{"id":19363,"date":"2021-02-08T20:46:30","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T19:46:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/?p=19363"},"modified":"2021-02-16T16:42:44","modified_gmt":"2021-02-16T15:42:44","slug":"champagne-montagne-de-reims","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/2021\/02\/08\/champagne-montagne-de-reims\/","title":{"rendered":"On the way to the Champagne made in the Montagne de Reims, with Taittinger and Palmer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Champagne is more than bubbles stuck in a high-quality wine, synonym of party or success celebration. As we have seen earlier in many articles, it’s also the title of an appellation since 1935 and of the symbol of a whole geographic region, spread over a couple of fruitful departments. This time after our city tour in Reims (read article here<\/a>), we tend to focus in the local production around this city and notably seated in the illustrious Montagne de Reims designation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nestled between the Marne and the Vesle rivers, stands in a vast promontory with wavy edges, the Montagne de Reims with its copses and thick woods, extending from east to west, over nearly 30 km in length and 6 to 10 km in length. In comparison to the C\u00f4te des Bar, these vineyards, spread on around 2,000 ha, are mainly composed of the Pinot Noir grape variety, except in the mountainous slopes Tr\u00e9pail and Villers-Marmery where Chardonnay completes this sparkling canvas. <\/strong><\/p>\n

In summary, most of the wines of this region are regarded as full-bodied, fresh and aromatic, offering a real structure to this Champagne.<\/strong> By Alex Plato<\/em><\/p>\n

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\"\"It seems that the Champagne House<\/strong> of Palmer & Co<\/strong><\/a> started its adventure in 1947 when 7 established winegrowers, already owners of Premiers Crus<\/strong> and Grands Crus<\/strong> from the Montagne de Reims<\/strong>, decided to combine their terroirs<\/em> to create an exceptional wine<\/strong>.  These seven kinds of pioneers were looking for some harmony and perfection and therefore wished to create an international brand that anyone would remember the name. That’s why this American<\/strong> name of Palmer & Co<\/strong> has been chosen to firmly represent the 415 hectares of vines<\/strong>, spread over some forty vintages, including more than 200 hectares classified as Grands Crus<\/strong> and Premiers Crus<\/strong> of the Montagne de Reims<\/strong> (photo credits: Palmer).<\/div>\n
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Moreover, the regions of the C\u00f4te de S\u00e9zanne<\/strong>, C\u00f4te des Bar<\/strong> and the Marne Valley<\/strong> complete this lot of premium blends, each area brings their own specificities. For your information, the Palmer & Co<\/strong><\/a>‘s vineyards include grape varieties divided into 45% Chardonnay<\/strong>, 40% Pinot Noir<\/strong> and 15% Pinot Meunier<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\"\"The result is a Champagne<\/strong> range composed of 3 collections, \u201cReserve<\/strong>\u201d, \u201cSpecialties<\/strong>\u201d and \u201cVintage<\/strong>\u201d. The icing on the cake, Palmer & Co<\/strong> remains one of the very few Champagne<\/strong> houses to vinify until the monumental Nebuchadnezzar<\/strong> format. Thus, this House<\/strong> tends to cultivate this science of huge bottle<\/strong> sizes in order to preserve in their own way, these exceptional vintages<\/strong> or favor specific blends, in such large bottles.<\/div>\n
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Adding to this, time is precious for Palmer & Co<\/strong>, since three years are notably required to develop the Brut R\u00e9serve<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e. Indeed, the cellar master considers that this tasty maturity may be amplified thanks to a longer maturation<\/strong> duration between six and eight years of patience, essentially for Millesime<\/strong><\/em> cuv\u00e9es<\/em> and it could even reach ten years or more for the big flacons<\/em><\/strong>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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\u201cA magnum is the perfect size for two gentlemen over lunch, especially if one of them isn\u2019t drinking\u201d used to say Sir Winston Churchill.<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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\"\"For instance, we are pleased to discover the Blanc de Blancs<\/strong> vintage that Palmer & Co<\/strong> decided to conceive its singularity on the complexity of its Premiers Crus<\/strong> plots located in Tr\u00e9pail<\/strong> and Villers-Marmery<\/strong>. These lands symbolize the real spirit of the great terroirs<\/em> of the Montagne de Reims<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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As a reminder, this beautiful appellation of the Montagne de Reims<\/strong> is known as the kingdom for the illustrious Pinot Noir<\/strong>. Thus, this vigorous and generous grape variety is better suited to these limestone<\/strong> soils, but nonetheless we could also find some brilliant Chardonnay<\/strong> in this ocean of Pinot Noir<\/strong>. <\/div>\n
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Renowned for their concentration and their structure, these white jewels benefit from a well sheltered location from the westerly winds, sloped among the Premiers Crus<\/strong> of Tr\u00e9pail<\/strong> and Villers-Marmery<\/strong>. Furthermore, these renowned Premiers Crus<\/strong>, emblematic of the Montagne de Reims<\/strong>, are recognized for their elegance and freshness, allowing to an harmonious wedding starring a selection of delicately leaked and fruity Chardonnay<\/strong> (around 10%), straight from the C\u00f4te de S\u00e9zanne<\/strong>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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..an inox framework for the rest of the grapes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The darkness at the end of the channel..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Regularly dosed at 7g\/L and aged on lees for at least 5 years (or 8 years for the magnum) in the freshness of chalk cellars, this Blanc de Blancs<\/strong> cuv\u00e9e<\/em> contains a respectable experience to share the time of an aperitif<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Nestled in a pale golden dress<\/strong> with sparkling golden reflections, the bubbles of this Blanc de Blancs<\/strong> are fine and regular. This cuv\u00e9e<\/strong><\/em> offers a generous fragrance<\/strong> explicit to any epicurean, ready to smell a couple of fresh aromas reminiscent of brioche<\/em><\/strong>, and eventually punctuated by fresher and mineral notes recalling some touches of citrus<\/strong> and chalk<\/strong>.<\/div>\n
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By the way, these citrus and white fruit notes are symbolic of these exceptional Chardonnay<\/strong>, since they can be supported by an exquisite minerality<\/strong>. That’s why, once in your mouth, you would get a pleasant feeling of a charming wine revealing a nice roundness on the attack, and time after time an explosion of citrus<\/strong> offering a real fresh and balanced sensation. <\/div>\n
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Champagne Palmer & Co<\/strong><\/a>, 67 Rue Jacquart, 51100 Reims (France) \/ Phone : 00 33 (0)3 26 07 35 07 \/ More information on the official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Taittinger, a dream spread from the chalk cellars to the bottle…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"The Champagne Taittinger<\/a><\/strong> is more than a brand, that produces 6 million bottles<\/strong>, that is to say almost 2% of the 320 millions of bottles<\/strong> on the market every year, for all of the Champagne<\/strong> appellation (photos credits: Hugh Tran).<\/p>\n

The House<\/strong> settled in the cellars<\/strong> of the former Saint-Nicaise Abbey<\/strong><\/a>, built in the 13th century upon Gallo-Roman<\/strong> chalk mines, dating back to the 4th century. We can count 3 cellars of the group including one in the center, one under the vineyards<\/strong> and one under the abbey<\/strong> where is currently the building of the visits; with 2km of galleries dug in chalk, 3 levels of storage of 6 million bottles<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..surprising sceneries to the visitors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Useful caves were during the WWI..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Taittinger<\/strong><\/a> and Russia<\/strong> still maintained a strong link since the Tsar Peter 1st<\/strong> visited the abbey in 1717, moreover the brand will be the official supplier of the late 2018 Russian Football World Cup<\/strong><\/a> with a specific designed bottle for the occasion. In the meantime, the export market is very important for the brand because it represents 80% of its sales, of which the United Kingdom<\/strong> and the United States<\/strong> represent the first markets.<\/p>\n

Pierre-Charles Taittinger<\/strong> founded this young<\/em> house in 1932 and in the Vinotheque<\/em><\/strong> are nowadays preserved the oldest bottles, the oldest of which dates from 1966 while the series started in 1952 with a form inspired by the Middle Ages<\/strong> ones, allowing a better oxidation of bubbles<\/strong> by the flared shape of the neck. A main part of the harvest if composed from the best villages called Grand Cru<\/strong> for a maturation, from 8 to 10 years, grown in oak barrels<\/strong>, comparing to 18 months for a casual juice<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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..what a sign!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Some hanged door..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those cuv\u00e9es<\/strong><\/em>, mostly called Comtes de Champagne<\/strong>, are riddled manually by an expert that may be able to “turn” 7,000 bottles per hour. Some of the oldest samples<\/strong> are sometimes tasted to appreciate the evolution of Champagne<\/strong>. Like other fellows, Taittinger<\/strong><\/a> has a range of large formats of bottles<\/strong>, that account for nearly 25,000 sales a year.<\/p>\n

A heritage particularly present in the galleries<\/strong> between stored bottles and indeed testifying of those different periods, ranging from the 3rd to the 20th through the 13th century carved in chalk<\/strong> (material only present in France<\/strong>, Benelux<\/strong> and England<\/strong>), sometimes as a pyramidal shape to avoid landslides. Galleries<\/strong> spread over 3 levels between 12 and 20 meters underground, lit with sodium to ensure a constant temperature<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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\"\"\"\"<\/strong>On top of that, the property of the House’s vineyards<\/strong> is spread between 288 hectares which represents the 3rd vineyard in surface for the Champagne<\/strong> appellation, which doesn’t forbid them from requiring 50% of supply of external juice contributions.<\/p>\n

For your information, the first surface is 1300 hectares for Moet and Chandon<\/strong><\/a> and the second ranking, 500 for the Champagne Veuve Cliquot<\/strong><\/a>, whereas the Champagne<\/strong> appellation was registered in 1935 and represents nearly 34,000 hectares in all the departments concerned.<\/p>\n

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..and 50 shades of red!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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This basket is ready to be pressed..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Among the rich selection of Taittinger<\/strong>, the popular Brut R\u00e9serve<\/strong> is made up of 40% Chardonnay<\/strong> and a bucket of 60% between Pinot Noir<\/strong> and Pinot Meunier<\/strong>, coming from more than 35 different vintages<\/strong> and from different harvests<\/strong> that are perfectly ripe. In fact, this high proportion of Chardonnay<\/strong> offers a balanced and flavorful Champagne<\/strong>, reflects a sufficient maturity, due to a minimum aging of three to four years in the cellar<\/strong>, reaching a full aromatic<\/strong> appearance, highlighted by a shiny color of golden straw<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Reinforced by fine bubbles<\/strong>, along a discreet and persistent foam<\/strong>, this perfumed Champagne<\/strong> can be very expressive and proposes an expressive nose, full of fruity<\/strong> aromas of peach<\/strong>, white flowers<\/strong> (hawthorn, acacia) and vanilla<\/strong>. Once in your palate, feel the lively and fruity profusion<\/strong> melting some honey<\/strong> and brioche<\/strong><\/em> touches.<\/p>\n

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..several generations forever collide.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A glamour color code for this bottle..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the other hand, the illustrious Brut Prestige Ros\u00e9<\/strong> is considered as a vibrant and intense Champagne<\/strong>, mixing 30% of Chardonnay<\/strong> and 70% of Pinot<\/strong>, 15% of which is vinified in red. This red wine<\/strong> that goes then into this blended ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/em> is made from the best Pinots Noirs<\/strong>, coming from the Montagne de Reims<\/strong> and Riceys<\/strong> (in C\u00f4te des Bar<\/strong>, article here<\/strong>).<\/p>\n

Dressed in an intense pink<\/strong> color, this Brut Prestige Ros\u00e9<\/strong> is an expressive Champagne, <\/strong>studded with fine bubbles<\/strong>. Carried by a superb freshness, this jewel mostly deploys aromas<\/strong> of red fruits<\/strong> (raspberry, cherry, blackcurrant) before still offering a fine balance between velvety and full-bodied notes of fresh red fruits<\/strong>. In fact, a fruity ros\u00e9<\/strong><\/em> Champagne<\/strong> that perfectly matches with a red fruit<\/strong> dessert.<\/p>\n

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Champagne Taittinger<\/strong><\/a> \/ 9 Place St Nicaise, 51100 Reims (France) \/ 0033 (0)3 26 85 45 35 \/ Planning here<\/strong><\/a> \/ More information on the official website<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Champagne is more than bubbles stuck in a high-quality wine, synonym of party or success…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":19584,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,23],"tags":[187,1001,183,1000,185],"class_list":["post-19363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gastronomy","category-sightseeing","tag-champagne","tag-champagne-palmer","tag-champagne-taittinger","tag-montagne-de-reims","tag-reims"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19363"}],"version-history":[{"count":67,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19363\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20111,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19363\/revisions\/20111"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/francevisiting.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}