Hervé Dantan gives an initial overview of the growing season and the harvest – an exceptional vintage marked by solar ripeness and preserved acidity. [ read the full champagne story ]
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
A relatively serene growing season
After a 2024 campaign marked by unprecedented rainfall, 2025 unfolded in a calmer dynamic, with a preserved vineyard and more favourable weather conditions. The dry and early spring encouraged a rapid budburst, bringing great homogeneity to the vines.
At the end of May, Chardonnay flowered early, followed by Pinot Noir and Meunier in early June, suggesting an early harvest. With exceptional sunshine, the growing cycle advanced quickly, interrupted only by a gloomy weather in July that seemed to announce a later harvest.
The return of exceptional sunshine changed the outlook: veraison progressed at remarkable speed, mirrored by the ripening of the grapes.
Maison Lanson began the harvest on 23 August in Montgueux and Trépail, and officially ended on 9 September with the last grapes picked in the Vallée de la Marne.
A harvest marked by an unprecedented paradox
2025 follows in the footsteps of the early years observed over the past two decades (2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2022). However, it stands out for a rare paradox: particularly high ripeness levels combined with surprisingly well-preserved acidity.
According to Comité Champagne figures, by 18 August the average ripeness level had already reached 9.2 degree – a record for the past sixty years. During the first half of August, ripening accelerated significantly: grapes gained nearly 2.5 sugar degrees per week, compared with an average of 1 to 1.8 in previous years. This unprecedented pace surprised the entire profession.
“What makes the 2025 harvest so distinctive is this rare paradox: particularly high ripeness levels, worthy of the sunniest years, combined with remarkably well-preserved acidity, particularly in terms of malic acid. Thanks to our choice to vinify without malolactic fermentation, this natural acidity will fully express itself and ensure wines marked by a unique freshness.”
Hervé Dantan, Maison Lanson Cellar Master
Grapes of outstanding quality and low yields for Chardonnay: While the sanitary condition of the grapes was flawless across all varieties, yields varied across varieties. Chardonnays recorded lower yields than the black grapes, resulting from a cumulative effect of several factors:
- floral initiation in 2024 that took place under delicate weather conditions,
- an early flowering starting at the end of May in some sectors, beginning in warm conditions
but concluding in cooler temperatures, which led to couloure, - the intense summer heat.
The combined effect of these three factors negatively influenced both grape weight and overall yields, a phenomenon further
accentuated in older vines. Nevertheless, the quality remained outstanding, with concentrated, golden berries.
The black grapes, meanwhile, proved particularly promising. Pinot Noirs and Meuniers showed greater generosity while maintaining
balance. Their later flowering allowed them to avoid the challenges faced by Chardonnays. The bunches, of exceptional quality,
reached ripeness levels around 11 degrees, with an ideal balance between technological and aromatic maturity.
Vintage 2025, an unprecedented profile for an early harvest:
Vintage 2025 stands out for its unique character for an early harvest, combining exceptional ripeness with remarkable freshness. After a serene growing season and a harvest carried out under optimal conditions, all the elements promise a truly outstanding vintage.
“2025 could well be the great August Vintage we have all been waiting for.”
Hervé Dantan, Maison Lanson Cellar Master
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About Maison Lanson
Founded in 1760, Lanson is one of the oldest Champagne Houses. Drawing on a family heritage and unique expertise, respect for nature, care for others and creativity have guided the women and men of the House for over 260 years.
Driven by an open mind and a constant quest for progress, Hervé Dantan, Lanson Cellar Master, enhances this expertise and he carefully crafts elegant wines characterized by vitality, fruitiness and an inimitable freshness.
Lanson creations are unveiled in full transparency. They reflect this freshness of our minds and the loyal links we nurture with our loved ones. The Lanson Cross, carefully marked on each bottle, is timelessly emblematic of this philosophy
Maison Lanson has been committed to a more ecological viticulture since 2010, encouraging the balance between the soils, the plants and people, and promoting a local and responsible sourcing for all its packaging.
