Champagne Lanson Le Vintage Brut 2012 Happy Halloween! Celebrate with 96 Point 2012 Vintage Brut Champagne!

For over 260 years, Champagne Lanson has thrived in the heart of Reims. In addition to world-class hotels, and top restaurants around the world, the house has been the official supplier of Champagne to the British monarchy – a relationship that has endured since 1900. They are the official Champagne of Wimbledon, too – so yes, this is a brand at the peak of their powers.

We were thrilled to get access to this new release of their revered “Le Vintage”... and while we didn’t get much – we do have it at the best price in the USA – which never fails to put a smile on my face! This cuvee is comprised on select parcels of Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards across Champagne. The blend is some 52% pinot noir and 48% chardonnay, with the pinot hailing from plots in Verzenay, Aÿ, Bouzy, Mareuil sur Aÿ, and Verzy, while the chardonnay focuses on Cote des Blanc vineyards like Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger, and one Montagne de Reims site, Trépail. 

The wine undergoes a full 10 years aging on the lees, followed by a Brut level dosage of 7 g/liter. A limited amount of malolactic fermentation is allowed in the base wine, in an effort to keep everything fresh and bright over the prolonged aging – something this wine achieves admirably. The aromas on this golden and vivacious wine begin with notes of shortbread biscuits, followed by sensations of lemon, tangerine, and lime leaf. In the mouth the wine showcases the 10 years on the lees, with a creamy and round mid palate that exhibits flavors of fig, lemon meringue, and rosewater – all elegantly spiced with hints of nutmeg and cardamom. The finish is poised and zippy, as the wine transitions seamlessly from a smooth and layered statesman to become laser-focused and nicely tart… granting a biting edge on the finish that serves the overall effect nicely. It is a complete triumph… exceedingly complex and tremendously diverse – simply perfect for sipping following a long, leisurely stroll across the woodlands surrounding Lough Corrib (and I imagine any number of other opportunities that don’t involve Irish castles). Get a couple bottles while we have ‘em, and I assure you, you won’t be disappointed with the results!