7 Champagnes under $70
6/21/25 -
I have championed Champagne as an everyday wine for as long as I can remember. Last month I got the chance to spend several days in the region, and it reconfirmed my passion for the complex, dynamic and wide-ranging wines being made today in Champagne. From an early point in my wine career it became clear that Champagne is a highly versatile wine for food pairing, but at the same time doesn't require food to showcase its beauty. From raw preparations, to spicy cuisines, fried foods, and even red meat (from certain producers or styles), there's always a Champagne for that. On top of the countless food pairings, Champagne tastes fantastic on its own or as an aperitif. The incredible wines of many Champagne growers and houses can often feel unobtainable, but they aren't! Today I have a list today of 7 of my favorite champagnes at the moment that are all under $70!
-Hanna Krilov Cohen
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Fabien Cazé (Photo: Polaner Selections)
Caze-Thibaut Naturellement Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature
Fabien Cazé is the tenth generation of the Caze family to grow grapes in the Valee de la Marne, but it wasn't until his grandfather Roger began to estate bottle in 1953 that Maison Caze was created. Since 2013 Fabien has been meticulously farming 2.66 hectares of family vines for his own small project. Naturellement is 100% Pinot Meunier from six parcels on the western edge of the Vallée de la Marne at higher elevations on clay-limestone soils. The wine undergoes a long, cold, and slow native yeast fermentation, and full malolactic fermentation before being aged 24 months on the lees. This wine is the definition of precision with a hands-off winemaking approach. It has great texture with a lot of depth and body.
Rémi Leroy (Photo: Skurnik)
Rémi Leroy Champagne Extra Brut
This Champagne comes from the Aube, the southernmost sub-region of Champagne, which shares the same Kimmeridgian soils as Chablis. Most of Remi's vines are planted to Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with just a small amount of Pinot Meunier (this is reflected in his Non-vintage wines). Rémi only makes wine from approximately half of the vineyards he farms, selling the rest to Negociants, which leaves the very best parcels for himself. He is very passionate about his organic vineyards, but feels even stronger about his Burgundian work in the cellar, making a very vinous style of Champagne. His wines spend the winder and spring on the lees in a mix of stainless steel and oak (purchased from Thomas Pico and Hubert Lamy in Burgundy). His Extra Brut bottling is 70% Pinot Noir with 30% Chardonnay. The base vintage is 2022 with 30% being reserve wine from a solera that was started in 2009. It was aged 85% in stainless steel and 15% in barrel and had 18 months in bottle on the lees before disgorgement. This is a rich, powerful style of Champagne that still contains great minerality. It has aromas of red florals, with orchard fruits intertwined beautifully with toasted bread and chalk. Big, powerful Champagne at its best!
3 Generations of the Gerbais family (Photo: Michel Joly)
Pierre Gerbais Grains De Celles Rosé Extra Brut
Aurélien Gerbais is the 4th generation to run the family domaine in the Aube that has been certified organic since 1996! Aurélien feels as though the Aube is more Burgunidan than Champenois due simply to the proximity and methodology- making wines in barrels before bottling. Many attend school in Beaune instead of Reims (as the Aube is in between the two) and make friends, and are inspired by the winemaking in Burgundy. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir (including 10% Coteaux Champenois), 22.5% Chardonnay and 22.5% Pinot Blanc. Vinified and aged without any added SO2. Primary and secondary fermentation take place in tank before being aged for 30 months on the lees. This is a delicate rose that balances great freshness and creaminess. The nose is full of citrus zest, red berries, and freshly baked bread.
Stephane Coquillette (Photo: Martine's)
Stephane Coquilette Cuvee Diane Brut Blanc de Blancs
Stephane was trained and mentored by his late father Christian Coquillette of Champagne Saint-Chamant who never planned to retire so in the 70's started his own Champagne House. Strongly committed to organic practices, he has developed his own style, one of fresher, brighter Champagnes that age much shorter on the lees. His wines are all from one vintage but do not labeled as such since they do not rest for three years on the lees. 100% Chardonnay from the village of Chouilly. The vines were planted in 1964 on limestone soils. This is a delicate, precise champagne with an excellent balance of richness, bright acidity, and mouthfeel. It is the perfect aperitif that can continue into a fresh summer meal of seafood and vegetables.
Christian Coquillette (Photo: Martine's)
Saint Chamant Cuvee Craie Brut Blanc de Blancs
Christian Coquillette (father of Stephane) owned and did all the winemaking at Saint Chamant for 70 vintages, each year locking himself in the cellar and allowing no one in (even his son). Christian passed in 2020 and Stephane took over but there is still a certain amount of information that was lost about the wines. One piece that remains is that the Saint Chamant wines age at least 10 years on the lees before disgorgement, creating rich, powerful examples of Blanc de Blancs. 100% Chardonnay from the 2009 vintage disgorged in 2020 from a single site in Chouilly known for having very white chalk soils. This is a big, bold Champagne full of brioche, hazelnut, and creamy notes. It is very precise, and a great showcase of longer lees aging.
Fabian Daviaux (Photo: Terrestrial Wine Co.)
Chavost Blanc d'Assemblage Brut Nature
Champagne Chavost is a cooperative winery in Chavot that has been led by Fabian Daviaux since 2019. The original co-op began in 1946 with around 20 growers and today has over 70 multi-generational growers. Since Fabian has been in charge, he has convinced all of the members to take their entire 5.5 hectares of organic vines and create a range of wines made without any additives or sulfites. This bold decision on his part has been a great success. All the wines are not acidified, deacidified, chaptalized, receive dosage, or have any added sulfur. They go through alcoholic and malolactic fermentation without the use of commercial yeasts or enzymes. It is simply the juice used in production. Additionally, each wine is made from a single vintage but due to their short time on tirage, they do not receive official vintage status. A 50/50 blend of Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Year after year this wine delivers! It is bright, mineral, refreshing and full of energy.
Maxime and Camille Ponson
Champagne Ponson Premier Cru Brut
The Ponson Family have owned and worked the vineyards for five generations. After completing his enology degree, Maxime Ponson returned home at the age of 25 and was hoping to convert the vineyards to organic viticulture. His father disagreed but allowed Maxime to convert ½ hectare to organic farming to compare with his own more conventional approach. Maxime was able to convince his father that organic viticulture was the right move for the domaine. The conversion to fully organic for the remainder for the domaine was completed for the 2018 harvest. Their 1er Cru Champagne has been a go to for Chambers St. Wines for years! A blend of 70% Pinot Meunier with 15% each of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
