Charles-Armand de Belenet former Pernod Ricard executive becomes GM for Champagne Bollinger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The appointment was announced in France a few weeks ago by the Société Jacques Bollinger (SJB), which is the holding company for Bollinger, along with Champagne Ayala, Burgundy’s Chanson, the Loire Valley’s Langlois-Château, and Cognac’s Delamain.

Charles-Armand de Belenet, the 46-year-old comes from Burgundy, and has take up the post at Bollinger on September 5th, 2017.

The new head for the house hails most recently from Pernod Ricard, where he has been international marketing director of Martell, Mumm and Perrier Jouët, although he has worked for the multinational drinks group since 2006, both in France and Korea.

He began his career with Bacardi-Martini as a product manager, before joining Lindt and Sprüngli in 1999, and then one year later, an internet startup called MagnumVinum.fr, where he worked until 2002, when he moved to Allied Domecq.

Described by the SJB Group as having a “rich commercial and marketing experience”, the company also stated that it was entrusting the management of its “main house” to Charles-Armand with “confidence and enthusiasm”.

Charles-Armand de Belenet: career progression

He begins his career at Bacardi-Martini, as a product manager
1999: Lindt and Sprüngli
2000: MagnumVinum.fr
2002: Allied Domecq
2006: Pernod Ricard (marketing director for Pernod France, and later marketing director for Pernod Ricard Korea
2011: International marketing director of Martell, Mumm and Perrier Jouët at Pernod Ricard
2017: Becomes general manager, Champagne Bollinger, in September

Source:  Drinks Business

Toronto Champagne Workshop: From Terroir to Wine

Join award winning Author, Liz Palmer for unique champagne experiences!

Liz has created a series of introductory workshops for wine enthusiasts which will stimulate your mind and your all your senses.  The first one is From Terroir To Wine

Tuesday, September 19, 2017
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

Fine Wine Reserve
439 King Street West
Toronto, ON M5V 1K4

 

Also on the programme is a tasting of Champagne J. de Telmont Brut and Rose.

About Liz Palmer 

Liz Palmer is a well-respected award-winning author and wine journalist since 2004, and has an international reputation as a critic and judge. Liz has had the pleasure of interviewing and tasting with some of the industry’s leading winemakers, professors and personalities.

Liz Palmer’s articles have appeared in national and international magazines. She is one of four founding international hosts for #ChampagneDay 2011-2017; she has served as a judge for the 2013-2017 Global Traveler’s Wines on the Wing airline wine competition (New York); 2014-2017 Michelangelo International Wine Awards (South Africa) 2014-2017; and for The Stevie Awards for Women in Business (New York) (2014-2017).

Her Memberships include: Wine Writers’ Circle of Canada, Circle of Wine Writers (UK) – Circle Committee, International Federation of Wine and Spirits Journalists and Writers (FIJEV); Wine Century Club (NYC), and The Fine Wine Reserve.

2017 Awards:
Liz Palmer’s first book, “The Ultimate Guide To Champagne” has received the National Award for the best French Wine Book at the Gourmand World Awards 2017. On April 7th, 2017 she was awarded the title of “Dame Chevalier” of the Ordre de Coteaux de Champagne at an official ceremony in Paris.

 

                                                             Limited Seating 

Registration; https://www.eventbrite.com/e/liz-palmer-champagne-workshops-tickets-37392944303?aff=ehomecard

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.

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