Non-vintage Champagne—a blend of reserve wines and the current harvest—is often considered the entry-level wine for a Champagne house. But some producers are rethinking how a blend of vintages can tell a different story. With individual harvest years becoming more volatile and less predictable in a changing climate, winemakers are redefining luxury with the art of non-vintage blends.
Last year, Ruinart released the all-new Blanc Singulier. The inaugural bottling called Edition 18, named for the 2018 vintage, is meant to look at climate change through the lens of Chardonnay. The cuvée is comprised of 80 percent wine from a specific vintage and 20 percent of reserve wine. “It’s meant to embrace [the conditions] of a year,” says Ruinart chef de cave Frédéric Panaïotis.
An exceptionally warm season with an early harvest, 2018 translated into riper fruit and spice character. The Blanc Singulier is done in a brut nature style, as Panaïotis doesn’t want the addition of sugar to alter the flavor profile. However, the reserve wines, which were partly aged in stainless steel and in neutral oak casks, are needed in lieu of dosage to provide more texture and complexity. As the climate continues to warm and growing seasons become more unpredictable, “We think the Blanc Singulier is the Blanc de Blancs of the future,” says Panaïotis.
A new cuvée can also bring a house back to its roots. At just 36 years old, Emilien Boutillat of Piper Heidieck is one of the youngest winemakers in Champagne. When thinking about
This Article was originally published on IMBIBE Magazine
