A Vintage That's Just Beginning to Take Shape
Naturally, there's still little definitive to say about the 2025 vintage — the base wines are just now lying in the cellars, malolactic fermentation is completed at most producers, and the first assemblage decisions are being made.
What can be said: The growing season was overall favorable. Spring passed without major frost damage — a relief after the catastrophic frosts in 2016 and 2021. Summer brought a good balance of warmth and rainfall.
The harvest took place under decent conditions, and the grapes achieved good ripeness with satisfactory acidity levels. Harvest volumes were solid — neither a record harvest nor a minimal yield.
First Base Wine Impressions
The base wines I've been able to taste so far show:
- Freshness — Good natural acidity
- Fruit — Clear, clean fruit aromas
- Potential — Material that could be suitable for vintage champagnes
Whether 2025 will go down in history as a great, good, or average vintage remains to be seen. The base wines must first undergo secondary fermentation in the bottle, then age on the lees, and only in 3-5 years will the first millésimés come to market.
My Tastings
I've already had 12 champagnes with 2025 content in the glass — exclusively non-vintage bruts, where 2025 serves as part of the assemblage. The freshness that these base wines bring is noticeable and positive. They give the NV champagnes liveliness and crystalline clarity.
These tastings are not an assessment of the 2025 vintage — it's too early for that. They merely show that the starting material is promising. Whether the winemakers will make great champagnes from it remains to be seen.
One should judge vintages that are still aging in the cellars with caution. Champagne changes fundamentally in the bottle — what tastes promising as a base wine can disappoint as a finished champagne, and vice versa. 2025 deserves our attention — and our patience.
Outlook
The first vintage champagnes from 2025 will come to market at the earliest in 2028 (for simpler millésimés) to 2030+ (for prestige cuvées). Until then, this post will be regularly updated with new impressions and data.
Posts
Der @champagnechavost – Paradoxe war für mich eine spannende, leicht fordernde Flasche – vor allem wegen seiner Hefenote. Im Glas zunächst deutlich…
Der @champagnerichardroyer – Originel – Blanc de Noirs (Extra Brut) war nach den Feiertagen, an einem gemütlichen Abend, genau das richtige Glas zum…
Der @domainealexandrebonnet – Blanc de Noirs (Extra Brut) ist ein 100 % Pinot Noir aus Les Riceys, aber ohne die übliche Schwere oder dunkle Opulenz,…
Heute der Grande Réserve von @champagnebruyen – ein 50/50-Blend aus Chardonnay und Pinot Noir, Jahrgang 2019, extra brut mit 4 g/l. Schon im Glas…
| Vintage | 2025 |
| Character | Still in development — promising |
| Drinking Window | First NV champagnes from now |
| Tasted Champagnes | 4 (NV with 2025 base) |