Dehours & Fils Grande Réserve Brut NV Champagne – 93 Points James Suckling

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! EXTRAORDINARY GROWER CHAMPAGNE WITH A PERPETUAL RESERVE DATING BACK TO 1998 – JUST $132!

93 Points – JamesSuckling.com

Dehours & Fils Grande Réserve Brut NV – Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

RRP $132 per bottle

If you love discovering extraordinary grower Champagnes that offer something completely different from the big Champagne houses, this is a wine you absolutely need to experience.

Dehours & Fils Grande Réserve is a magnificent example of what makes independent Champagne growers so exciting.

Rich.

Generous.

Beautifully textured.

Packed with ripe orchard fruits, citrus, delicate spice and wonderful savoury complexity.

And made using a remarkable perpetual reserve that dates all the way back to 1998.

That's almost three decades of Champagne history contributing to the character of this extraordinary wine.

The result is a beautifully complex, Pinot Meunier-driven Champagne that combines generous fruit with remarkable freshness and mineral precision.

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

JUST $132 A BOTTLE!

This is exactly the sort of Champagne that deserves far more attention.

Dehours & Fils – One of the Marne Valley's Most Fascinating Growers

The Dehours family has been involved in Champagne for generations, but the modern estate owes much of its reputation to Jérôme Dehours.

Since taking responsibility for the family vineyards in 1996, Jérôme has transformed the estate into one of the most interesting independent producers in the Vallée de la Marne.

His philosophy is simple.

Great Champagne begins in the vineyard.

Rather than pursuing a uniform house style, Jérôme focuses on the individuality of his vineyards, the character of his grapes and the remarkable complexity that comes from thoughtful blending.

The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, with vineyards around Mareuil-le-Port, Troissy and Œuilly.

And one grape variety is particularly important.

PINOT MEUNIER.

Long overshadowed by Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, Meunier has become one of the most exciting varieties in grower Champagne.

In the hands of a talented producer like Jérôme Dehours, it can deliver extraordinary texture, depth, perfume and complexity.

And Grande Réserve is a magnificent introduction to this fascinating style.

Pinot Meunier – The Extraordinary Grape of the Marne Valley

Most Champagne enthusiasts are familiar with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

But Pinot Meunier deserves just as much attention.

Particularly in the Vallée de la Marne.

Here, Meunier thrives in the region's clay-rich soils and cooler vineyard conditions.

It can produce Champagnes with beautifully expressive fruit, generous texture and remarkable savoury complexity.

Think ripe pear.

Yellow apple.

Apricot.

Red berries.

Delicate spice.

And a wonderful sense of richness.

But the best examples also possess beautiful freshness and mineral precision.

Dehours Grande Réserve demonstrates just how sophisticated Meunier-based Champagne can be.

This is not simply an easy-drinking sparkling wine.

It is a serious, vineyard-driven Champagne with genuine personality.

The Extraordinary Secret – A Perpetual Reserve Started in 1998

Now this is where the story becomes particularly fascinating.

DEHOURS HAS MAINTAINED A PERPETUAL RESERVE SINCE 1998!

Rather than blending only the most recent harvest with a small amount of older wine, the estate maintains a continuously evolving reserve.

Each year, wine from the latest vintage is added.

And a portion of the existing reserve is incorporated into the Grande Réserve blend.

Over time, this creates extraordinary complexity.

Younger wines contribute freshness and vibrant fruit.

Older wines bring additional depth.

Savoury notes.

Toasted complexity.

Subtle spice.

And a beautifully integrated texture.

The estate typically incorporates approximately 30–50% perpetual reserve wine into Grande Réserve.

Imagine the complexity that can develop from a reserve maintained over almost three decades.

It is an extraordinary approach to creating depth and consistency while retaining the individuality of each release.

And it is one of the reasons this Champagne is so compelling.

A Champagne That Celebrates Its Terroir

The vineyards of the Vallée de la Marne are remarkably diverse.

Clay.

Limestone.

Different slopes.

Different exposures.

And a fascinating range of microclimates.

Dehours works with fruit from several family-owned parcels, allowing the final blend to express the broader character of the estate.

The vineyard practices emphasise biodiversity, with mechanical soil cultivation and natural grass cover.

In the winery, the approach remains equally thoughtful.

The wines are matured on their lees.

Clarification takes place naturally.

And the estate avoids fining and filtration.

The aim is to preserve the wine's character, texture and natural complexity.

This is Champagne made with extraordinary attention to detail.

Aged on Lees – Beautiful Texture and Complexity

Grande Réserve spends approximately 15–27 months ageing in bottle, depending on the release.

This period of maturation allows the wine to develop additional complexity while retaining its vibrant fruit character.

There is wonderful integration.

A beautifully creamy mousse.

Delicate toasted notes.

And a rich, harmonious palate.

But the wine never loses the freshness that makes Champagne so enjoyable.

The natural acidity provides balance.

The Meunier contributes generosity.

And the perpetual reserve adds remarkable depth.

A magnificent combination of richness, freshness and complexity.

Low Dosage – Letting the Fruit and Terroir Shine

Although labelled Brut, Grande Réserve is made with a relatively restrained dosage.

The exact amount varies between disgorgements, with the producer specifying a range of approximately 0–6 grams per litre.

This allows the wine's fruit and natural texture to provide much of its richness.

Rather than relying on sweetness, the Champagne delivers generosity through its ripe fruit, lees ageing and complex reserve wines.

The result is a beautifully balanced wine with impressive freshness.

Rich and generous, but never heavy.

Yellow Apple, Dried Lemon, Toasted Almond and Chalky Minerality

The aromatic complexity of Dehours Grande Réserve is absolutely delicious.

Think ripe yellow apple.

Fresh pear.

Dried lemon.

Orange zest.

Apricot.

And delicate white flowers.

Then come the more complex notes.

Toasted brioche.

Roasted almonds.

Subtle caramel.

White chocolate.

And beautiful chalky minerality.

The palate is wonderfully expressive.

There is generous orchard fruit.

A lovely creamy texture.

Fine, beautifully integrated bubbles.

And a refreshing mineral finish.

The perpetual reserve adds additional layers of depth, while the natural acidity keeps everything lively and beautifully balanced.

This is Champagne that delivers both immediate drinking pleasure and genuine complexity.

93 Points – James Suckling

93 POINTS – JAMESSUCKLING.COM

James Suckling awarded Dehours Grande Réserve an outstanding 93 points in August 2026.

His review highlights the wine's mineral and toasted character, alongside dried citrus, yellow apple, caramel, white chocolate and chalk.

These are exactly the characteristics that make this Champagne so appealing.

Beautifully ripe fruit.

Wonderful savoury complexity.

And the mineral precision that defines serious grower Champagne.

An excellent endorsement of one of the Marne Valley's most interesting producers.

Why This Is Such an Exciting Grower Champagne

There are plenty of Champagnes available at this price.

But very few have a story quite like Dehours Grande Réserve.

A family-owned estate.

A talented grower dedicated to expressing the individuality of his vineyards.

A Champagne dominated by the fascinating Pinot Meunier grape.

And a perpetual reserve dating back to 1998.

This is not a Champagne built around a famous brand name.

It is a Champagne built around vineyards, craftsmanship and an extraordinary understanding of blending.

And that is precisely why the world's finest grower Champagnes have developed such an enthusiastic following.

Magnificent with Food

Dehours Grande Réserve is a wonderful food Champagne.

Its generous fruit and savoury complexity make it particularly versatile.

Fresh Oysters

The wine's citrus freshness and mineral character complement the natural salinity of oysters.

Scallops

Beautiful with pan-seared scallops and a delicate butter sauce.

Roast Chicken

The wine's texture and savoury complexity work wonderfully with roast poultry.

Mushroom Dishes

An excellent match for mushroom risotto or delicate mushroom tartlets.

Aged Comté

The nutty complexity of the cheese complements the Champagne's toasted and savoury notes.

Charcuterie

A wonderful Champagne to serve with prosciutto, pâté and other savoury appetisers.

And of course, it is absolutely delicious on its own.

For the best experience, serve in a generous white wine glass rather than a narrow flute.

This allows the wine's extraordinary aromas and texture to develop.

Why We Love This Champagne at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we have an enormous appreciation for the world's finest independent Champagne growers.

And Dehours & Fils is exactly the sort of producer we love discovering.

First, there is the winemaker.

Jérôme Dehours – one of the fascinating talents of the Vallée de la Marne.

Then there is the grape.

Pinot Meunier – rich, expressive and beautifully textured.

Then there is the winemaking.

Natural clarification, lees maturation and a thoughtful approach to blending.

Then there is the extraordinary reserve.

A PERPETUAL RESERVE STARTED IN 1998!

Then there is the recognition.

93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $132 PER BOTTLE!

For anyone who loves discovering distinctive grower Champagne, this is a magnificent bottle.

And for anyone who has never experienced a serious Meunier-driven Champagne, Dehours Grande Réserve is an outstanding introduction.

93 POINTS. A PERPETUAL RESERVE DATING BACK TO 1998. BEAUTIFUL MARNE VALLEY MEUNIER. JUST $132.

Dehours & Fils Grande Réserve is a wonderful expression of everything that makes grower Champagne so exciting – and one we are delighted to recommend at Liquid Vibe.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Dehours & Fils

• Wine: Grande Réserve Brut

• Vintage: Non-Vintage / Multi-Vintage

• Region: Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France

• Winemaker: Jérôme Dehours

• Grape Varieties: Predominantly Pinot Meunier, with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir

• Vineyard Villages: Mareuil-le-Port, Troissy and Œuilly

• Reserve Wine: Perpetual reserve established in 1998

• Typical Reserve Proportion: Approximately 30–50%

• Winemaking: Lees maturation, natural settling, no fining or filtration

• Malolactic Fermentation: Completed

• Bottle Ageing: Approximately 15–27 months

• Dosage: Varies by disgorgement, approximately 0–6 g/L

• Style: Meunier-dominant Brut Grower Champagne

• Critic Score: 93 Points JamesSuckling.com

• RRP: $132 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, roast chicken, mushrooms, charcuterie and Comté

• Serving Temperature: Approximately 10–12°C

• Glassware: Generous white wine or Champagne glass