Why it matters
The producer
Philippe Baijot launched Champagne Tsarine in 1996 and later passed the reins to his son. The brand is produced by Maison Chanoine Frères, a Champagne house based in the Reims region.
Maison Chanoine Frères was founded in 1730 and acquired by the Lanson BCC group in 1991. Isabelle Tellier became Tsarine's head winemaker in 2001, notably one of the first women to hold that position in a Champagne house.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Maison Chanoine Frères is based in the Reims region of Champagne. Champagne's traditional method gives the wines their sparkling form through a second fermentation in bottle, followed by time on lees. Lees ageing can soften the mousse and add bread and cream notes.
The labels mark different Champagne categories. Brut and Extra Brut refer to dosage levels, Rosé to colour, Blanc de Blancs to white grapes, and Grand Cru to the highest village classification.
Wines to know
The range in view
Tsarine Brut is the three grape cuvée, combining 34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 33% Meunier. Its dosage is 8 g/l, the sugar added after disgorgement to balance the finished sparkling wine.
Tsarine Rosé uses 34% Chardonnay, 33% Meunier and 33% Pinot Noir, mainly from the Riceys vineyards. It has a deeply intense ruby pink colour, with strawberries, redcurrants and blackcurrants in the fruit profile.