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Champagne
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Finest Champagne
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008 16:32 |
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Mumm Champagne, France
Founded in: 1827
The Mumm Champagne House has come to symbolise champagne around the world. As a major player in the world of champagne, Mumm has been instrumental in the success of this outstanding product across the centuries. It has been behind advances in viniculture and high-profile initiatives which have helped establish champagne's international reputation while respecting tradition and keeping pace with changing tastes and fashions.
Mumm, Bubbly Since 1827, The Mumm brothers, Jacobus, Gottlieb and Philipp, who were from a rich family of German wine merchants and who also owned vineyards in the Rhine valley, arrived in Reims in 1827.
Along with their business partner Friedrich Giesler, they set up P.A. Mumm et Cie., the initials standing for the forenames of their father, Peter Arnold Mumm. 120 km to the east of Paris, the champagne vineyards cover 35 000 hectares. There are four main growing areas in the Champagne region: The Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, the Côte des Blancs and Aube.
Since 1927 These four winegrowing areas have been divided into 321 crus. The crus are classified according to a percentage system known as the "échelle des crus" (scale of crus) which ranges from 80% to 100% according to the soil, microclimate and exposure to the sun, factors that determine the quality of the wine. The champagne vineyards are comprised of three grape-varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Chardonnay, a noble variety of white grape, provides finesse, elegance and lightness. This variety is also used for the great white Burgundies. A champagne like Mumm de Cramant that uses only Chardonnay is called a "Blanc de Blancs". The Chardonnay is strongly represented in the Côte de Blancs area, and accounts for 27% of the vines in all Champagne and 49% of those grown in the Grands Crus areas. Grapes require permanent care and attention, and each season brings its own specific tasks.
Pruning takes place in winter through to the end of March. The purpose of pruning is to ensure better ripeness of the grapes and to improve the quality of the wine. Then, between 15 March and 1st May, the vine shoots are trained along rows of wire.
Mumm invests constantly in research to ensure continual improvement in the quality of its champagnes and to provide its vineyards with the most modern techniques while preserving the authentic character of the resulting wines. Mumm's researchers have established scientific and technical programs with public research bodies including the INRA, the CNRS and Météo France.
The influence of the soil, the geographical location, weather hazards and the improvement of established grape-varieties are all subjects for the Mumm research teams in their constant pursuit of excellence. At the end of September, approximately 100 days after the flowering of the vines, the grapes are ready for picking. So as to ensure perfect protection of the grapes, harvesting machines are not authorised in Champagne. The grapes are picked exclusively by hand, parcel by parcel.
For three weeks in September Mumm needs almost 1,000 harvesters. Champagne has been associated with navigation since the 19th century when boats were christened by striking the hull with a bottle of champagne. In keeping with this tradition, Mumm has been the official partner of prestigious events in the world of sailing since the 1970s.
Tenacity, commitment and performance bring these two universes together where dreams and passion drive and rally teams. Mumm also lends its name to such prestigious boats as the Mumm 30 and the Mumm 36, sailboats that are among the most successful in the world market. Source Mumm Champagne |
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Finest Champagne
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Tuesday, 11 March 2008 15:02 |
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Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne, France
Founded in: 1772
A part of the Champagne's landscape for over two centuries, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin symbolizes the Art of Living to perfection. With a vineyard exceeding 280 hectares at the heart of the Champagne region's finest areas, Veuve Clicquot stayed true to its founder, Madame Clicquot's creed: "only one quality, the best."French by origin, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin has nevertheless a resolutely international reach: it is a name in the world of champagne, whose universal values have made their mark across the world. The quality and excellence of its wines are twinned with increasingly innovative products.
The Champagne region is located at the northern limit to grow vine. Three main climatic factors (temperature, pluviometry and period of sunshine) favour vine growing and a good maturation of grapes. The exposure of Veuve Clicquot plots of land on the hillsides ensures a privileged microclimate and allows an ideal vine growing.
Finding a spirit, a pure line, creating a beautiful object from a wine of exceptional quality... these are the defining words of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin's creative research.
The harvest, entirely by hand Pressing, settling and treatment before fermentation
First fermentation, sometimes followed by malolactic fermentation. Drawing, Blending, Stabilizing by low temperature, Bottling , Second fermentation in the bottles.
Ageing on laths, remuage, disgorging, dosage , Corking, wiring, labelling.
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 1995 Like the three previous years, 1995 began with a mild and rainy winter. Budding occurred between 6 and 17 April, one week earlier than in previous years. There was frost at the end of April in the Marne and mid-May in the Aube but fortunately the House's vines were not damaged.
After a short colder spell, end of flowering was excellent thanks to hot, almost summery weather conditions. July was particularly hot and stormy, which accelerated the threat of mildew, a threat, which has never been stronger since 1958. The future harvest was saved thanks to an intelligent control strategy and constant attention.
Ripening was very rapid as the harvest approached and an attack of botrytis bunch rot was avoided.
The must was extremely well-balanced, and the 1995 vintage resembles 1988, with an average alcohol content of 9.5°GL and acidity of 9 g/l. This vintage will mature very well. Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1995 is a pale gold-green colour with brilliant reflections that are typical of the vintage. Effervescence is delicate and extremely steady.The nose of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame is exceptionally elegant. Dominant floral notes (mint and white flowers) mingle with hints of fresh fruit (citrus fruits, fresh almonds). As it undergoes aeration, riper notes of vanilla and nougat come to the fore, giving a pleasant roundness to the wine. At this stage a typical Chardonnay characteristic, crisp elegance, clearly prevails over aromatic strength.In the mouth, the Pinot Noir reveals its true personality. Fruity notes (white peaches, grapefruit and bergamot) dominate an energetic attack on the palate, which is prolonged by the structure and roundedness of the wine. The balance, a combination of freshness and vigour, is ideal. With a finish that is extremely persistent and clean, mineral notes add force to this noble wine.Although La Grande Dame is still a long way from its peak, this wine constitutes an apéritif of exception. True connoisseurs will arm themselves with patience and take great pleasure in drinking this champagne in a few years' time, once it has come to full cellar maturity.La Grande Dame 1995 is based on a blend of eight Grands Crus traditionally used for this wine. The blend is dominated by Pinot Noir grapes (62.5%) which come from Ay in the vallée de la Marne and Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy in the Montage de Reims. The Chardonnay grapes, (37.5%) come from vineyard plots in Avize, Oger, and Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs.Source Veuve Clicquot |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 March 2008 15:07 |
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Finest Champagne
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Monday, 10 March 2008 17:33 |
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Deutz Champagne On the slopes of the Montagne de Reims, Aÿ has been renowned for long among the Champagne wine-producing villages. Records have shown that vine areas were owned here by the Emperor Charles V and by the French king François I. Deutz possesses wine-making facilities in line with Champagne traditions. Under the guidance of Fabrice Rosset chief executive officer & Chairman, the House made extensive investments in 2002. These investments are designed to ensure that the quality and style of all its cuvees are maintained, while authorising a steady and reasonable growth of its shipments. The same spirit is behind the making of the fine wines, since the creation of this House of Champagne by William Deutz and PH Geldemann. The House of Deutz grew under the management of 5 generations of the same family. However William Deutz was a firm believer in the value of land and was convinced that a great wine could only come from a fine vineyard. Gradually, plot by plot, the company acquired land within the best vineyard areas of Champagne. Under the management of P. Boivin, who is in charge of their vineyards, Deutz uses sustainable farming techniques at all stages. Every plot and each grape variety receives specific attention and care according to its vigour and its growth pattern. This champagne which is the result of a very careful selection of the best years” harvested when perfectly mature is the finest example of Chardonnay wine. |
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Finest Champagne
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Monday, 10 March 2008 17:22 |
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Louis Roederer Champagne France Louis Roederer is one of the largest remaining independent Champagnes Houses, owned by the same family since it was founded in 1776. In the period 1832 to 1870, under the direction of Louis Roederer, the house gained top ranking worldwide with sales of 2,500,000 bottles, including 390,000 in the United States and 660,000 in Russia where Louis Roederer champagne was an outstanding success. In 1876, Louis Roederer II who had succeeded his father created the Cristal cuvée for Tsar Alexander II. In 1809 Tsar Nicolas II nominated Louis Roederer as the official supplier to the Imperial Court of Russia. The jewel of the House is Cristal, created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II. This is champagne at its finest, as inspired today as it has always been the embodiment of elegance and purity. Cristal is made according to the strictest criteria, based on a drastic process of selection applying to the vintage, the cru, the village, the grapes and finally the wines. Only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from the House’s 10 most celebrated crus are used in the production of this legendary cuvée. |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 11 March 2008 09:03 |
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Finest Champagne
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Monday, 10 March 2008 08:47 |
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 Moet & Chandon Champagne France From Royal tables to Michelin Star restaurants and trendy Bars, Moët & Chandon has always been enjoyed in the most exclusive and most famous places around the world. The love story began in 1745 when Louis XV’s favourite, The Marquise de Pompadour, who surrounded herself with the greatest artists and philosophers of the era, proclaimed that “champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking”. Some of the greatest women in history have contributed to the renown of Moët & Chandon champagne. Both Napoleon’s mother and his wife, Josephine, were its powerful proponents under the First Empire. To reach paradise in Champagne, the pilgrim must go underground. Moët & Chandon's cellars are carved out of the great mass of marl chalk characteristic of the region. The galleries, some of which date from as early as the company's foundation in 1743, stretch over 28 km in all and are situated on several levels under Epernay. With their long roads, wide intersections, seemingly endless staircases and pavements on which literally millions of bottles are carefully stacked, these cellars form a veritable subterranean town. It is against this imposing backdrop and in the stillness of these cellars, with their constant cool temperature and damp atmosphere, that Moët & Chandon champagne matures. The wine is thus able to develop slowly, acquiring its fine effervescence and unique house style. The cellars' labyrinthine mystery has always fascinated visitors and captured their imagination. Everything here, the smell of the chalk, the omnipresent dampness, the wines' aromas, the dull sound of bottles being handled with care, echoing voices, is reminiscent of nature and time going about their work. Brut Impérial Brut Impérial is a balanced assemblage of the three vine varieties disclosing a succession of elegant and harmonious sensations, a fresh maturity, supple and refined lines, inspiring well-being and an emotion which is appreciated and shared. Quality : Brut. Harmonious assemblage of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Colour : pale yellow with shades of green. Aroma : subtely vinous, with a vine and lime blossom attack. Palate : delicate well-balanced ; leaves behind a sense of harmony, mellowness. Brut Impérial The Brut Impérial can readily be drunk from the aperitif to dessert. The recipe of Bernard Dance - Chef at the Château de Saran : «Braised lobster with cabbage». Vintage 1995 The Chardonnay is the strength of this vintage. It makes the wines classic and powerful, straight and rigorous, with a superb acid balance. The Pinots are fine and elegant, with a unique personality and still with a good structure and texture. The vintage 1995 wines are mature and complex, well-balanced and rigorous it has a great potential for ageing. Brut Rosé 1995 Quality : Brut. Harmonious assemblage of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Colour : rosé with shades of copper. Aroma : lively, expressive, dominated by the scent of wild strawberries. Palate : full-bodied, zestful, assertive fruitiness. Brut Rosé 1995 The ideal aperitif wine. With simple lamb dishes, or suckling pig, tomatoes, or aubergines garnished with thyme and olives.The recipe of Bernard Dance - Chef at the Château de Saran : «Tomato consommé, basil ravioles». Brut Rosé is a seductive wine : the assemblage, which is formed around Pinot Noir, is both spontaneous and balanced, emphasising fruity liveliness. It is zestful, with great suppleness. The assemblage with red wine also gives it feminine, coppery shades. Quality : Brut. Harmonious assemblage of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Colour : rosé with shades of copper. Aroma : lively, expressive, dominated by the scent of wild strawberries. Palate : full-bodied, zestful, assertive fruitiness. The ideal aperitif wine. With simple lamb dishes, or suckling pig, tomatoes, or aubergines garnished with thyme and olives.The recipe of Bernard Dance - Chef at the Château de Saran : «Tomato consommé, basil ravioles». |
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Last Updated on Monday, 10 March 2008 17:07 |
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