Arguably the most reliable non-vintage champagne of them all, made by one of the very last family-owned large houses with their own grapes...Of the well-known, so-called grandes marques of champagne (no longer an official title), Bollinger, Louis Roederer, Pol Roger and Veuve Clicquot all carry a premium. But heavy Bollinger can be awkwardly angular when young, racy Pol Roger can also need a little bottle age to show its best and variable Veuve Clicquot can be downright disappointing in my view. But I have yet to experience a bottle of Louis Roederer Brut Premier that did not taste deliciously superior and ready to drink. Jancis Robinson

Each Cuvee of the Brut Collection is numbered progressively, indicatingon the label the number of blends made in the histroy of the Maison, founded in 1776. This year, Collection 244, the 244nd blend of the House since its establishment, is based on the 2019 vintage.

Very light straw-yellow hue with a discreet, reserved aroma: there are straw/mineral/quartzy, broken-rock and fresh herb aromas, the palate is quite full and voluminous but also dry and clean at the finish, aided by a touch of phenolic grip. It's one of the more generous blends with big flavour and some roundness, generosity and an appetising finish. Price: $110.00; Alcohol: 12.5%; Rating: 95 Points; Huon Hooke; The Real Review

Based on the 2019 vintage, Roederer's NV Brut Collection 244 is the finest release of the house's reimagined non-vintage Brut to date. Offering up aromas of pear, peach and nectarine mingled with notions of white flowers, beeswax, freshly baked bread and buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with a pretty pinpoint mousse, racy acids and a long, chalky finish. The quality of the base vintage really shines through. Drink 2023-2032; Rating: 93+ Points; William Kelley; Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate