Bollinger Special Cuvée Champagne Magnum in White Gift Box

Bollinger is the serious drinker's Champagne, and Special Cuvée is the wine that built that reputation. Where most houses lean on freshness, Bollinger leans on depth: the blend is led by Pinot Noir - at least 60% - and a large share is fermented in old oak barrels rather than steel, which is what gives the wine its richness, structure and unmistakable house character.

The name itself tells you something about the house. In 1911 Bollinger's British agent suggested "Special Cuvée" - "special" spelled the English way, without an accent - feeling the term "non-vintage brut" didn't do justice to a Champagne of such subtlety. More than a century on, it's still the wine the house is known for, made from estate vineyards Bollinger has built up since its founding in Aÿ in 1829.

Expect a fuller, more vinous style than most non-vintage Champagne - roasted apple and pear, brioche, walnut and spice, with a velvety mousse and real length. In magnum it becomes a proper centrepiece, and the white box gives this serious wine a softer, more celebratory feel.