NICOLA LEE

Consul General of The Ordre Des Coteaux De Champagne Singapore

Krug Clos d’ambonnay (Blanc de Noir):

Champagne is usually a blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay grapes, though champagne houses do produce single varietals. Not so common would be the Blanc de Noir (100 per cent pinot noir or pinot meunier); the volume produced is low, making these champagnes rare. When Krug released its inaugural vintage—the 1995 Clos d’ambonnay— it caused a stir in the market with a record-breaking price per bottle. The vineyard, at only 0.68 hectares, is reason enough to understand why this bottle of bubbles is rare. Coupled with the Krug label, the hefty price tag is almost self-explanatory. Production ranges from 3,000 to 5,000 bottles, depending on the vintage.

Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Francaises Blanc de Noir:

This unique label’s annual production is around 3,300 bottles. What makes this champagne distinctive is that the vines are from the period prior to the arrival of the deadly phylloxera epidemic that destroyed most of Europe’s vines. Since 2005, the grapes have only been sourced from the vineyards of Clos Saint-jacques and Chaudes Terres in Ay. The other plot in Bouzy succumbed to phylloxera in 2004, resulting in an even smaller production today. If phylloxera were to strike these remaining two plots, it would be the end of the

Vieilles Vignes Francaises!

Piper-heidsieck Rare 2002:

This cuvée is extremely refreshing and elegant. With a low production of around 2,000 bottles (depending on the vintage), this is a rare find, as only nine vintages have been released since its first vintage in 1976.

The Rare is a blend of

70 per cent chardonnay and 30 per cent pinot noir, and will be enjoyed by those who prefer the traditional flavours that champagne offers. To boot, wine magazine

Fine this year rated the Piper-heidsieck Rare

2002 the champagne of the decade.