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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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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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Louis Roederer Brut Premier Limited Remis France 1500ml x 3
Louis Roederer Brut Premier ... Pale golden yellow in colour with a delicate persistent bead. Bouquet: Rich yet subtle bouquet of hawthorn, almonds and toast. Palate: The inclusion of reserve wines gives wonderful complexity and roundness to the fresh creamy palate. Champagne Louis Roederer Brut Premier strikes a perfect balance between the structure and fruitiness of the Pinot Noir and the finesse of the Chardonnay. Service: Serve well chilled. Louis Roederer Brut Premier is a classic aperitif or celebratory Champagne. The fullness and structure make Brut Premier a superb accompaniment to many seafood and vegetable entrees
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Louis Roederer Brut Premier Jeroboam Wooden Gift Box Reims France 3000ml x 1
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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Louis Roederer Brut Premier Methuselah Wooden Gift Box Reims France 6000ml x 1
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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Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2004 Remis France 750ml x 6
Roederer Brut Vintage... This is rather reserved, although despite that it does present a hint of style. Rather mute on the palate as well, with a soft mousse and some subtle background notes of minerality and citrus fruit.
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Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 2002 Remis France 1500ml x 3
Lovely pale straw hue, and quite a fine bead. The nose has obvious and immediate appeal, with a welcoming biscuit-bready character, with fresh citrus nuances and lightly toasted nuts on the edge. A very approachable palate, a little more forward and evolved than many of the other wines. It still has a delightful acidic backbone, but it is softer than the preceding wines, and accompanied by a creamy, rounded nature. Nice. fresh cashew nut elements. Lovely, limpid style, and a nice, fading finish.
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Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs 2004 Remis France 750ml x 6
The Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs is produced in very small quantities from a selection of grands crus from the Louis Roederer vineyards in the Cote des Blancs (Avize, le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Chouilly). The wine is aged for four years in the Louis Roederer cellars followed by a further six months after disgorgement. The ‘liqueur de dosage’ is prepared with the greatest care from a selected blend of 8-10 of the best crus from Louis Roederer vineyards, aged for 4-10 years in oak. The dosage is 11-12 gms per litre. To preserve freshness and delicacy, Louis Roederer dispenses with the malolactic fermentation and limits pressure to 4 kg, rather than the more usual 6 kg. Yellow with light greenish/gold highlights. Wonderfully persistent bead of ultra-fine bubbles. Scents of crystallised citrus (oranges and lemons) mingled with sweeter notes of ripe pear and apple, honey-scented flowers and sweet pastry. With air notes of caramel emerge, an indication that some of the wines in the blend were wood-matured. The cuvee shows all the signs of an impressively rich Blanc de Blancs, generously endowed with plump, vinous, creamy substance. The palate is like biting into crisp, almost plummy fruit with delicate flavours of juicy ripe grapes, sweet pastries fresh from the oven and those subtly toasty notes which are the hallmark of lush Chardonnay grapes. Finishing with defined acidity which strikes a perfect balance between dense fleshiness and concentrated fruit. Serve well chilled. Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs is an exquisite aperitif. The essence of freshness, finesse and elegence Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs is at its finest with seafood, fish and goats cheese.
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Louis Roederer Vintage Rose Remis 2004 Remis France 1500ml x 12
Louis Roederer Brut Vintage....Lovely pale straw hue, and quite a fine bead. The nose has obvious and immediate appeal, with a welcoming biscuit-bready character, with fresh citrus nuances and lightly toasted nuts on the edge. A very approachable palate, a little more forward and evolved than many of the other wines. It still has a delightful acidic backbone, but it is softer than the preceding wines, and accompanied by a creamy, rounded nature. Nice. fresh cashew nut elements. Lovely, limpid style, and a nice, fading finish.
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