Armand de Brignac
Encyclopedia
Armand de Brignac is the name of a Champagne brand produced by Champagne Cattier
, and sold in opaque metallic bottles. The brand's first bottling, Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, is identifiable by its distinctive gold bottle with pewter Ace of Spades labels. The brand is owned by New York City-based Sovereign Brands in partnership with Cattier, and was introduced in late 2006.
Armand de Brignac's Champagnes are marketed as flagship cuvée
s in selected markets. They are produced in a multi-vintage style (like Krug
's Grande Cuvée) as opposed to the vintage prestige cuvées of some other Champagne houses (including Louis Roederer
's Cristal and Moët et Chandon
's Dom Perignon
). Like much Champagne, the Brut Gold cuvée is a blend of the grape varieties
Pinot noir
, Pinot meunier
and Chardonnay
, making use of only Premier Cru and Grand Cru-rated grapes. Two other cuvées, a Rosé
and a Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) were released in 2008.
in November, 2008 and December, 2009. In February, 2009, Spanish critic José Peñín published his own review of the Champagne. In November 2009, FINE Champagne Magazine
published the results of a blind tasting of 1,000 champagne brands, with Armand de Brignac the top finisher.
Cattier
Cattier is a family-owned champagne house situated in the village Chigny-les-Roses in the Montagne de Reims part of Champagne, France. The Cattier Family have been vineyard owners since 1763, and started to produce champagnes under their own name in 1918...
, and sold in opaque metallic bottles. The brand's first bottling, Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, is identifiable by its distinctive gold bottle with pewter Ace of Spades labels. The brand is owned by New York City-based Sovereign Brands in partnership with Cattier, and was introduced in late 2006.
Armand de Brignac's Champagnes are marketed as flagship cuvée
Cuvee
Cuvée is a French wine term derived from cuve, meaning vat or tank. The term cuvée is used with several different meanings, more or less based on the concept of a tank of wine put to some purpose:...
s in selected markets. They are produced in a multi-vintage style (like Krug
Champagne Krug
Champagne Krug—a "négociant-manipulateur" with offices in Reims, the main city in Champagne—was one of the famous Champagne houses who formed part of the membership of the Grande Marques. Krug Grande Cuvée is one of the crown jewels in the LVMH wine division, placed alongside the Moët et Chandon's...
's Grande Cuvée) as opposed to the vintage prestige cuvées of some other Champagne houses (including Louis Roederer
Louis Roederer
Louis Roederer is a producer of champagne based in Reims, France. Founded in 1776, it was inherited and renamed by Louis Roederer in 1833, and is noted as the producer of the luxury champagne Cristal.-History:...
's Cristal and Moët et Chandon
Moët et Chandon
Moët & Chandon , or Moët, is a French winery and co-owner of the luxury goods company Moët-Hennessy • Louis Vuitton. Moët et Chandon is one of the world's largest champagne producers and a prominent champagne house. The company holds a Royal Warrant to supply champagne to Elizabeth II...
's Dom Perignon
Dom Pérignon (wine)
Dom Pérignon is a brand of vintage Champagne produced by the Champagne house Moët & Chandon and serves as that house's prestige champagne. It is named after Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk who was an important quality pioneer for Champagne wine but who, contrary to popular myths, did not discover...
). Like much Champagne, the Brut Gold cuvée is a blend of the grape varieties
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
Pinot noir
Pinot Noir
Pinot noir is a black wine grape variety of the species Vitis vinifera. The name may also refer to wines created predominantly from Pinot noir grapes...
, Pinot meunier
Pinot meunier
Pinot Meunier, , also known as Meunier or Black Riesling, is a variety of black wine grape most noted for being one of the three main grapes used in the production of champagne...
and Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
, making use of only Premier Cru and Grand Cru-rated grapes. Two other cuvées, a Rosé
Rosé
A rosé is a type of wine that has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques.- Production techniques :There are three major ways to produce rosé...
and a Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) were released in 2008.
Origin
The original "de Brignac" name was registered by the Cattier family in "the late 1940s or early 50s", according to Jean-Jacques Cattier. It was chosen at that time by his mother, who had been reading a novel featuring a character named de Brignac.Reception
Armand de Brignac Brut Gold was reviewed in Wine & SpiritsWine & Spirits
Wine & Spirits is an American wine magazine. With offices in New York and San Francisco, the magazine publishes eight issues annually.In addition to publisher and editor-in-chief Joshua Greene, among the contributors are Tara Q. Thomas, Patrick Comiskey, Patricio Tapia, Peter Liem, with additional...
in November, 2008 and December, 2009. In February, 2009, Spanish critic José Peñín published his own review of the Champagne. In November 2009, FINE Champagne Magazine
FINE Champagne Magazine
-Contributors:The editorial team consists of Essi Avellan MW as editor. Juha Lihtonen, Andreas Larsson, Martin Williams MW, Amanda Regan and Meri Kukkavaara all contribute to the magazine on a regular basis.-Best Champagnes of the year:...
published the results of a blind tasting of 1,000 champagne brands, with Armand de Brignac the top finisher.