In an effort to return to tradition and make the Champagne-making operation as organic as possible, Louis Roederer began farming biodynamically in 2000. Not only did the company halt the usage of pesticides in their vineyards, but it began tilling the land with horses. Cristal’s commonalities with crystals go beyond its sparkling appearance. a b c d "Armand de Brignac |". bestchampagne.fr. 2013-10-09. Archived from the original on 2016-04-06 . Retrieved 2016-06-22. Known popularly as the “Ace of Spades”, Armand de Brignac was founded in 1763 by the Cattier family in a tiny Champagne village in the Montagne de Reims. Today, the house remains independently owned and run by the family with a staff of less than 20 people. Patriarch Jean-Jacques Cattier oversees the Chateau's wine production; with strictly limited annual yields, Cattier and his staff can ensure that the family's artisanal winemaking traditions are kept alive in each bottle of Ace of Spades champagne. Cristal is cellar-aged for six years, and then held for another eight months after its dégorgement (the process of removing sediment from the Champagne). The vines used to grow Cristal’s grapes are also old — they must be a minimum of 25 years of age, but some are as old as 60. The older a vine is, the less fruitful it is, which contributes to the rarity of Cristal. Cristal likes to keep it old school.

Armand de Brignac Champagne is a prestige Champagne brand created by the Cattier family. The family has a rich history as an elite Champagne house in the tiny village of Chigny les Roses as they have owned and cultivated family vineyards since 1763. Today, Patriarch Jean-Jacques Cattier oversees the Chateau's wine production with strictly limited annual yields, ensuring that the family's artisanal winemaking traditions are kept alive in each bottle.Cristal is often compared to Ace of Spades for both its luxury pricing and its frequent appearances in music videos. Probably the second-most popular “club” champagne, Cristal comes from the popular Louis Roederer Champagne House. A Non-Vintage, Yet Still Expensive Wine How good is Jay Z's 'Ace of Spades' Champagne? - Decanter". Decanter. 2016-11-24 . Retrieved 2016-12-01. In 2015, wine critic Jancis Robinson MW rated the new Blanc de Noirs and Demi Sec champagnes 18/20 points. [7] That same year, Armand de Brignac Blanc de Blancs received a Double Gold Medal in the San Francisco International Wine Competition. [19] Armand de Brignac Brut Gold was also awarded a Gold Medal at the 2015 San Francisco International Wine Competition. [19]

If you want to learn more about Champagne in general and what makes it so special, we’re explaining below what exactly is Champagne. We also have a helpful guide to show you how to serve Champagne properly and the answers to our readers’ most frequently asked questions about Champagne. Moët & Chandon The utmost care and precision is upheld during every step of the winemaking process. All plots and grape varieties are vinified separately to allow for meticulous and consistent blending. Rules of the region dictate that maturation of each bottle lasts a minimum of 15 months. The Premier Cru Brut and Premier Cru Rosé spend at least four years down in Cattier’s cellars – some of which are amongst the deepest and oldest in Champagne – allowing wines to develop gracefully and undisturbed at a constant temperature. brought further recognition to the house with the creation of the prestigious ‘Armand de Brignac’ Champagne, which is otherwise known as ‘Ace of Spades’ Champagne due to its logo. Initial buzz surrounding the luxury brand began in the music industry thanks to interest from hip hop star Jay-Z. The range has gained many accolades since its debut.Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs is the rarest cuvée in the Armand de Brignac range, with fewer than 3,000 bottles created for each assemblage. [10] It is a 100% Pinot Noir made with fruit from some of the best Pinot Noir growing villages in the region including Verzenay and Chigy les Roses. [2] [10] The first bottles were for sale exclusively at Harrods in November 2015. [11] Winemaking [ edit ] Father and son Armand de Brignac winemakers Jean-Jacques and Alexandre Cattier tête de cuvée". Oxford Dictionaries Online. Archived from the original on August 13, 2016 . Retrieved 2016-06-22. The Cattier cellars are among the oldest and deepest in Champagne, with three styles of architecture represented in the caverns: Gothic, Renaissance, and Roman; Armand de Brignac Ace of Spades champagne is aged in a special, gated section of the deepest part of these cellars, 119 steps underground. While it may seem like this champagne is simply a new trend, the quality is well respected in the industry. Sure, Ace of Spades appeared in 2006 and saw a meteoric rise after being featured in a Jay-Z music video shortly after its release. According to other experts in the field, this champagne has legitimate chops. Armand de Brignac Demi Sec was first released at the end of 2015. It is a sweeter style of champagne with just 34 g/L of sugar. [6] The assemblage typically comprises 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Meunier.