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 245, the 245nd blend of the House since its establishment, is based on the 2020 vintage.