Champagne Thiénot Brut NV (from £25 Bedales, Constantine Stores, Corks Out , Cornelius Wines, Eagle Wines, Evington Wines, Four Walls Wines, L’Eau a Bouche, Lockett Bros, Olde World Wines, Richard Granger, The Veritable Wine Co, The Wine Library, Thorold Wines, Upton-Upon-Severn Wines, Weavers of Nottingham, Wine Schoppen)
Starts off with toffee, then a burnt brioche character plus some yeastiness and crispness, but lacks fruit, and finishes a touch simple. C+

Champagne Canard-Duchêne Brut NV (~£25 Majestic, Lockett Bros, The Four Vintners, everywine.co.uk)
Not the most complex of wines, and maybe a touch sweet, but has honest apple, pear and pineapple flavours, a touch of maturity and a finish that manages to be rich yet crisp. B(+)

Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Brut NV £25-£28 Tesco, Majestic, Morrisons)
Touches of dolly mixture and bruised apple, OK as a drink but lacks verve. B-

Champagne Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV (£28.99 widely available)
Starts off well with a restrained chocolatey richness, backed up by green apple and citrus flavours, but then let down by a slightly harsh metallic edge. B

Champagne Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV (£32.99 widely available)
At last, a touch of daintiness and élan, good mix of richness and freshness, with decent fruit, bready complexity, a touch of cocoa, and a fine crisp finish. S(-)