Great marketing: Climate Change Champagne.

[El Presidente]

I am a sucker for great marketing 

 

Climate change is leading to challenges for farmers of all kinds, and grape growers are no exception. To highlight the impact of climate change on their products, champagne house Ruinart has created its Blanc Singulier Edition 18. The 100% chardonnay cuvée is made primarily using grapes grown during the unusually warm, sunny, and rapid growing season of 2018. Blended in an 80/20 ratio with a perpetual reserve crafted exclusively for this release, the result retains Ruinart's distinctive freshness but offers a unique flavor profile including tart lemon, Fuji apple, pear, toasted nuts, and coffee bean. Shipped in a dark glass bottle to protect the wine's flavor without the need for excess packaging, it's available now at Ruinart's boutique in Reims, France, as well as at select restaurants throughout France and the USA.

[MagicalBikeRide]

Interesting angle 😁

 

No denying it’s been a hot couple summers in Europe. Save for Ireland; where we seem to be stuck in a perpetual poxy autumn. It has rained and been ~15degC for the past five weeks solid. I saw a chap with a scarf, umbrella and full old school Barbour / hunting jacket earlier today. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Almost a vintage Champagne.  Ruinart in a dark bottle would be some of novelty in its own.

[cigaraholic]

Translation…the grapes ripened so fast in 2018 we had to add something to give it flavor.

[Ken Gargett]

23 hours ago, BrightonCorgi said:

Almost a vintage Champagne.  Ruinart in a dark bottle would be some of novelty in its own.

that is interesting. perhaps they do different bottlings for the States though i can't imagine they would. for us and Europe, all Ruinart is in a dark bottle except the standard blanc de blancs. maybe a few other smaller releases, but all the main champagnes, bar that blanc de blancs,is in dark bottles. 

that high a percentage of a base wine is not all that uncommon, especially in the smaller houses and growers. basically any house which does not have the resources of the big guys - though ruinart certainly has the resources and is part of LVMH which has endless resources. Frederic (known as "call me fred" in oz) panaoitis is a seriously good maker so i have no doubt he knew what he is doing. that said, 2018 is considered such a sensational year, perhaps they wanted a high percentage of it for this first release. 

[Ken Gargett]

3 hours ago, cigaraholic said:

Translation…the grapes ripened so fast in 2018 we had to add something to give it flavor.

no, definitely not. 2018, while early days for seeing the actual results, has always been considered as one of the best for decades. up with 02, 08 and 12 for this century. flavour won't be an issue. if the winemakers did not get it right, the heat might impact, but these days, there is no excuse. the wines should be sensational. this one by ruinart is an early release so be interesting to see it. 

[MrBirdman]

On 8/17/2023 at 5:58 PM, BrightonCorgi said:

Almost a vintage Champagne.  Ruinart in a dark bottle would be some of novelty in its own.

80/20 is the standard Ruinart mix for their usual NV wines. They also use fairly young reserve wines, no more than a few years old. 
 

5 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

no, definitely not. 2018, while early days for seeing the actual results, has always been considered as one of the best for decades.

That’s true. But champagne is having to adapt to grapes ripening before they’re phenolically ripe. Good growers can manage most years. Bigger problem is the periodic droughts that are becoming more common and stressing the vines. 2015 had that issue. 2003 too. Tends to show as a sort of vegetal character. But even then, there will be terroir that do fine, particularly well rooted vines on chalk. 

[BrightonCorgi]

14 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

that is interesting. perhaps they do different bottlings for the States though i can't imagine they would. for us and Europe, all Ruinart is in a dark bottle except the standard blanc de blancs. maybe a few other smaller releases, but all the main champagnes, bar that blanc de blancs,is in dark bottles. 

I only have the Ruinart BdB's in my cellar so I am thinking clear bottles.  Ruinart is not as well sold in the States as it was 15+ years ago. 

[cigaraholic]

Thanks Ken! Too much California in me👻

I forgot a warm growing season In Champagne really just means nice weather.

[Ken Gargett]

18 hours ago, MrBirdman said:

That’s true. But champagne is having to adapt to grapes ripening before they’re phenolically ripe. Good growers can manage most years. Bigger problem is the periodic droughts that are becoming more common and stressing the vines. 2015 had that issue. 2003 too. Tends to show as a sort of vegetal character. But even then, there will be terroir that do fine, particularly well rooted vines on chalk. 

exactly. and you have named my two least favourite vintages of the century (well, other than 01 and 11 but they were just rain and crap and very few vintage wines) for exactly that - i was there at the end of harvest in 03 and in other wine regions. people dropping dead from the heat.

those two years (03 and 15), honestly you would be better served buying new world fizz. cheaper and as good. sadly, years like 08 are already few and far, and going to get fewer.