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Champagne and Imported Sparkling Wines
 Of the great wines of France, Champagne is the newest arrival. Champagne as a district has been making wine since the early Roman times, and by the ninth century it had become sufficiently well established as a high quality region for distinction to be drawn between the wines of the Vallee de la Marne and those of the Montagne de Reims. From this time on it went from strength to strength: by the early sixteenth century, the wine of Ay had become so highly prized that it was said to be 'the ordinary drink of Kings and Princes. It was not until the seventeenth century, however, that the first sparkling wines made their appearance, and not until the nineteenth century that Champagne came to be synonymous with sparkling wine. neither were the numerous special techniques essential for making Champagne all discovered by discovered by one person - notwithstanding the extraordinary feats popularly attributed to Dom Perignon nor at any one time.
The evolution of the present day method of making clear sparkling wine using the second fermentation took over 200 years. Champagne is a wine that appeals to the broadest senses, rather than to the particular. It is the overall impression it leaves in the mouth after it is swallowed which matters most .It is true that the greatest Champagnes are wines of extraordinary finesse, balance, and above all else length of flavours, the intrinsic quality of these wines is on a par with the greatest of the still white or red table wines. Just as the Burgundians place special emphasis on the bouquet, the Bordelais on the palate and structure, so the Champenois claim the finish and, in particular, the aftertaste as a special feature of their wine. Not that all Champagnes taste the same, there is a world of difference between a Pol Roger and a Krug,a Taittinger and Bollinger, let a alone between a vintage Champagne of one of the grandes marques and a non vintage, "buyer's own brand" from one of the cooperatives. Yet the overall consistency of the quality and style and non - vintage Champagne from the grandes marques exceeds that of any other category of wine in any region - an astonishing achievement, given the marginal climate in which the Champenois grow their their grapes, and the fluctuations in supply and demand which they so skilfully manage from making viewpoints.
 Assemblage known as blending is the most critical stage of the long and delicate process which makes the finished Champagne. It is the art that made Dom Perignon the most famous oenologist of his day, indeed, perhaps the famous winemaker in history. Blending involves a detailed knowledge of the past, present, and future of the materials, and requires highly specialized tasting skills which can see beyond the often hard, acidic, thin, and chalky base wines that give only a barest glimpse of how they will taste once they have been blended, undergone the second fermentation, benefited from contact with yeasts during years of maturation on the lees, and been adjusted for sweetness using liqueur d'expedition.
The task demands the mental skill of a chess grand master as literally endless permutations and combinations are considered. The blenders at Moet & Chandon typically have 300 different base wines from any one vintage to deal with the possible permutations are beyond calculation. one of the most fascinating, and important aspects of Champagne is the use of "reserve" wine held from earlier vintages. It may be held in magnums under slight gaseous pressure, in stainless steel, or less commonly in oak.
Champagne house's such as Krug have reserve wine of up to twenty years old, although in diminishing quantity with age. They will usually be held over from vintage years,and,tasted on their own, can be superb. reserve wines can be used at three stages in the making of Champagne. They can be incorporated in the primary ferment, then most commonly and importantly at the time of blending or assemblage along with the liqueur de tirage, and least importantly because of the tiny volume with the liqueur d'expedition . All the Champagne houses privately acknowledge that the quality and style of their reserve wines have a powerful influence on their overall house style, but tend to downplay this importance publicly.
 Vintage champagne is strictly directed under European Union legislation, eighty five percent of the wine must be from the stated vintage year, which would allow generous incorporation of reserve wine. Under the appellation controlee of Champagne, the wine must be one hundred percent from its stated vintage. So reserve wines are customarily used in the blending of vintage Champagne - and to its great benefit-just as much as with non-vintage wines. The Champenois and the Comite Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne are ever alert to emphasize their unique combination of terrior and climate. Champagne is France's northern most vineyard region. Without the special properties of its chalk soil, free - draining and sun reflecting, it would be a very doubtful area for ripening grapes.
At Chancellors Cellars we have assembled an extensive range of famous Champagnes for you to select.
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Laurent Perrier Champagne Alexandra Rose 1999 Reims France 750ml x 6
The colour is a deepish salmon pink, reminiscent of a winter's sunset. The bead is fine and persistent. A complex and well-balanced nose that is reminiscent of orange peel and small red berry fruit. There are some lingering hints of yellow stone fruit (peaches and apricots) and it finishes with subtle mineral aromas.Full-bodied from the start, with clear flavours of black cherries. Powerful and long-lasting, with a finish that combines ripe red fruit with a firm grip.Known as the 'Ultimate Rose', it is a rare wine. Produced by the process known as 'saignee'. Only 100% rated Pinot Noir is used together with the addition of a small percentage of Chardonnay at the time of crushing.Grape Variety: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay.Background: Bernard de Nonancourt took the opportunity of his elder daughter Alexandra’s marriage in 1987 to create this vintage rosé Champagne. This delicate Rose was the best kept secret in the Tours-sur-Marne cellars until it was revealed as the surprise present at Alexandra's wedding.It expresses the very highest standards epitomised by the House of Laurent-Perrier, which also produces the benchmark non-vintage rosé Champagne. It was therefore a natural progression to produce a luxury cuvee rosé, an exclusive and rare wine that occupies a unique niche in its range.Alexandra Rosé is made from wines from the finest growths and exemplifies Laurent-Perrier's very high standards. The Pinot Noir undergoes a short maceration before Chardonnay is added for finesse. Ageing takes between 5 and 10 years, according to the characteristics of the vintage.The result is a delicately-coloured wine with unique and complex aromatic depth."A spectacular pink champagne of breeding and finesse that will disarm any recipient".
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Lindauer Brut Sparkling NV 750ml x 6
A prominent NZ dry style sparkling wine that can be served as an aperitif, Lindauer is not completely dry, but close enough to be refreshing. It offers aromas of hot baked brioche, light fresh fruit, and similar flavours to lay aside its brightly foaming texture. Cool and delicious, this is the epitome of celebratory wine "A miracle of modern winemaking as its runaway sales attest. Aged for an amazing 15 months on its yeast lees, it's a crisp lively, dryish wine with gentle nutty, bready characters adding a touch of complexity. It offers unbeatable value.
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Lindauer Brut Sparkling 375ml x 12
A prominent NZ dry style sparkling wine that can be served as an aperitif, Lindauer is not completely dry, but close enough to be refreshing. It offers aromas of hot baked brioche, light fresh fruit, and similar flavours to lay aside its brightly foaming texture. Cool and delicious, this is the epitome of celebratory wine "A miracle of modern winemaking as its runaway sales attest. Aged for an amazing 15 months on its yeast lees, it's a crisp lively, dryish wine with gentle nutty, bready characters adding a touch of complexity. It offers unbeatable value.
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Lindauer Brut Piccolos NV 200ml x 24
A prominent NZ dry style sparkling wine that can be served as an aperitif, Lindauer is not completely dry, but close enough to be refreshing. It offers aromas of hot baked brioche, light fresh fruit, and similar flavours to lay aside its brightly foaming texture. Cool and delicious, this is the epitome of celebratory wine "A miracle of modern winemaking as its runaway sales attest. Aged for an amazing 15 months on its yeast lees, it's a crisp lively, dryish wine with gentle nutty, bready characters adding a touch of complexity. It offers unbeatable value.
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Lindauer Fraise 750ml x 6
A new variant has been introduced to New Zealand's most popular sparkling wine brand.Lindauer Fraise is an exciting innovation in the wine market a méthode traditionnelle infused with natural strawberry essence. A fantastic new way to add fun to any occasion.Variety: 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc.Region: Marlborough, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne - predominantly North Island.It's description is a pinky- gold salmon.With aromas of a subtle strawberry aroma is intermingled with an underlying yeasty toasty bouquet.It's palate a careful blending of the base wines has resulted in a full palate with an elegant finesse. The wine has a hint of sweetness which complements the subtle, lingering taste of strawberries.
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Lindauer Fraise Piccolos 200ml x 24
A new variant has been introduced to New Zealand's most popular sparkling wine brand.Lindauer Fraise is an exciting innovation in the wine market a méthode traditionnelle infused with natural strawberry essence. A fantastic new way to add fun to any occasion.Variety: 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin Blanc.Region: Marlborough, Hawke's Bay and Gisborne - predominantly North Island.It's description is a pinky- gold salmon.With aromas of a subtle strawberry aroma is intermingled with an underlying yeasty toasty bouquet.It's palate a careful blending of the base wines has resulted in a full palate with an elegant finesse. The wine has a hint of sweetness which complements the subtle, lingering taste of strawberries.
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Lindauer Grandeur NV 750ml x 6
Ten years of uncompromising selection from the very best clones and the outstanding vintages of the 1990s combined with years of expert wine craftsmanship. Golden in colour, with a subtle salmon hue. Toasty, nutty aromas with delicate hints of strawberry complement broad, rich flavours, while almond and biscuity nuances add complexity. The wine shows great power and body, the result of careful blending of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A firmly structured, graceful wine with exceptional length.
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Lindauer Special Reserve 750ml x 6
Gold in colour with a distinctive pinky hue, this wine displays attractive fresh fruit flavours with nutty, yeasty characters and aromas. The palate is crisp, complex and well-balanced with a predominance of Pinot Noir. A richer, fuller style of Lindauer made with richer Pinot Noir base wines. Extended ageing on lees further develops a finer bead and more elegance.
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Louis Roederer Brut Premier Remis France 375ml x 12
Louis Roederer covers the Pinot Noir regions of "Montagne de Reims" and "Valley de la Marne" with Chardonnay from the "Cotes des Blanc". Made from wines from a minimum of four different vintages and matured in bottle for a minimum of three years, Louis Roederer Brut Premier includes 6-10 % of “Reserve” wines - premium wines from previous vintages stored for 2-5 years in large oak casks. Dosage 11-12 gms per litre. Grape Varieties: pinot noir 56%, chardonnay 34% & pinot meunier 10% Terrain: Limestone.
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Louis Roederer Brut Premier Remis France 750ml x 6
Champagne Louis Roederer, founded in 1776, remains one of the very rare family Champagne businesses. For two centuries, five succeeding generations have been inspired by the same concern for quality. Today, Jean-Claude Rouzaud, a trained oenologist and grandson of Madame Camille Olry-Roederer, presides over the destiny of the famous company in Reims and guides its development. Louis Roederer's fundamental advantage lies in its superb 190-hectare vineyard (470 acres) which, on average, rates 97.5% on the official classification scale
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