Latrive, cellar master of Ayala, states that dosage is the final touch in Champagne making. It should be as subtle as possible to achieve the right balance. Benoît Gouez, cellar master of Moët & Chandon, adds that sugar helps Champagne recover from the oxidative shock of disgorgement. It also contributes to the wine's aging potential. Dosage also protects Champagne from oxidation because it includes a small amount of SO2.
The sweetness levels are classified as follows, according to both Comité Champagne:
| Sweetness Level | Sugar per Litre (grams) |
|---|---|
| Extra Brut | Less than 6 |
| Brut | Less than 12 |
| Extra Dry | Between 12 and 17 |
| Sec | Between 17 and 32 |
| Demi-sec | Between 32 and 50 |
| Doux | More than 50 |
Brut Zero wines have no added sugar, resulting in less than three grams of residual sugar per litre. The most common style today is Brut, though historically, Champagne was much sweeter and often consumed as a dessert wine.
What are the best practices for storing Blanc de Blancs?
Proper storage is crucial for preserving the attributes of your Champagne. Comité Champagne advises that bottles can be stored upright or on their sides. The ideal storage environment should maintain a constant temperature between 10 and 15°C. Humidity must be high and constant, specifically between 60% and 80%, according to Comité Champagne. It is also essential to protect the bottle from light, vibrations, and odours, and ensure the storage place is well ventilated. Champagne is aged for at least 15 months in cellars before release. You can keep it for several more years if these conditions are met, Comité Champagne states. For more general guidance, consult our how to store wine guide.
How should you serve Blanc de Blancs Champagne?
Serving this Champagne at the correct temperature and in appropriate glassware enhances its finesse and aromas. Comité Champagne recommends an ideal serving temperature between 8-10°C; another common recommendation is 7-9°C (45-48°F). To achieve this, Comité Champagne advises placing the bottle in an ice bucket half-filled with water and ice for 20 to 30 minutes before serving. The bottom of the fridge for a few hours is the alternative.
For glassware, Comité Champagne states that flutes or coupes are not best suited for expressing the full character of Champagne. Instead, choose a tall, bulbous glass with a narrow top, shaped like a tulip, to allow the wine to deploy its aromas and fine bubbles. This shape reduces surface area, preserving carbonation and maximizing nucleation. When pouring, tilt the glass at an angle and gently slide the liquid along the side. That preserves more bubbles than pouring directly down, according to a study by scientists from the University of Reims cited. Colder bottle temperatures also result in reduced loss of gas.
What are the labeling requirements for Blanc de Blancs?
Labels on this Champagne provide key information for collectors. The use of "Champagne" is legally protected by European law and an 1891 treaty. That protection requires it to be produced in the Champagne region from specific grapes. The OIV International Standard for the Labelling of Wines lists "Appellation of origin or Geographical indication" as compulsory information. For this style, the term itself indicates the grape variety. The designation "Blanc de Blancs" means "white from whites" and specifies that the Champagne is made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes or, in rare cases, Pinot blanc. "Varietal name" is optional information, according to the OIV. Additionally, a "Vintage or harvest year" may be included as optional information, if the Champagne is a vintage wine. Such a wine must be composed entirely of grapes from that year.
How do Blanc de Blancs bottle sizes influence aging?
This Champagne is primarily fermented in standard 750 millilitre bottles and 1.5 litre magnums. Magnums are generally thought to be of higher quality for aging, due to less oxygen in the bottle and a more favourable volume-to-surface-area ratio for bubble creation. There is no hard evidence for this view. Other larger bottle sizes, often named after Biblical figures, are typically filled with Champagne that has already fermented in standard bottles or magnums. For example that Gosset still bottles its Grande Réserve in Jeroboam (3 litres) from the beginning of its second fermentation. Drappier exclusively offers Primat (27 litres) and Melchizedek (30 litres) bottles. The cork's shape can also indicate aging post-disgorgement: the longer it has been in the bottle, the less it returns to its original cylinder shape.
What are the market trends for Champagne?
The Champagne industry is expected to sell 314 million bottles in 2023, according to the Comité Champagne industry trade group, as reported by Bloomberg News. That represents a 3.7% decrease from the previous year. While nightclub markets remain strong, consumption of Champagne in the home is losing ground, Bloomberg News states. Total Champagne shipments reached 325.5 million bottles with a value of 6.8 billion EUR, according to Comité Champagne. Exports account for 57.5% of the volume and 66% of the value. France itself accounts for 42.5% of the volume and 34% of the value. The United States is the top external market by both volume and value, with 34.1 million bottles and 793.5 million EUR, as Comité Champagne data shows. For those considering Champagne as part of a broader portfolio, our fine wine investment guide offers further insights. You can also monitor the broader performance of fine wine, including Champagne, through our live fine wine market index.
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