Was 1969 a good year in Champagne?
A published vintage chart rates Champagne 1969 4 out of 5 stars. Immense charm marked with fresh acidity. Variable temperatures through the season, but the good wines are very good.
A poor spring delayed flowering and the worst mildew of the decade cut yields to 6,100 kg/ha, then the harvest came in sunny and dry.
What the critics scored the 1969
One critic score is on record: 98/100, undated.
By score the 1969 ranks 2nd of 39 (tied with 1970, 1974, 1977 and 2018) scored Louis Roederer Cristal vintages, 2.1 points above their review-weighted 95.9.
The 1960s by score: 1966 97.0, 1967 96.0 and 1969 98.0. The 1969 leads the decade.
| Score | Reviewed |
|---|---|
| 98/100 | Undated |
There were still two more wines, actually champagnes, left in the evening. The train was about to leave the station, so Big Boy had to send it off in style, beginning with a 1969 Louis Roederer Cristal. This bottle was un-fucking-real, full of coconut and coffee aromas, fresh like a Sunday morning bread basket. Sorry, I couldn't take many notes at the time, but it was one of the best bottles of champagne that I have ever had
What drinkers rate it
94.1 out of 100 from 8 drinker ratings, the most recent in June 2026.
That is 3.9 points below the critics' score.
Drinker rank: 22nd of 44 (tied with 1995 and 1999). The most-rated vintage has 559 ratings.
5 written notes, January 2022 to June 2026, rating it 90 to 96.
No bubbles left. Light amber colour. Lovely fruit, slightly stewed. Nutty nuances, umami too.A real privilige to taste this, absolutely. To me, more interesting than tasty though.
Ard, David and Robert's birth year vintage tasting and lunch (Bolomey Wine Imports, Amsterdam, NL): Italian import label. Good level. Deep colour, lots of depot, initially dull and slightly maderised but still harmonious, develops well in the glass, noticeable dosage has kept it alive, gentle bitters, blunt finish. A less than perfect bottle.
Despite being a vintage 1969 Champagne, it shows remarkably well with no unpleasant oxidative notes. Overall, it presents a nice nose, excellent balance, and lively acidity.
"No Country for Old Champagne" (Chicago, IL): Seems like this fell off a bit with air, but there were a few early moments where this was absolutely splendid. More of a caramel complexion here, with again plenty of old-school Baroque sweetness. There's a slightly mushroomy note as well, which kind of adds interest but also muddies the otherwise clean, sweet fruit.
not blindEverything was perfect but it could be more bubbles. Clear colour, not too much nougat and dried fruits, spicy, lemon fruits, hint of butterscotch and great refreshing acidity. 96
What it has traded at
| Month | Low | Median | High | Trades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017-07 | £604 | £604 | £604 | 1 |
One trade month on record, July 2017: 1 sale at £604 a bottle.
That last sale is 9 years old: history, not a quote.
7 other vintages also last traded in 2017: 6 cheaper, 0 dearer.
The 1969 against its neighbours
The 1969 beside its 4 nearest recorded years.
Here, by score, it places 1st of 5 (tied with 1970).
| Vintage | Score | Drinkers | Window | Last trade | Retail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 97.0 | 93.0 (2) | None | £604, July 2017 | None |
| 1967 | 96.0 | None | None | None | None |
| 1969 | 98.0 | 94.1 (8) | None | £604, July 2017 | None |
| 1970 | 98.0 | 88.0 (2) | 2017 to 2022 | None | None |
| 1973 | 94.0 | 95.0 (1) | 2017 to 2027 | None | None |