Tiege Hanley: Get your first box 30% off (+ FREE gift), and 20% off for life, at https://tiege.com/kbchampagne Support me on my PATREON: https://patreon.com/konstantinbaum Follow me on ...: https://www.instagram.com/konstantinbaum_mw/ https://www.threads.net/@konstantinbaum_mw https://www.tiktok.com/@konstantinbaum_mw Check out my website: https://www.konstantinbaum.com/ https://baumselection.com/ I use this wine key: Forge de Laguiole Ebony I have used this glass in this Video: RIEDEL Veritas Champagne I have tasted the following wines in this Video: Pol Roger Brut Reserve, Champagne, France https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/pol+roger+brut+rsrv+champagne+france?referring_site=KSB Taittinger Brut Reserve, Champagne, France https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/taittinger+brut+rsrv+champagne+france?referring_site=KSB Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial, Champagne, France https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/moet+chandon+brut+imperiale+champagne+france?referring_site=KSB Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut, Champagne, France https://wine-searcher.com/find/veuve+clicquot+ponsardin+yellow+brut+champagne+france?referring_site=KSB Louis Roederer Collection 242 Brut, Champagne, France https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/louis+roederer+collection+242+brut+champagne+france?referring_site=KSB Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, Champagne, France https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/bollinger+spc+cuvee+brut+champagne+france?referring_site=KSB The 100 Point Scoring System (from www.robertparker.com): 96-100: An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Wines of this caliber are worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume. 90 - 95: An outstanding wine of exceptional complexity and character. In short, these are terrific wines. 80 - 89: A barely above average to very good wine displaying various degrees of finesse and flavor as well as character with no noticeable flaws. 70 - 79: An average wine with little distinction except that it is soundly made. In essence, a straightforward, innocuous wine. 60 - 69: A below-average wine containing noticeable deficiencies, such as excessive acidity and/or tannin, an absence of flavor or possibly dirty aromas or flavors. 50 - 59: A wine deemed to be unacceptable. I drink Champagne when I’m happy and when I’m sad. Otherwise, I never touch it―unless I’m thirsty. Goes the abbreviated quote by Lily Bollinger that is probably the most famous Champagne-related statement. I love to drink Champagne, even though I don’t have the Lily's consumption habits, and I also enjoy exploring the region, looking for new and undiscovered gems. However, the vast majority of the region's production is commercialized by the Grandes Marques and those are the Champagnes most of you know and will be able to get The Oxford Companion to Wine defines the term Grandes Marques as "an obsolete, self-imposed term for some of the major houses or brands of champagne. The original Syndicat des Grandes Marques was founded in 1882 but was disbanded in 1997. The term means literally ‘big brand’ in French and is still used informally." So today I want to taste the Grandes Marques – the big Champagne Houses side by side in a blind-tasting face-off to see which ones have invested in quality and which ones in marketing.