Fair point, I got it wrong with the Ruinart! I bought it after a tasting at Roberson, when they still had a shop on Kensington High Street, where Ruiniart was up against some EWS. Can’t remember was the latter was, but I do remember thinking that the Ruinart was a lot nicer & a similar price, and I’d imagine it wasn’t aged at all. So if I ever have one of those again it will be opened pronto. However, I generally find young champagne a bit sharp and prefer a bit more of the biscuit etc, but very much as you say, horses for courses.
Assuming we’re not simply talking NV here, I’ve never had an expensive bottle of champagne, or knowingly even a glass from one. I do have a bottle of Dom Perignon 1998 that was I given and I’ve put off drinking it, not because of any ageing ideas, just that I thought I’d not had the right occasion to crack it, or the occasion might have been good but there were too many people, etc etc. Of course there must have been something worth opening it over the last dozen or so years I’ve had it, so I hope it was indeed ‘built for 30 years’, as I’ve read somewhere, but will get on with it at some point soon! Will let you know what happens . . .