The K&L Champagne Report: June 2026
CHAMPAGNE NEWSLETTER
June 2026
I just returned from my annual trip to Champagne, where I tasted hundreds of vin clair from the 2025 harvest. Despite a summer so hot the mercury reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit (I actually photographed a pharmacy thermometer on my 2025 trip to prove it), the wines are remarkably fresh—a testament to how hard these producers are working and how well they have honed their craft.
While we wait for the 2025 vintage, we’ve assembled a lineup of incredible Champagne to drink, from old-school growers and long-time direct import Fallet Dart through a special anniversary cuvée from Billecart-Salmon. These current releases will make the long wait for the 2025s (not ready until at least 2029) that much sweeter. A toast to you!
— Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer
THIS WEEK'S HIGHLIGHTS
2025 Champagne Vintage Report: What Gary Found on the Ground
Billecart-Salmon 2018 250th Anniversary Cuvée: U.S. Exclusive
Olivier Krug at K&L: Inside the 173rd Edition Grande Cuvée
The Champagne Train: Paris to Épernay Grower Guide
Fallet-Dart: Growers Since 1610, Three New Releases
A Spirits Guy's Guide to Champagne: Three Bottles from $44
Upcoming K&L Champagne Tasting Events
2025 VINTAGE REPORT
Surprisingly Fresh in a Record-Breaking Year
I recently returned from two weeks in the Champagne region, which I visit every year as K&L’s Champagne Buyer. While I was there, I tasted hundreds of vin clair (the still wine that is made into Champagne after being bottled) from the 2025 vintage. We won’t even see the entry level non-vintage offerings based on this harvest until 2029, and the first of the vintage 2025s won’t arrive until 2031, but I thought it was important to share my impressions. I think that this might be a watershed vintage in Champagne, because we are now really starting to see the results of the work that they are doing there to mitigate against climate change.
The verdict: surprisingly fresh wines despite record heat, with strong acidity across the Côte des Blancs, Mountain of Reims, and Marne Valley — and a warning that Blanc de Blancs will be scarce. Read more On The Trail.
Here's a toast to you from Gary and the team at your local K&L!
BILLECART-SALMON'S 2018 ANNIVERSARY CUVÉE
Made for America's 250th
Billecart-Salmon is one of the few Champagne houses that can claim two centuries of uninterrupted family vision, and one of even fewer that has done so with such grace, precision, and consistency. All seven generations of Billecarts who have led the house have adhered to the motto “Give priority to quality, strive for excellence,” and this philosophy is reflected in the consistently elegant wines across their portfolio. Read more On The Trail.
— Graham Collis, K&L Redwood City Champagne Specialist
Raise a glass to independence and old allies
2018 Billecart-Salmon 250th Anniversary Vintage Champagne $119.99 View
OLIVIER KRUG VISITS K&L
Inside Krug's 173rd Edition
Recently, K&L Culver City welcomed Olivier Krug—sixth-generation family member and Director of Maison Krug—for a staff education session that turned into something closer to a masterclass. Here's what we took away. Read more On The Trail.
— Philip Roufail, K&L Culver City Champagne Specialist
What our Culver City Champagne Specialist sipped with Olivier Krug
Krug "Grande Cuvée" 173ème Édition Brut Champagne 96 $259.99 View
Krug Brut Rosé Champagne 98 $449.99 View
THE CHAMPAGNE TRAIN
A Buyer's Guide to the Gare de l'Est to Épernay Ride
The best way to get to Champagne is by train from Paris’ Gare de l’Est station, an hour and a half ride through some of the most scenic riverside vineyards of the region. The train only stops twice before you reach the heart of Champagne and is a trip worth taking. Here's what to watch for out the window, and the growers worth stopping for along the way. Read more On The Trail.
— Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer
Champagne Dérot-Delugny — An alluring stop at minute 42
Dérot-Delugny "Milieu Naturel" Blanc de Noirs Brut $39.99 View
Dérot-Delugny "Retour en Avant" Brut $49.99 View
Dérot-Delugny "Bissextile" Brut Rosé $44.99 View
FALLET-DART
Four Centuries, Three New Bottles
The first time that I went to Fallet-Dart with Gary, the online mapping system sent us down the wrong road. Once we went back to the highway, the Fallet-Dart family helped us by giving directions over the cell phone speaker. We were very grateful not to miss any of their fantastic Champagnes that morning!
The family has been growing grapes in Charly-sur-Marne since 1610—more than four centuries, through revolutions, wars, and every kind of vintage. Their range has always been exciting and varied, from crisp citrus-driven wines to mouth-filling richness. Three newer releases stand out right now, and all three are worth your attention. Read more On The Trail.
— Scott Beckerley, K&L San Francisco Champagne Specialist
Sparkling gems: three unique facets of Fallet-Dart
NV Fallet-Dart "Heres" Brut Champagne $44.99 View
2018 Fallet-Dart Extra Brut Champagne $49.99 View
2019 Fallet-Dart "Pur Meunier" Champagne $69.99 View
A SPIRITS GUY'S GUIDE TO CHAMPAGNE
Three Bottles to Know Now
Greetings! My name is Jonathan Parnell and I'm the Spirits Specialist at K&L Culver City. Champagne isn't my home turf — that belongs to Gary Westby and Philip Roufail — but spending time behind the counter pouring and learning from them has changed how I think about bubbles entirely. Here are three bottles that have genuinely surprised me, from $44 to a splurge worth every penny. Read more On The Trail.
— Jonathan Parnell, K&L Culver City Spirits Specialist (and Champagne Enthusiast)
Festive bubbles for any budget
NV Maison 76 Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Champagne $44.99 View
2017 Launois "Helia" Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne $79.99 View
2014 Taittinger "Comtes de Champagne" Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne $229.99 View
Love Champagne? So do we! Click here to discover how you can access a wide variety of truly exceptional Champagne at value prices. As always, each selection is thoughtfully curated by our own Gary Westby.
Mark Your Calendars for These Upcoming Events
Saturday, June 20th – Champagne Tasting (All Locations)
K&L Culver City | K&L Hollywood | K&L San Francisco | K&L Redwood City