We used to celebrate especially solemn events with a glass of champagne. But which brand to choose? It is important that it be a worthy drink, with a name, a rich bouquet and a delicate taste. Taste today the French Lanson champagne. Already one type of bottle with a red Maltese cross on the label attracts attention. The wine house where Lanson is made boasts a long history. And in the twentieth century, the fame of this brand of champagne so increased that it is customary to celebrate important sporting achievements, send ships to sail and meet travelers who have returned from around the world cruise. Lanson House is the official supplier of its sparkling wines to the royal court of Great Britain. This drink is filled with champagne glasses at such prestigious world tournaments as yacht shows in Monaco and Wimbledon. Why is this sparkling wine so wonderful? In which region of France is it produced? Is it possible to get it in Russia and at what price? We will talk about all this in this article.
Lanson (champagne): a story
Back in 1760, a certain Francois Delamotte, a judge from the city of Reims, decided to retire and start producing wine. Then in Champagne the fame of the House of Perignon, the inventor of champagne, still boomed. Delamotte bought land for vineyards in the best places of the wine region, but did not reach any unprecedented achievements. But his successor, Jean-Baptiste Lanson, has achieved a lot. This ambitious winemaker not only gave his name to the house, but also decorated the champagne label with a characteristic cross, since he himself was a knight of the Order of Malta. Today, Lanson is one of the five largest producers of sparkling wines in France. Lanson - champagne that has not used lactic acid fermentation. This allows the drink to preserve the freshness of fruit and dry wine, to please a long and delicate finish. The house "Lanson" guided tours. If you are in Champagne, do not miss this factory in the vicinity of Reims and taste the drink.
The secret to the success of the Lanson House
A judge from Reims bought not ordinary vineyards. Now these are the best sites in Champagne called Grand Cru and Premiere. They are planted with Pinot Noir grapes (mainly), as well as Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. But, of course, the secret of success is not only in the raw materials collected, by the way, from fifty different sites of Grand Cru and Premier. The wine house also uses special technology. Lanson - champagne in the production of which milk-apple fermentation was not used. And, as a result, the drink has a high acidity, which is reflected in the fresh taste and potential of the wine to “age”. Under French law, champagne must be sedimented after fifteen months of aging. But the manufacturers of "Lanson" allow him to mature for about three years. Secondary fermentation takes place already in the bottle. As a result, the drink has a rich bouquet and indescribable catchy taste. Champagne of this house has repeatedly been awarded the highest awards at international competitions.
Lanson (champagne): characteristic
Many sparkling wines of the Lanson house have a pale straw color with golden sparkles. The bouquet is full, refreshing. It smells of white flowers, summer fruits and grapefruit. All these smells are intertwined with light notes of honey and freshly baked toasts. The taste of Lanson champagne is bright, characteristic, and memorable. Tones of ripe juicy peaches and zest of lemon and lime are felt in it. The finish is long, harmonious. The Lanson House was one of the first to produce pink champagne. To give the wort a gentle salmon hue, it is aged with the skin of Pinot Noir grapes. In general, three varieties act as raw materials for champagne. Besides Pinot Noir, these are Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. But in Lanson, attention is paid not only to the terroir and blend. No less important is the assembly. Champagne grapes often come from sixty different sections of Grand Cru.
How to serve
This wine is often offered as an aperitif. Due to the light but characteristic taste of Lanson, it is an excellent accompaniment for seafood or white meat of chicken or turkey. Pink champagne of this brand can be served with light desserts (but not with yeast baking). It blends perfectly with chocolate, nuts, fruits and berries. White champagne is good to serve not only with oyster caviar, but also with noble blue cheese. The ideal temperature of the drink when serving is plus ten to twelve degrees. It would also be nice to cool champagne glasses. The bottle to the table is served closed. If you bring it in an ice bucket, then prudently need to prepare a napkin to remove drops from the glass. Loud cotton and cork flying to the ceiling are not a sign of good tone. It would be more correct to turn it with your left hand in a circular motion, so that the gradual release of carbon dioxide will reduce the pressure inside the bottle.
Variety of assortment of wine house "Lanson"
The most famous and elite brand of champagne in these cellars is Lanson Black Label. The drink is characterized as dry - brut. Its fortress is twelve and a half degrees. To create this cuvée, the best Pinot Gris (50%), Chardonnay (35%) and Meunier (15%) are selected from the Gran Cru sites of the Champagne appellation, such as Avise, Buzi, Oge and Vesnay. A total of fifty different vineyards are brought in. The drink is made in the traditional way for the Lanson house: without malolactic fermentation and subsequent fermentation in a glass container. Lanson Black - champagne, awarded seven gold medals at various international wine competitions. The price for a standard (seven hundred milligrams) bottle of this brand in Moscow alcohol shops is about five thousand six hundred rubles.
Lanson Rose Label
This is also dry champagne. A strawberry- colored label with cream, and the name itself emphasizes that it is pink champagne. It contains a larger percentage of Pinot Noir. Despite the fact that the drink is “brut”, it harmonizes well with fruit desserts. In the bouquet “Rose Label” aromas of roses, wild berries and wildflowers are heard. The taste of this champagne is perfectly balanced and harmonious. The price of the bottle is about six thousand rubles.
Ivory Label
This product of the Lanson house is semi-dry champagne. Its name translates as "Ivory Mark." This champagne has been produced since the nineteenth century, when semi-dry sparkling wines were in fashion. It goes well with desserts and fruits. The Lanson House devoted a lot of work to developing the perfect Demi-Sec dose. And his efforts were rewarded. Ivory Label is a gold medalist, two silver and four bronze medals. A bottle of this wonderful drink costs about four thousand rubles.
White Label
A very beautiful snow-white bottle lives up to the expectation. Its contents are as stylish as the frame. The main raw material for this champagne is Chardonnay with sixty of the best sites. The added liquor was added exactly as much as needed. Sugar in the drink is 32 g / l, which allows it to be attributed to semi-dry sparkling wines. The White Label is one of Lanson's oldest works. Champagne, the price of a bottle of which is about six thousand rubles, has won several awards at international competitions.
Gold Label
This vintage drink is made from the 2002 vintage, which is considered very successful. Dry champagne has a pale golden color with perlage. The bouquet intertwines the aromas of acacia honey and candied fruit, pink grapefruit and orange blossom. The taste of champagne is extremely rich and well-structured. The perfect balance of acidity brings notes of lemon peel and quince to the sky. The finish is bright, long. This champagne is suitable for dishes of white fish, white meat in a creamy sauce. It will be appropriate for cheeses like "Brie". The price for a bottle is about six and a half thousand rubles.
Extra Age
This cuvé was created in 2010 to mark the 250th anniversary of the Lanson wine house. Champagne, the price of a bottle of which starts from seven thousand rubles, is made from the best raw materials collected in the vicinity of Vertu, Shoulli, Verzeney. The name "Extra Old" indicates that the wine matured for five years until it was removed from the sediment. It is produced in the traditional way for Lanson. The taste of this bright straw champagne is full-bodied, rich, with notes of citrus. In a unique bouquet shades of pear, figs, fresh pastries and honey are heard.
Noble Cuvée de Lanson 2000
This elite cuvée is made from two grape varieties, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, collected on selected terroirs of Grand Cru Avise, Augé and Verzene. Noble champagne is made in the traditional way for Lanson, but it is removed from the sediment not after three years, but after five years. This wine has a beautiful golden straw hue with perlyazhem. Refined taste is perfectly balanced. The bouquet has notes of ripe juicy pear, acacia honey, apple pie with cinnamon and white flowers. This champagne is only suitable for gourmet dishes: terrine de foie gras, lobster salad, oysters. This wine has amazing storage potential. The bottle can be uncorked and after fifteen years.