In his song, “Young Forever,” Jay Z envisions a life where “you never get old and the Champagne’s always cold.” He may not be able to do much about aging yet, but he may always be able to enjoy great champagne, as in November 2014, he bought an exceptional Champagne brand, Armand de Brignac.
The cuvées, or blends, of Armand de Brignac are crafted by the Cattier family, 11th generation champagne growers from the village of Chigny-les-Roses in the Montagne de Reims. It was their goal to attain a level of quality they had never achieved before.
Each Armand de Brignac cuvée is a blend of three distinct vintages, allowing for layers of complexity, richness and aromatic nuance. The bottles are aged in the Cattier family’s historic cellars, that are among the deepest in the Champagne region at almost 100 feet. A bottle of Armand de Brignac Brut Gold retails for $300. A 30-liter bottle, which weighs 100 pounds and is equivalent to 40 regular bottles, can sell for over $200,000.
I have tasted one of the great Armand de Brignacs, in the lobby bar at the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco. A memorable experience, in that I have tasted many great champagnes, yet this one was deeply satisfying, with its golden color and antique, expensive taste.
Each bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac is presented in a black lacquered wooden gift box, and just this week, Armand de Brignac announced a new gift personalization program for the 2016 holiday season.
For the first time, consumers will be able to customize their own message on a metal plate affixed to the inside of the gift box of Champagne Armand de Brignac, creating an even more previous and personalized gift for the most discerning champagne lover. The customization is available on both Brut Gold and Rosé bottles and can be purchased at www.ReserveBar.com.
The personalization service will be available for order from October 1 through January of 2017 Brut Gold $300 and Rosé $500 (includes bottle, gift box and personalized plaque.)
