Singapore Airlines serving Krug 2004 and Krug Rose in December

If you’d like to explore grower champagnes, one way to identify them is to look out for the letters RM on the bottle label.

Here’s a guide to what the letters mean:

• NM – Négociant Manipulant: This is the most common labeling of them all, signifying that 94% or more of the fruit was purchased from external growers. Most House Champagnes will show ‘NM’ on the label.
• CM – Coopérative Manipulant: This signifies that one single co-op produced this wine from numerous regional growers’ fruit. 
• RM – Récoltant Manipulant: Bingo! This little labeling signifies that 95% or more of the fruit within the bottle was estate-grown and not purchased. AKA, RM = Grower Champagne. 
• RC – Récoltant Coopérateur: This means that a vigneron (grower-producer) grew their fruit but used a co-op facility to vinify and brand their wine.

Source: Verve Wine

Charles Heidsieck was established in 1851 by Charles, a scion of the famous Heidsieck family, and today is one of the most admired and exciting Houses in Champagne.

Blanc des Millénaires is their Prestige Cuvee and is made entirely from Chardonnay grapes grown on some of the greatest sites in the Cote des Blancs sub-region.

At over 15 year old this wine is proof of the longevity of these wines and has developed wonderful toasty aged Chardonnay characters from extended time in bottle. In short an exceptional Blanc des Blancs Champagne of great quality and individuality.

-Sommelier’s Notes

I first visited the cellars of Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy because I had heard that he made that most unusual of wines – a delicious still red champagne wine – no bubbles-just scented, fragrant red.

The reason he could do this lay in his vineyards. They are set in the village of Cumieres, on a steep, south-facing amphitheatre which tumbles down towards the river Marne near Epernay. This is famously one of the warmest, earliest-ripening sites in Champagne.

The majority of the vines are black Pinots, but he has a patch of precious Chardonnay from which he crafts one of the most voluptuous, intriguing Blanc de Blancs in Champagne. It’s called ‘Volupte’ because Jean-Baptiste says that his Cumieres Chardonnay is always ‘tender’, and he wants to create its most beautiful expression. He’s done that brilliantly with a wine that is poised yet generous, matching purity with ripeness, achieving a rare balance of elegance with power.

-Sommelier’s Notes

• Combining delicacy, balance and bountiful citrus notes of all types, Krug 2004, named “Luminous Freshness” by the House, evokes the sensations of early summer mornings in Champagne.
• Krug 2004 is a dialogue between shining Chardonnays (39%) and the backbone of Pinot Noir (37%) combined with the vivacity, tension and citrus notes of Meunier (24%)
• The elegance of Krug 2004 comes after 12 years in the cellars gaining in harmony, expression and finesse

-Krug Tasting Notes

Combining subtleness with complexity, the coolish Krug 2004 Brut opens with a highly elegant, fascinatingly clear, bright and refreshing bouquet of ripe (apple) fruits.

Dense and round, with a delicate mineral soul, the pure but perfectly balanced 2004 reveals great finesse and weightless elegance with a long and round finish.

-Robert Parker

This is an extremely fresh edition and remains in a restrained mode with an intense serve of Chardonnay’s lemon citrus dominating the nose alongside lime zest, bright florals, grassy elements, fresh dough, white stones and very subtle background spice.

The palate has a svelte and elegant shape. Smoother than the 2002, it shares the same quality of precision but not the raging power of that vintage.

The poise is unquestionable, the wine very reserved, with plenty of lemon-infused citrus flavors, hints of fresh cashew and a lot of potential. Acidity holds superbly, the dosage is exactly where it should be.

This is a classic release. It’s all about Chardonnay. Best from 2022 and will mature gracefully in linear style in bottle for several decades.

-James Suckling