Piper Heidsieck Essentiel Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne

Herbert Muller — Proper grown-up champagne

8/10

Finally moving past prosecco and this was a great step up. You can really taste the difference — it's richer and more complex with actual interesting flavours rather than just being fizzy and sweet. The blanc de noirs style is new to me but I'm into it. Treat yourself.

Kai Oliveira — This one surprised me

9/10

I don't usually go for extra brut because I like a tiny bit of sweetness, but this completely won me over. There's so much going on flavour-wise that you don't miss the sugar at all. Really layered and the finish just keeps going. Piper Heidsieck have nailed it with this one.

Priscilla Nunes — Decent but I expected more

7/10

Saw this on a restaurant menu and fancied trying something new. It's nice enough — well made, good bubbles, pleasant aftertaste that hangs around. But at this price point I was hoping to be blown away and I wasn't quite. Maybe I need to try it again when I'm not comparing it to the Ruinart we had last month.