Lanson Brut Le Black Label

Lanson Brut Le Black Label is a non-vintage Champagne from Reims, France, bottled at 12.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded a Gold Medal at the 2019 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships and scoring 92 points from both Wine Enthusiast and Decanter, it stands as one of the most consistently recognized expressions in its price tier.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Champagne, France  |  Non-Vintage Brut  |  House: Champagne Lanson, est. 1760

Production & Heritage

Champagne Lanson was founded in 1760 in Reims, making it one of the oldest continuously operating houses in the region. The Black Label cuvée is built on a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 15% Pinot Meunier — a Pinot-dominant structure that gives the wine its backbone and red-fruit character. Lanson is widely known for avoiding malolactic fermentation across most of its range, preserving bright, linear acidity in the finished wine. The Black Label is the one exception: roughly 20–25% of the base wine undergoes partial malolactic conversion, softening the palate just enough to make it approachable while retaining the house's signature freshness and aging potential.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with springtime florals and citrus zest before moving into toasty, lightly honeyed notes. Ripe orchard fruit — green apple and pear — emerges alongside hints of peach and a subtle blackberry undercurrent.

Taste: The entry is taut and precise, carried by racy acidity that frames flavors of ripe red and black currant. At mid-palate, preserved lemon and chopped almond appear, joined by a gentle layer of buttered bread and subliminal honey sweetness. A whisper of ginger adds complexity toward the peak.

Finish: Lively and notably long, closing with delicate floral notes and a dry, stony minerality reminiscent of fruit stones. The acidity lingers cleanly, pulling you toward the next sip rather than fading.

How to Drink Black Label

Serve well chilled at around 8–10°C (46–50°F) in a tulip-shaped glass to concentrate the aromatics while letting the mousse express itself fully. Its bright acidity and moderate body make it exceptionally versatile in cocktails. A French 75 benefits from the wine's citrus intensity and clean finish. A Champagne Cocktail (with a sugar cube and Angostura bitters) plays off the honeyed, toasty base notes. And a simple Kir Royale with crème de cassis echoes the black currant flavors already present in the blend.

Best For

• Hosting a celebratory dinner where you want a crowd-pleasing, well-reviewed Champagne
• Gifting someone who appreciates classic Grande Marque houses
• Pairing with a multi-course meal, from appetizers through lighter mains
• Introducing a wine drinker to the crisp, non-malolactic Lanson house style

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Black Label taste like? It delivers bright citrus and orchard fruit — green apple, lemon zest, and pear — layered over toasty bread and honeycomb, all framed by a taut, racy acidity that keeps the palate fresh and energized.

How does Black Label compare to Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial? Moët Brut Impérial undergoes full malolactic fermentation, producing a rounder, softer palate, while Lanson's partial-MLF approach delivers noticeably sharper acidity and a leaner, more citrus-driven profile. Both are Pinot Noir–led blends, but Lanson tends to show more mineral tension and less overt fruitiness.

Is Black Label good for sipping on its own? Absolutely — its balance of crisp acidity, delicate fruit, and toasty complexity makes it a compelling standalone pour, especially when served properly chilled in a tulip glass.

Where is Black Label made? Lanson Brut Le Black Label is produced by Champagne Lanson in Reims, located in the heart of the Champagne appellation in northeastern France. The house has operated from Reims since its founding in 1760.

What foods pair well with Black Label? Raw oysters and shellfish benefit from the wine's bright acidity and mineral edge. Smoked salmon and blinis echo the toasty, buttered-bread notes. Aged Comté cheese stands up to the Pinot Noir structure without overwhelming it. Sushi and sashimi pair cleanly with the citrus freshness. Lemon tart mirrors the preserved-lemon character in the mid-palate.

What sizes does Black Label come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle, though Lanson also produces the Black Label in half-bottles (375ml), magnums (1.5L), and occasionally larger formats depending on the market.

Is Black Label worth the price? Black Label positions as a mid-range Grande Marque Champagne — it sits above entry-level supermarket cuvées but below prestige bottlings. With three separate 92-point scores from major publications and a Gold Medal from a respected international competition, it delivers strong critical backing relative to its price tier.

Why Black Label?

The defining characteristic of this Champagne is Lanson's restrained use of malolactic fermentation — only 20–25% conversion — which preserves a cutting, mineral-driven acidity that most competitors smooth out entirely. That structural decision gives the Black Label a distinctive freshness and aging potential that separates it from fuller, rounder NV Bruts at the same price point. Multiple 92-point scores from Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, and Tasting Panel confirm its consistency across releases. For drinkers who find mainstream Champagnes too soft or one-dimensional, the Black Label's taut, citrus-focused profile represents a genuinely different house philosophy backed by over 260 years of production in Reims.