Armand de Brignac
Armand de Brignac Champagne (also known as Ace of Spades after its logo) has quickly become the Champagne of choice among high profile personalities (notably Jay-Z). While initially thought by many cynics to be purely presentation, reviews from recognised industry experts and blind tasting events have rated the Armand de Brignac Gold as the best Champagne in the world.
Armand de Brignac is produced in Chigny-les-Roses, France by Chateau patriarch Jean-Jacques Cattier, his son Alexandre, and a staff of just eight people. The grapes used are a personal selection of M. Cattier and each bottle is crafted entirely by hand – from the picking of the grapes to the hand-riddling process, to the application and polishing of four real pewter labels. The grapes come from Premier and Grand Cru-rated vineyards in the Montagne de Reims, Cote des Blancs, and Vallee de la Marne terroirs. Only a small fraction of the first cuvee pressing is used to ensure maximum quality of the juice.
The cellars used are considered among the deepest in Champagne, 119 steps underground, which ensures a cool temperature conducive to the slow ageing process. Armand de Brignac cuvees are a blend of three distinct vintages from exceptional years. Each is aged a minimum of three years after bottling before degorgement. A special liqueur de dosage added after degorgement is aged nine months in oak casks from Burgundy. It is believed to be the only aged dosage used in any Champagne, and imparts a touch of soul and house character to the Champagne.
