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Guide To Magnum Champagne (1.5L): Top 10 Bottles, Tasting Notes

by Anthony Zhang

Magnum Champagne is a 1.5-liter bottle (equal to two standard wine bottles) and provides 10 servings of sparkling wine. 

The larger format bottle ages slower than a normal bottle and develops complex flavors and nuances over time. Besides, this showstopper can also be stunning eye candy at your party!

This article covers the top 10 magnum Champagne bottles to buy and the advantages of choosing a magnum. We’ll also discover the investment potential of magnum Champagne and list the other larger format Champagne bottles.

Further reading

10 Magnum Champagne Bottles to Buy in 2023

The prestigious magnum Champagne bottles to check out are:

1. 1998 Jacques Selosse Millesime Magnum ($4,407)

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Here’s a magnificent sparkling wine made from Chardonnay grapes that exudes biscuit and mousse aromas. It also boasts a complex palate of citrus fruits with hints of oak.

2. 2012 Salon Cuvee 'S' Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut Magnum ($1,281)

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This is an exceptional Champagne with tropical fruit notes of orange blossom, lemon, and jasmine. Besides refreshing acidity, each glass of this bubbly presents mineral undertones and a lengthy finish.

3. 2009 Dom Perignon Luminous Collection Brut Millesime Magnum ($348)

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The wine opens with an incredible nose of mango, apple, and ripe fruit. A velvety palate of smooth mousse, white raspberry, and brioche notes makes the Dom Perignon magnum an unforgettable bottle.

4. 2008 Krug Vintage Brut Magnum ($616)

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2008 was a fantastic year in Champagne, and that’s reflected in this exquisite bottle of Krug Champagne. A brilliant golden hue in the glass, this elegant wine offers a delicious bouquet of honey, licorice, orange peel, and grapefruit. Flavors of quince, candied fruits, honey, apple tart, and orange peel ensure the 2008 Krug pairs beautifully with seafood and desserts.

5. 2012 Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque - Fleur de Champagne Millesime Brut Magnum ($192)

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This fine Champagne is only produced during excellent vintages. It offers distinctive aromas of white flowers and peaches with notes of lemon. Delicious fresh flavors with subtle notes of honey round out an expansive finish.

6. 2012 Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut Magnum ($160)

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This creamy vintage Champagne presents a savory palate of olives, capers, and lemon. The alcoholic beverage is also great for any celebration with its refreshing acidity and crisp finish. 

7. 2009 Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut Magnum ($76)

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Here’s a remarkable Champagne magnum from the Moët & Chandon brand that boasts notes of delicate peach, apricot, and citrus fruits with hints of nuts and brioche. The elegant bubbly also presents excellent acidity and a lingering finish.

8. 2012 Gosset 'Grand Millesime' Brut Magnum ($78)

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This beautiful Champagne is a blend of Chardonnay (67%) and Pinot Noir (33%.) The alcoholic beverage combines an addictive bouquet of citrus and pear with elegant biscuit and apple flavors. 

9. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Yellow Label Brut Magnum ($65)

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Here we have a delicate, golden-yellow bubbly blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. The Veuve Clicquot Champagne offers a citrus fruit aroma in a palate of dried pear, apple, and peach flavors.

10. Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut Magnum ($65)

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The purest expression of Bollinger, this Champagne opens with incredible aromas of Marcona almond and ground coffee. With a palate of vibrant acidity, elegant finesse, white cherry, and red berry notes, it’s no wonder Bollinger is James Bond’s favorite.

5 Benefits of Buying A Magnum Champagne Bottle

There are several reasons to buy a magnum Champagne bottle instead of a standard one:

1. Greater Value for Money and Ideal for Celebrations

2. Better Aging Potential and Taste

3. High Quality and Exclusivity

4. Wonderful Gift Options

5. Improved Durability

1. Greater Value for Money and Ideal for Celebrations

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Magnum Champagne bottles are more expensive than standard ones but offer greater value for money.

While the 750 ml bottle contains five glasses of wine, the magnum bottle can serve around 12 glasses. However, you'll usually pay less than twice the price of a regular sized bottle.

A magnum bottle is equal to 2 bottles of 750 ml, so it’s also a more practical choice for dinner parties and large gatherings. 

With a magnum, you can serve a crowd of up to 10 guests without crowding your dinner table with regular sized bottles.

2. Better Aging Potential and Taste

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Although a magnum contains twice as much Champagne as a standard bottle, it has the same neck size. So, the magnum contains the exact amount of air as the 750ml bottle. 

Since more Champagne is exposed to the same amount of air in a magnum, the wine ages more slowly for an extended period resulting in a complex, layered flavor profile.

3. High Quality and Exclusivity

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Not all Champagnes come in magnum bottles. Champagne producers use magnums for superior quality and limited-edition sparkling wines. 

When you buy larger bottles like a magnum, you may also be one of the few owners of an exclusive bottle.

4. Wonderful Gift Options

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Magnificent magnum Champagne bottles can be great gift options (especially as corporate gifts.) Switch over from the generic gift card and present a magnum Champagne to your friends and family. 

The larger bottle is not only eye-catching, but it also contains complex, high-quality sparkling wine.

5. Improved Durability

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A magnum bottle is made from thicker, sturdier glass and protects the Champagne against extreme external temperature, light, and vibrations.

Investing in Magnum Champagne Bottles

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Magnum Champagne matures better and slower than a standard bottle, making it ideal for long-term cellaring

The larger bottles are also highly sought-after by wine collectors, more so than any regular-sized bottle. Certain Champagne producers create magnum bottles to boost their wine brand image.

For instance, Champagne maker Dom Perignon collaborated with Italian jewelry brand Bulgari to release a limited edition 2004 Vintage Rose. With only four cases of magnums available worldwide, the exclusive Reserve wine collection retailed for €230,000 (around $250,443).

Magnums have been showstoppers at wine auction events, too. For instance:

  • A lot of three magnum bottles of Perrier-Jouët Cuvée Belle Epoque 1979 were sold for £8,575 (around $11,528) at a Christie’s Auction in 2021.
  • At a Sotheby’s auction in 2019, a magnum bottle of Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne, Blanc de Blancs 1996 was sold for $3,224.

But investing in magnum Champagne has some drawbacks as well:

  • A large bottle is in lesser demand than a standard-sized one. 
  • The limited availability of magnums makes them difficult to find.
  • Besides the high price tag, magnum Champagnes sold at auctions come with a pricey commission fee.

So, invest in magnum Champagne only if you find an authentic producer or a quality vintage.

Want to make your life a bit easier?Here’s the smartest option if you want to invest in wine:

Consider a reputed wine investment platform like Vinovest to buy, store, and sell high-quality vintage Champagne from genuine producers.

5 Other Champagne Bottle Size Formats

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Champagne comes in lots of different-sized bottles. If you’re planning a big party for friends and family, you can also get bottles much larger than a magnum. For example:

  • Jeroboam: A Jeroboam bottle has a capacity of 3 liters or four standard Champagne bottles. It is named after two former Israeli kings.
  • Methuselah: This large bottle contains 6 liters of Champagne, equivalent to 8 standard sized bottles. It gets its name from a biblical patriarch who was Noah’s grandfather.
  • Salmanazar: Salmanazar derives its name from five Assyrian kings and has a volume of 9 liters, the same as 12 regular-sized bottles. 
  • Balthazar: It is named after Balthazar of Babylon and contains 12 liters of Champagne (16 standard bottles.)
  • Nebuchadnezzar: Nebuchadnezzar gets its name from another Babylon king and refers to a 15 liter bottle size of Champagne, equal to 20 standard sized bottles.

Magnum Champagne: Your Bigger and Better Investment Choice

Stock a magnum bottle to surprise guests at your next house party and escape the hassle of buying multiple bottles. Make it the centerpiece of your soiree to add more sparkle to the evening.

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If you’re looking to invest big with a magnum or Jeroboam bottle, check out the Vinovest website. It is an AI-driven platform that lets you buy, store, and sell authentic fine wines from around the world.