【One of the most prestige champagne, so-called Rolls-Royce of Champagne】
【Model of High proportion reserve wine + barrel fermented Champagne】
【HVE Level 3 】
【Wine Advocate 93 pts 】
【James Suckling 92 pts】
【Wine Spectator 91 pts】
【Vinous 91 pts】
【Wine Enthusiast 91 pts】
ZTF470 - Armand De Brignac Ace of Spades Brut Gold (Black Cloth Bag) 黑桃A香檳
Special Price: $1,660/bottle
Type：Champagne
Grape Varieties：40% Pinot Noir，40% Chardonnay，20% Pinot Meunier
Region：Champagne，France
ABV：12.5%
Volume：750ml
【Rating】
Wine Advocate 93 pts：
Tasted from magnum, the NV Brut (Gold) opens with lovely matured brioche, toast and ripe fruit flavors. Fresh, pure and elegant on the palate, with beautifully matured flavors and an elegant creaminess I don’t find in the other cuvées. It is a blend of 2009, 2010 and 2012 vintages. The wine reveals good grip and mineral tension and drinks well as an aperitif or with seafood and fish.
James Suckling 92 pts：
This is a creamy, rich champagne with sliced peach, apricot, orange blossom and subtle honey aromas. Very fine bubbles, creamy texture and good minerality on the finish.
Wine Spectator 91 pts：
An elegant, creamy Champagne, with pretty apple blossom and spice notes leading to finely meshed flavors of ripe white cherry, whole-grain toast and spun honey, framed by fresh, citrusy acidity.
Vinous 91 pts：
Bright pale gold with a persistent, fine bead. The bouquet mixes pear, nectarine, honeysuckle and sweet butter, accented by ginger and lemon pith that delivers energy. Juicy stone fruit and soft citrus fill the palate, with subtle spice and candied floral notes on the back palate. Nervy minerality lifts the long, gently smoky, lightly sweet finish, leaving lingering candied orange peel and floral tones. Approachable now, with short to medium-term cellaring potential.
Wine Enthusiast 91 pts：
A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, this ripe, well-balanced wine has some toast that adds complexity and richness to the apple and lemon fruit, indicating a mature bottling. The iconic gold-wrapped bottle is the flagship prestige cuvée from Cattier family’s Armand de Brignac brand.
【Winery】
In the 2011 Global Champagne Blind Tasting Competition, Spade Ace Champagne stood out from a thousand champagnes without the knowledge of the brand by several well-known wine critics, sommeliers, and wine writers, winning the title of "World's No. 1 Champagne" and receiving an outstanding score of 96 points.
Champagne Armand de Brignac, also known as Ace of Spades Champagne, is produced by the Cattier family and is an independent brand of Champagne Cattier. Located in the village of Chigny-les-Roses in the Champagne region, Cattier has a history of over two centuries, dating back to 1763, and is a small family-owned winery. The current owner, Alexandre Cattier, is the 11th generation of the family, and the winery employs only 18 people. The winery boasts a 30-meter-deep cellar, providing the optimal aging environment for its champagne. It has received high praise not only from renowned wine writer Jancis Robinson but also from numerous wine critics. It gained widespread fame for creating the Armand de Brignac brand, which is now sold in some of the world's most luxurious venues. On February 22, 2021, a day considered auspicious for couples, LVMH’s Moet Hennessy announced its partnership with Armand de Brignac, acquiring a 50% stake in the brand. From then on, Moet Hennessy would co-manage the brand with the other 50% stake holder, the famous black rapper Jay-Z.
【Region】
The grapes used to make Champagne Armand de Brignac are the three soul varieties of Champagne: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, all sourced from Premier Cru or Grand Cru vineyards within the Champagne appellation. The winery adheres to sustainable farming practices and has received High Environmental Value Level 3 (HVE Level 3) certification from the French government.
【Winemaking】
All Champagne Armand de Brignac wines are blends of base wines from three vintages, using only the "first juice"—the juice extracted from the fruit pulp, unlike the "tail juice." This juice has a higher sugar and acidity content, resulting in a higher quality Champagne. From harvesting to bottling, the entire process is handcrafted by 18 winemakers and artisans led by the 12th and 13th generations of the family. The winery is equally meticulous about its bottle packaging. The idea of hand-applying gold leaf to the bottles originated with the Cartier family; each artisan can only complete 20 pieces per hour, making each bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac unique.
However, enjoying fine wines is not just for professionals. The stylish, handcrafted metal bottle design of Champagne Armand de Brignac has made it a favorite among celebrities and fashionistas. Famous hip-hop artist Jay-Z even featured this Champagne in his "Show Me What You Got" music video. Others such as Tom Cruise, Justin Timberlake, and George Clooney are also fans. In early 2012, a Liverpool financier spent £204,000 at a bar to buy multiple bottles of Armand de Brignac to present to the guests, setting a new world record for bar spending.
