Canard Duchene Champagne (10 Charming Bottles, Prices, Food Pairings)

Unlike most other Champagne houses that lie in Reims or Epernay, Canard Duchene is nestled on the Ludes hillside, surrounded by the vineyards of Montagne de Reims.

Its delicious Champagnes are a beautiful expression of the classic Canard Duchene style - a great mix of freshness and a balanced intensity.

In this article, we’ll cover the main Canard Duchene Champagne styles, the 10 best Canard Duchene bottles you should try, food pairings, investment opportunities, and more.

Canard Duchene Champagne House And Its Wine Styles

The Canard Duchene Champagne house was founded by Victor Canard and Leonie Duchene in 1868 in the heart of Montagne de Reims, France. 

There’s an interesting story behind the Champagne’s crown two-headed eagle logo!

In 1890, Leonie and Victor’s son Edmond got a contract to supply Champagne to the Tsar Nicolas II of Russia. And, he secured the right to adopt the Imperial coat of arms as part of their logo. 

This exquisite Champagne house is now owned by the Alain Thiénot Group.

Here are the Canard Duchene wine styles born out of the prestigious terroir:

• Brut: A non-vintage classic Champagne blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier
• Extra Brut: A Champagne style with very low sugar content
• Rose: A pink Champagne made with 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Meunier 
• Demi-Sec: A sweet Champagne blend with high sugar content (35 grams per liter)
• Premier Cru: Made with grapes sourced exclusively from Premier Cru vineyards
• Millesime: A vintageChampagne produced from grapes from a single harvest year
• Organic: Champagne produced with organically farmed grapes
• Blanc De Blanc: Champagnes made exclusively from Chardonnay grapes
• Blanc De Noir: A white Champagne made from the juice of Pinot Noir grapes

The 10 Best Canard Duchene Champagne Bottles

Here are 10 Canard Duchêne bottles every Champagne lover should get their hands on:

• 1989 Canard-Duchene Cuvee Speciale du Bicentenaire Brut
• Canard-Duchene Brut Non-Vintage
• 1966 Canard-Duchene Imperial Star Brut 
• Canard-Duchene Charles VII Grande Cuvee Smooth Rose
• 2010 Canard-Duchene 'V' Vintage Extra Brut
• Canard-Duchene Charles VII Grande Cuvee Blanc de Noirs Brut 
• Canard-Duchene Reserve
• Canard-Duchene Charles VII Grande Cuvee Blanc de Blancs Brut 
• Canard-Duchêne Demi-Sec
• 2012 Canard-Duchene Brut Vintage 

1. 1989 Canard-Duchene Cuvee Speciale du Bicentenaire Brut ($199)

This authentic Brut has an aged nose of crushed almonds, candied fruit, and hints of dry Sherry. The palate is sweet yet rich, with an underlying maple syrup character.

2. Canard-Duchene Brut Non-Vintage ($37)

Made from a blend of 60 different Cru wines, this authentic Brut epitomizes the Canard Duchene style. Canard Duchene’s Cellar Master, Laurent Fédou, describes this Cuvee as refreshing and intense - the perfect balance of nature and nobility. 

3. 1966 Canard-Duchene Imperial Star Brut ($246)

This Brut Champagne is complex and traditional with high acidity, fresh fruit flavors, and pastry notes. It has an alcohol content of 14%.

4. Canard-Duchene Charles VII Grande Cuvee Smooth Rose ($57)

The nose reveals strawberry fruitiness, typical of the Pinot varietals. The palate has high acidity with delicate brioche notes, tangy apricot and soft apple flavors. 

5. 2010 Canard-Duchene 'V' Vintage Extra Brut ($70)

This vintage Champagne opens with a bouquet of fresh fruit and apple flavors. This wine has an alcohol content of 12% and can be enjoyed now.

6. Canard-Duchene Charles VII Grande Cuvee Blanc de Noirs Brut ($52)

This golden authentic Brut has intense aromas of almonds, yeast, and vanilla notes. The palate is silky with baked apple and pear flavors.

7. Canard-Duchene Reserve ($34)

On the nose, this reserve wine offers honeysuckle and other fresh fruit aromas. The palate is filled with citrus fruit flavors and lingering brioche notes.

8. Canard-Duchene Charles VII Grande Cuvee Blanc de Blancs Brut ($56)

The Charles VII Blanc de Blancs is a refreshingly elegant wine with fresh fruit aromas. The palate strikes a perfect balance between creaminess and fruitiness. 

9. Canard-Duchene Demi-Sec ($37)

This sweet Champagne opens with fine bubbles and apple and citrus aromas. The palate’s soft apple flavors and pastry notes balance out the wine’s acidity.

10. 2012 Canard-Duchene Brut Vintage ($49)

This Brut Champagne has intense aromas of fresh fruit and tangy apricot. The palate’s intense fruity flavors are emphasized by its crisp citrus edge and caramel notes. 

Canard Duchene Champagne: Food Pairings And Serving

Here are some delicious food pairings with the different Canard Duchene Champagne styles:

• Vintage: Some black truffle grated on a slice of toasted buttered bread

• Blanc de Blanc: Oysters and seafood dishes served with a creamy sauce

• Blanc de Noir: Poultry or white meats in a creamy sauce

• Rose: Meat with a stronger taste, such as lamb

• Brut: Vegetable terrine or turbot in a creamy sauce

• Demi-sec: Ice cream or sorbets

To make the most out of these delicious food pairings, serve your Canard Duchene Champagne at 8-10°C (47-50°F) in a Champagne flute.

Once opened, try to consume your Canard Duchene Champagne within 24 hours before it loses its crisp bubbles. Also, avoid storing your leftover Champagne in the freezer as this will break down its fruity flavors.

Should You Invest In Canard Duchene Champagne?

If you’re looking to invest in fine wines, it’s a good idea to partner with a reliable wine investment company like Vinovest. With their AI-based platform, you can buy, store, and even sell your precious wines with ease.

Canard Duchene Champagnes have good aging potential and can be stored in your wine cabinet for up to 10 years.

Canard Duchene bottles also have a reasonably good price appreciation. For example, The 1966 Canard Duchene Imperial Star Brut price increased by 22.5% from $200 in 2020 to $245 in 2021. 

Additionally, Champagne Canard Duchêne bottles perform well at auctions.

• 12 bottles of Canard Duchene Grande Cuvee Charles VII, Non-Vintage, were sold for $270 at Christie’s in 2004.

• 36 bottles of Canard Duchene Brut Rose, Non-Vintage, were sold for $690 at a 2003 Christie’s auction.

The Champagne house has also won many prestigious awards:

• The Canard Duchene Authentic Green Brut NV won Silver in the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2012.
• The Grande Cuvee Charles VII NV Champagne won Gold at the International Wine Challenge in 2021.

Add An Irresistible Canard Duchene To Your Collection Now

If you’re looking to invest in an aromatic wine with intense freshness, a bottle of Canard Duchene is definitely the right choice.

However, it can be pretty tricky to get your hands on an authentic Champagne Canard Duchêne since limited editions and new vintages are offered in advance to members of the Canard Duchêne club.

But with the help of a trusted online wine investment company like Vinovest, you don’t have to worry about that!

Vinovest’s world-class wine experts can help you build an exquisite wine portfolio in just a few clicks.