July 2026 turned out to be a rather dry month for us. We not only drank less wines, but most were from the large houses’ entry level cuveés. Here are some of the more interesting ones we drank last month.
Horological Lifestyle: Our top champagnes journal for July 2026
Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve Magnum
This is a champagne which I am quite familiar with. The Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve is served regularly on board Singapore Airlines Business Class. This was their standard pour from 2016 to 2019, and returned in 2022 after the airline rotated several other options. Charles Heidseick was discontinued in 2024 when SQ switched to Piper-Heidsieck Vintage 2018 (my tasting notes in the Honourable Mentions section of the March issue of our champagne adventures. A magnum holds 1.5 liters (12 standard glasses)—double the 0.75 liters (6 glasses) of a standard bottle. Because the amount of oxygen trapped under the cork is similar in both sizes, the magnum has a smaller oxygen-to-wine ratio, allowing the champagne to age more slowly, develop finer bubbles, and retain greater freshness and complexity over time.
The champagne is made from a blend of some 60 champagnes, with three founding crus of Oger : (Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs) gives it its fleshy and generous notes, Ambonnay : (Grand Cru Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims) is synonymous with power, structure and fruity notes and Verneuil : (Meunier from the Vallée de la Marne) ensures its balance and smooth texture. Each cru is vinified varietal by varietal, in stainless steel vats. 5 to 10% of wine vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels. The cépage is 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier, with 50% from reserve wines. This makes for a very complex cuveé.
In the glass, the champagne appears as a very clean golden yellow with very fine mousse. The bubbles are finer in the magnum than from the standard bottle, with finer texture and more delicate, persistent bubbles due to the gradual pressure dynamics and slower development. The nose presents a creamy brioche with tropical fruits and nuts. On the palate, fresh plum and dark cherry appears. The acidity is taught and structured.
Stefano Ricci Grand Cuveé Réserve by Sarl Lhuillier
Next up, a champagne which is a special bottling by Sarl Lhuillier for Stefano Ricci which I tasted during my visit to the Casa Stefano Ricci. Lhuillier is a small house founded in 1876 in Aube, and is still family owned. The property is a 30 hectare plot planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Tis Grand Cuveé Rêserve made by the fashion house is 80% Pinot Noir with the rest Chardonnay.
Visually, it is a beautiful golden yellow with a strong mousse. The nose is a beautiful, rich with touches of candied fruit and orange. The mouthfeel is creamy with structure provided by the Pinot Noir with good salinity, spices and a dry, and complex palate. The acidity is tart without becoming overpowering, with notes of crisp yellow apple, biscuits, with a delicate, long finish which lingers.
Frédéric Savart Bulle de Rosé – Premier cru
This is a champagne from celebrated grower Champagne from Champagne Savart in Écueil, France. The property is small, only 4 to 6 hectares of Premier Cru vines split primarily across Écueil and neighboring Villers-aux-Noeuds, heavily dominated by Pinot Noir with small parcels of Chardonnay. This blend is a non vintage champagne with a cepage of roughly 65% to 70% Pinot Noir, 22% to 30% Chardonnay, and a small splash (5% to 8%) of still red Pinot Noir.
It presents in the glass as a light salmon rose. Apologies, I think I might have been a bit buzzed when I tasted this, but I neglected a photograph of the wine in the glass. I had this in Park 90 and was served this in a SKLO glass. This bottle was had after an evening with several bottles (shared among friends, of course!) of Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial, a much more commercial champagne.
The style is dry, very vibrant extra brut with 3g/L of dosage. On the nose, strawberry, rose petals appear at first push, giving way to cranberry. On the palate, it is crisp and medium bodied. The mousse is fine, creamy, with a saline finish which is rather brief.
Concluding thoughts
So here are the champagnes I drank in July. Of course, this is peppered with the Moet mentioned above, and I think one evening with Telmont Brut Réserve. But I did not take photographs of that.
What did you drink which was remarkable in July?
