Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne Brut 1996: A Toast-Worthy Cuvee

Kofi Asante — 30 year old champagne that tastes alive

9/10

Can't believe this is from 1996 and still tastes so fresh and zippy. Green apple and lemon with these amazing toasty notes underneath. Shared it with three friends and we all just sat there grinning. Pure Chardonnay doing its thing.

Wei Zhang — Worth every single penny

10/10

Bought this for our 25th wedding anniversary and wow. The bubbles are so fine and elegant, and that toasted almond flavour just keeps going and going. At £525 it's not an everyday thing obviously, but for a once-in-a-lifetime occasion? Absolutely perfect.

Amira Benali — Amazing but hard to justify the cost

8/10

Got this as a birthday present from my husband. It's genuinely one of the best champagnes I've ever had, super complex with this lovely chalky mineral thing on the finish. But £525 is a LOT of money for a bottle of fizz, even one this good. Would I buy it myself? Probably not.