Perrier-Jouët Wins 2 Golds at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships for its magnums Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2004 and Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé

The Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships is the most respected, comprehensive and rigorous international sparkling wine competition in the world. The 2017 edition attracted entries from 29 countries, which was more than ever before. Perrier-Jouët is very proud to have been awarded by the judges two Gold medals for two magnums: Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs 2004 and Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé.

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs is the quintessence of the Perrier-Jouët style. The cuvee expressed the purity of the Chardonnay: floral and intricate with the brilliance and rarity of a yellow diamond.

Perrier-Jouët Blason Rosé is the most gourmet wine of the collection, a full and fruity blend that confers generosity and spontaneity. The cuvee is fresh, fruity and floral, with an inviting salmon pink hue.

About Maison Perrier-Jouët

Maison Perrier-Jouët is an iconic champagne house with an exceptional vineyard. It is known for the finesse and elegant floral style of its wines, fashioned by the expertise of only seven Cellar Masters since its foundation in 1811. Since its 1902 collaboration with Art Nouveau pioneer Emile Gallé, creator of the anemone design for its Belle Epoque prestige cuvée, Perrier-Jouët has commissioned work from established and emerging artists including Daniel Arsham, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Miguel Chevalier, Makoto Azuma, Tord Boontje, Studio Glithero and Simon Heijdens, and more recently Tord Boontje, Vik Muniz, mischer’traxler, Ritsue Mishima and Andrew Kudless.

2017 Champagne Harvest

The Comité Champagne have announced the yield for the Champagne harvest is 10,800 kg per hectare including 500kg per hectare to be unblocked from the reserves.

The Minister of Agriculture recently announced that the French wine harvest would be ‘historically low’. Yields in some wine making areas such as Bordeaux and the Jura have been cut as much as 50%. What has caused this is the lack of rain in Spring and severe frost in April. In Champagne, the frost damage stands at 20%.

Weather has been good since mid-May and the vines are about ten days ahead in their growing cycle.

The harvest is expected to start in late August. This will make it one of the five earliest in the history of Champagne.

Champage Lanson releases limited edition Music Box

Champagne Lanson is releasing an audacious and elegant Music Box that combines the visual elements of the Lanson brand with a unique concept that enables an amplified sound when paired with a smartphone. The result is a case which doubles as a portable speaker. With a special resonance system, this new Music Box packaging allows you to enjoy Champagne Lanson, while listening to your favourite music.

Shoppers at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport will be able to get their hands on this limited edition release from 30 August until 29 September.

Champagne Lanson’s retail director Olivier de La Giraudiere said: “This new music box is completely different to anything we have ever released. The fact that it has such a unique and contemporary use is testament to what is needed in travel retail to entice and satisfy both the retailer and the consumer.”

“Launching something unique in travel retail is an exciting opportunity,” La Giraudiere added. “Over the years, it has become increasingly difficult to gain ground in travel retail, due to the amount of competition and relatively small shelf space available to our category. We work hard to ensure what we release is exclusive, unique and innovative to appeal to our current customers, while also attracting new ones.”

WINE REVIEW: RUINART ROSÉ

BLEND – VINIFICATION:

Blend constructed on a base of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, mostly classified as Premiers Crus with 20 to 25% coming from wines reserved from the 2 previous years.

45% of the Chardonnay is from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims vineyards
55% of the Pinot Noir is from the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de la Marne vineyards, 18 to 19% of which has been made into red wine.

VINIFICATION:

• Hand picked
• Fermentation in temperature-regulated stainless steel fermenters
• For the red wine, short maceration and light extraction
• Full malolactic fermentation
• Dosage: 9 g/l

TASTING NOTES:

The colour is a beautiful pomegranate pink with some orange reflections; the effervescence has persistent foam; there is an intense aromatic profile on the nose with hints of tropical fruits including raspberries, and strawberries and rose; on the palate the attack is distinct and full, cradled by a gentle effervescence; the balance brings together a delightful freshness and full body, expressed by an elegant touch of mint and grapefruit.

FROM FLUTE TO PLATE:

Ruinart Rosé is a delight to drink throughout a meal from aperitif to dessert.

Rating 93%
Liz Palmer – July 2017

WINE REVIEW: RUINART BLANC DE BLANCS

The blend is 100% Chardonnay from various years (20 to 25% of which are wines reserved from the 2 previous years).

A large majority of Premiers Crus from the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims vineyards for aromatic refinement, supplemented by Sézannais wines known to provide maturity.
Finally, several wines from the north of the Vesle valley give a light, fresh touch.
Vinification:

• Hand picked
• Fermentation in temperature-regulated stainless steel
• Full malolactic fermentation
• Dosage : 9 g/l

TASTING NOTES
Beautiful pale golden yellow colour with gentle touch of green; there is an active effervescence with a persistent release of bubbles; On the nose fresh ripe citrus notes with some hints of white flowers and peaches; harmonious on the palate with a long finish.

FROM FLUTE TO PLATE
Perfect champagne for aperitifs; Is an excellent accompaniment for seafood and shellfish; perfect with a sea bass, sole and tartare.

Rating 91
Liz Palmer July 2017