Armand De Brignac

Armand De Brignac

Armand de Brignac produces their champagne exclusively from the juice of the first pressing, which classifies it as a Prestige Cuvee. A Cuvee Prestige contains only the best wine from each harvest, so the champagne becomes more complex and flavorful as it ages. And it is a true sign of quality.

After many months of storage in the lime cellars, the bottles are placed in wooden racks to now undergo "Remuage", where each bottle is turned a little every day per by hand by the wine cellar master. They do that to remove deposits in the bottlenecks. It takes a whole month of daily small turns to clean the wine without disturbing the natural ageing. After this, the top of the bottle is frozen to create a ice cube made of the yeast that was is the bottle then the deposits are pushed out by a "Degorgement" process. Next, a special liqueur called "dosage" is added to the blend, made according to a secret recipe that has been passed down in the family over the last many years. The liqueur is made from fine cane sugar and a mixture of the very best still wines from previous harvests and is stored in wooden barrels.

Another detail that adds extra finesse to Armand de Brignac is that the bottles are corked and sealed and then the 4 metal labels are fitted manually by a craftsman who finishes by polishing the bottle, no 2 bottles are alike, each bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac is completely unique. But one thing is for sure, in every bottle of Armand de Brignac, there is buttery soft, creamy, rich and complex champagne inside.

Armand de Brignac champagne, Gold Brut is a beautiful and bubbly champagne. The scent is inviting with notes of apricot, peach, and red berries, as well as aromas of citrus, orange, and brioche. In the taste, there are nuances of cherries and tropical fruits, as well as a hint of lemon, vanilla and honey. The mouthfeel is lovely soft and creamy. A traditional and elegant champagne that has been aged in French oak barrels for a year.

Comments from a tasting:

"By far the most voluminous of an admittedly modest range, quantity wise, this golden flagship is a blend of 2012, 2013 and 2014, relatively recently disgorged and dosed at 9 g/l, the liqueur de tirage the only component which has been oak aged. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir share the honours, the balance of 20% made up by Pinot Meunier. Beyond the green gold hue and persistent mousse there is an impressive vanillin richness, hints of acacia and buttered toast; ripe semi-tropical fruit is grounded by soft chalk, powdery yet discrete. The finish needs a little more time to settle; there is energy, which will soften, and power which will underwrite an impressive development over the next couple of years."

90/100

Simon Field MW, decanter.com, 09 Sep. 2019

Product information

Size: 0,75 L 
Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Dosage: Brut
Notes: lemon, vanilla, brioche and honey
ABV: 12.5% Vol.
Made in: France, Champagne
Produced by: Armand De Brignac, France
Including: champagne + box
Condition: Brand new, (may have minor imperfections from shipping)
Other information: contains sulfites