For a luxury brand, Ruinart doesn’t boast the utmost pedigree of fruit. Most of the Chardonnay comes from the Premier Crus of the Côtes des Blanc and the Montagne de Reims, but then there’s also grapes from the Côte de Sézanne and the unclassified vineyards north of the Vesle River which contribute to the final blend. While so much Champagne language today is driven by nerdy terroir talk, “Micro-plots, plots, parcels, and crus,” it’s nice to remember that this is a region of blending, blending places, villages, and vintages.
As vintages become more erratic and land agreements evolve over time, it’s extraordinary that a big house style, like Ruinart Blanc des Blancs, remains so highly consistent. It’s a testament to greatness, and I remembered this lesson at Art Basel Miami, when I was thoroughly enjoying a glass of Ruinart Blanc des Blancs amdist the madness. It was luxurious, yet so light, and its bubbles were like invisible waves of silk, carrying flavors of orange, creamsicle, and salted almond. It was quintessential Ruinart, still a benchmark for Blanc des Blancs greatness. ~Allegra A