Champagne Guy de Forez Les Riceys Brut Tradition NV

Penelope Hart - My new go-to celebration fizz

9/10

I'm not a champagne expert by any means but I know what I like, and I LIKE this. It's confident and direct — none of that wishy-washy thin fizz you sometimes get. Poured it for New Year's and everyone asked what it was. The 12.5% ABV is sneaky because it goes down very easily.

Jason Steel - Nice but a bit steep

7/10

Had this at a friend's dinner party and it was good — clean, well-made, decent length on the finish. But at nearly forty quid I'd probably just grab a Lidl Premier Cru for everyday drinking. One for a special occasion maybe.

Ayako Hirano - Proper champagne, this

9/10

Bought this for my wife's birthday and we were both really impressed. Loads of fruit but not sweet, if that makes sense — it's got a nice crisp edge that keeps you going back for more. At £39.50 it's not cheap but honestly it drinks like something pricier. Would definitely buy again.

Nia Okafor - Great find from a small producer

8/10

The guy at my local wine shop recommended this when I said I wanted something different from the usual big-name champagnes. Really expressive on the nose, you can smell it as soon as you pour. Good balance of richness and freshness. Proper stuff from the Aube region apparently.

Derek Chang - Solid champagne, nothing flashy

7/10

Decent NV brut that does what it says on the tin. Well balanced, clean finish, pleasant enough. I've had better at this price point but I've definitely had worse too. Would drink it again if someone else was buying but probably wouldn't seek it out myself.

Priscilla Nunes - Lovely with the Christmas starter

8/10

Picked this up after reading about smaller champagne houses and I'm glad I did. Really generous fruit flavours with a firm acidity that cuts through rich food perfectly. We had it with smoked salmon and it was spot on. The finish lingers nicely without being heavy.