How to Decode a Champagne Label
The label on a bottle of Champagne tells you more about what's inside—and how it was made—than you might think
Danny Kim1/4The Wine
Paul Laurent NV Cuvée de Fondateur Brut Champagne is clean, lively, and—for the price ($32)—a terrific value
2/4Cuvée
It means "blend." Most Champagnes are blends of grapes and also contain wines from different years
3/4Brut
Champagne is classified according to its sweetness. From driest to sweetest, the lineup is: Extra Brut, Brut, Extra Sec, Demi-Sec, and Doux.
4/4RM/NM
To figure out just how indie your Champagne is, read the fine print. “RM” stands for Récoltant-Manipulant, i.e., a grower who also vinifies his own grapes. “NM” stands for Négociant-Manipulant, i.e., a producer who buys some or all of his grapes. Most of the big Champagne houses are the latter.
