Well it’s the festive season and its time to get together with family and friends and share some bubbles!!. Interesting isn’t it how we all seem to gravitate to Sparkling wine and Champagne during this time of the year, we all start to wind down and hopefully all get a little break over the season and enjoy the spirit. I think we feel it coming, regardless, we just see the end of year drawing near and we just want share something happy with people and Bubbles is the best. Personally I live in Melbourne and the spring carnival had us all bubbly and happy months ago, and a good sparkling or champagne is generally a good start to any great party or meal.
So with that in mind, Grapes and Lager have put together some great Champagne and Sparkling Deals for the Xmas Holidays. We will be sharing these with you over the next week in a series of Newsletters, starting with some interesting Champagnes.
- CHAMPAGNE -
Our offer on Champagne is from two small producers of very high quality champagnes. One purely produces Grand Cru Class Champagne, the other is a second label of a 5th Generation Producer in Epernay, providing exceptional value for money.
Champagne AR Lenoble is one of the few remaining champagne houses to be family-run and entirely independent. In 1915 Armand-Raphaël Graser, then a wine merchant in Alsace, left his native region for Champagne. He began to produce champagne which he sold under the brand ‘AR Lenoble’ – ‘A.R.’ as his initials and ‘Lenoble’ as a tribute to the nobility of champagne wines.
In 1947 he fell to his death when checking a vat during the grape harvest, and was succeeded by his son Joseph
AR Lenoble is a Grand Cru Producer - out of 320 villages that produce champagne only 17 are considered Grand Cru Class. Situated in Chouilly, one of the 6 Grand Cru villages on the famous Cote des Blancs they control only 18 hectares to produce their wines. They remain family owned and operated by Anne & Antone Malssagne who are the great grandchildren of the founder.
Today Anne & Antoine still use very old techniques in producing their wines, focussing on high quality by sacrificing volume.
Antoine was recently in Australia and I had the honor of being at a dinner with all the wines and they are beautifully made and all have this amazing intensity and balance at all levels, even their bottom tier champagne (if you can call it that) is made from selected Grand Cru parcels of fruit.
If like your Champagne with body, weight and intensity these wines wont disappoint.
 NV AR LENOBLE ‘CUVEE INTENSE’ – Was $79.99 Now $59.99 a Bottle (6 Pack)
‘Equal share of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier a blend of young and old reserve cuvee’s with two and half years on lees before release, rich, full flavoured’
NV A.R LENOBLE ‘L ‘Epuree’
Blanc de Blanc – Was $89.99 Now $76.99 a Bottle (6 Pack) - please email support@grapesandlager.com.au to purchase.
‘Blanc de Blanc 100% Chardonnay, intense, full and clean, low suger dosage, wonderfully balanced my favourite at tasting’
2006 A.R LENOBLE ‘Chouilly’
Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru – Was $110.00 Now $93.99 (Single Bottle with free shipping).
‘First of the Grand Cru’s from the outstanding 2006 vintage, 100% Chardonnay, 4 years on lees before release, again low dosage, showing off the wines intense fruit, freshness and finesse’
2006 A.R LENOBLE ‘Gentilhomme’
Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru – Was $163.99 Now $140.00 (1 Pack)
‘Best of the Grand Cru’s Cuvee from the outstanding 2006 vintage, 100% Chardonnay, Rare only produced in the best years, the wine is extremely expressive and complex, combined with fine acidity. A Champagne with opulence and elegance’ Buy one for yourself an and sit somewhere quite and enjoy and don’t let anybody else know.
**Grapes and Lager fans, if you have real interest in the above wine from AR Lenoble and want mix up a 6 pack please contact the Wine Guy direct at sean.bell@grapesandlager.com.au so we can arrange your selection.
Our second Champagne offer comes from an old favourite, H. Lanvin and Fils.
 H.Lanvin & Fils ‘Cuvee Selection’ Brut has been one of favorites for some years now even though its not been in Australia that long in the grand scheme of things. It is produced by the 5th Generation Champagne House of Lombard and is their second label. The Origins of Lanvin date back to 1800’s when Henry Lanvin first started making champagne for his family and close friends. It was bought into the Lombard House in 1931.
The Cuvee Selection is made up of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. The time on lees in the bottle is much shorter and produces a champagne that is more aromatic, fresh and fruit driven, but still has enough lees contact to add toasty/yeasty flavours. Great Wine and very well made. Light and fresh, and a great Apretif.
Note if you like bigger, more complex Chardonnay driven Champagne, Lanvin is not your choice.
The wine has been in the New Zealand market for sometime and is constantly rated in top 10 champagne of the year.
NV H.LANVIN ‘Cuvee Selection’ Brut - WAS $52.99 NOW $41.99 (6 pack)
‘Fresher, softer style with citrus and apple aromas, palate is leaner with a mixed of crème brulee and citrus, well balanced and great length on the finish’
Enjoy :)
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