Brut Nature
BLANC DE BLANCS
PREMIER CRU

Purity of nature
Made only from Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes which is harvested by hand, Brut Nature is a champagne with no dosage. In harmony with its citrus notes, finesse, fruity and balanced palate, it is bursting with intensity and freshness. It will bring out the richness and diversity of seafood at the start of any meal.

Terroir
Vertus Premier Cru and other Premiers Crus
Rendzine over chalk
Age of the vines, 40 years old

Grape variety
100 % Chardonnay / 41B
Responsible viticulture

Vinification
Cuvée (First pressed juices only)
7 months on lees before the bottling process,
minimum use of sulphur
Vats 75 % and oak casks 25 %

Blending
3 consecutive Vintages
20 % of Reserve wines

Ageing
In bottles on lees in our 19th century cellars with alow and constant temperature

Dosage
Brut Nature or Brut Zéro, no added sugar

Corking
Guaranteed without any cork taste

These luxurious tumblers take a few meticulous steps to create, each taken with utmost care to bring you the highest quality finish possible. Offering a comforting weight with a sparkling cut-crystal design, the addition of color adds a modern twist to a traditional style.

Source: RIEDEL Laudon Tumbler

Joana Vasconcelos, the portuguese artist,
has designed the label for the 2023 vintage, “Paraiso”.

Her work depicts a bunch of grapes along with the essential elements that give rise to
a great wine: the earth, water, the sun’s rays, and the coolness of the night.
To these, one must add the work of human hands, symbolised by the tip of a triangle,
a beneficial incursion in the cycle of nature.

Brunello di Montalcino has enjoyed a spectacular golden age during the 21st Century.

Brunello di Montalcino is rightfully considered one of the world’s most iconic red wines, and for good reasons.

Produced entirely from Sangiovese in a zone in and near the town of Montalcino in southern Tuscany, it is arguably the finest representation of this grape; yes, there are other glorious 100-percent Sangiovese wines from Italy, but Brunello di Montalcino is certainly the most famous and well-loved of these wines.

But perhaps the most defining factor with Brunello is its aging potential; when produced from an outstanding vintage, the wine can age beautifully for 25 years plus. This aspect has caught the attention of wine collectors from around the world, which in turn has only helped the lofty reputation of this wine.

2021

For 2021, Sani notes the low yield, but a vintage that resulted in spectacular wines that are clean, bright and fresh, with a long aftertaste; he predicts this will be a long aging vintage of more than 25 years.

Leoneschi comments on the good balance, spiced aromas and ripe tannins of the ’21s, while Magnelli points out that the ’21s have the highest acidity of the last decade; that plus the higher density of tannins has resulted in wines of great character and long aging potential of 20-25 years.

2020

Sani states that the 2020s are riper than the ’21s and are generous with good balance; he believes this is another long-aging vintage, and that the ’20s require more time to evolve in the bottle than the ’21s.

Leoneschi notes the lower tannic expression in the wines of this year, while pointing out the good aromatic expression, while Magnelli emphasizes the good balance of all the elements. “The tannins are smoother than usual; thus, the wines are more approachable than usual.”

He suggests enjoying the ’20s over the next 10-12 years.

2019

“Generous with good concentration and higher yield”, is how Sani describes the 2019s, while Leoneschi defines this as an excellent vintage in which harvest was later than normal resulting in wines of “great aromatic expression and great acidity”.

Magnelli recalls 2019 being an “easy vintage giving perfect grapes”. He notes the “richness and great fruit expression” of the 2019s, and believes the wines have an aging potential of 15-20 years.

2018

Sani describes the 2018 Brunellos as elegant with notable finesse; very well balanced, they are more ready to drink in his opinion.

Leoneschi also recalls the “great finesse” of the ’18s, as well as the notable balance and drinkability, while Magnelli describes the wines as “more on the elegant side than powerful”. In his opinion, these wines were approachable from the start and will show well for 10-15 years.

2017

The 2017 Brunellos for Sani are “ripe with some nice complexity in the nose”; he labels them as “generous” wines.

For Leoneschi, 2017 was all about lower production, higher concentration, good balance and acidity, while for Magnelli, a hot and dry summer made for an early harvest with wines that did not display perfect phenolic ripeness. He does note that the wines from the northern sectors of the production zone have good acidity and good potential for aging.

2016

2016 was a “fantastic vintage, one of my very favorite in Montalcino”, according to Sani, while Leoneschi recalls the “elegance, great acidity and incredible longevity” of the 2016s.

For Magnelli, 2016 “is my favorite one for texture of tannins and deep flavors … the wines were enjoyable from the beginning, but also offer great aging potential”.

2015

For Sani, 2015 was similar to 2019, generous wines of good quality that are ready to drink now.

Leoneschi loves the 2015s for their “great complexity and rich extraction”, while Magnelli recalls this year being warmer than usual, “making rich wines with lots of glycerin”. He notes the combination in the ’15s of “great fruit expression, good quality of tannins and slightly lower acidity”.

2013

Sani describes the 2013s as “classic and long aging, with good balance”. Leoneschi notes the great acidity and lively tannins of these wines, while for Magnelli, 2013 “was one of the most classic vintages ever at Le Chiuse”. He recalls a cold but sunny September resulting in larger and fruitier wines.

For him, 2013 shows arguably the greatest potential for aging from that decade, over 25 years.

2012

2012 was warmer and riper with good concentration and nice tannins, according to Sani; for Leoneschi, the 2012s are complex and deep with good fruitiness.

Magnelli describes the 2012s as “going straight to the point”. He notes the good complexity, but not the same aging potential of colder vintages; and predicts 15 years of cellar potential.

2010

All three producers agree that 2010 was an outstanding year for Brunello.

Sani depicts this as a big vintage, with deep concentration and power, one meant for long aging; for Leoneschi, the 2010s are “complex and balanced with great longevity”. Magnelli labels this year as a “vintage of character, sometimes austere … along with 2013, the greatest aging potential”.

2009

The 2009s for Leoneschi are “aromatic, fresh and traditional”, while Magnelli recalls that growing season as warm, with lots of rain and high humidity.

“Because of that, the acidity is great, and the wines are still showing nicely, with another 10 years ahead of them.”

2008

According to Leoneschi, 2008 was a late harvest, with the wines displaying admirable balance and good acidity.

Magnelli remembers that year as colder, with the wines not being approachable at all, due to a lack of balance upon release; acidity and tannins were more evident than usual.

“At the same time, that makes 2008 one of my favorite ones to drink now.”

2007

Sani describes the 2007s as “riper, good to drink now”.

For Leoneschi, the wines from this year offered great concentration, and are “rich in structure and alcohol”. Magnelli comments that 2007 was similar to 2012 and 2015, “fruity, rich and easy to understand; appreciated upon release”. He does think that some of the 2007s are starting to become a little tired.

2006

Leoneschi describes the 2006s as having full ripeness and notable tannic richness, as well as good freshness.

For Magnelli, 2006 is one of his favorite vintages. “We got sun, great variation of temperatures and lots of wind. There were evident but ripe tannins, and some of the wines are still full of life.”

Source:
Wine Searcher

2020 Brunello Vintage: Ready and Willing

Brunello 2019: A Vintage for the Ages

The Rise of Rosso di Montalcino

Dom Pérignon has invited Takashi Murakami to design two limited editions imagined for the 2025 year-end season: one for Dom Pérignon Vintage 2015 and one for the launch of Dom Pérignon Rosé Vintage 2010.

This artistic encounter perpetuates the Maison’s creative dialogue with visionary artists and reaffirms its commitment to artistic exploration, hybridity, and unclassifiable paths.

“Through my collaboration with Dom Pérignon, I wanted to express a form of time travel. My goal is to remain relevant in 100 or 200 years and to transcend time. When the label has aged, and I am gone, and my children are gone, I hope that people of the future, when they see it, will reimagine 2025 in their own minds.”

   Takashi Murakami

Nature as eternal creation

For both Dom Pérignon and Takashi Murakami, nature is a vital principle. The 2025 limited editions bring their visions together: in Dom Pérignon’s creative philosophy, nature is the starting point and the medium: grapes, terroir, climate, human precision, everything is orchestrated to translate raw matter into emotion. In Murakami’s approach, nature does not take the shape of realistic flora or fauna. Instead, it manifests as a hyper-synthetic, emotionally charged world made of flowers with oversized cartoon faces, creatures that seem to emerge from dreams, myths, or anime.

Source: DOM PÉRIGNON X TAKASHI MURAKAMI

Baron Philippe de Rothschild wondered in his autobiography Vivre la Vigne, published in 1981, whether anyone would think to celebrate the centenary of his arrival at Château Mouton Rothschild.

His question has been answered: the label for Château Mouton Rothschild 2022, illustrated with an original artwork by the French artist Gérard Garouste, is indeed the tribute that Baron Philippe had hoped for.

Baron Philippe de Rothschild took the helm of the estate in 1922, and to celebrate the anniversary of a founding moment in its history, Gérard Garouste, in his own symbolic, phantasmagorical way, has created a sort of heraldic banner for Mouton Rothschild, its front wall framed by a portrait of Baron Philippe and a ram, his well-known emblem.

Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild, Gérard Garouste, Philippe Sereys de Rothschild and Camille Sereys de Rothschild

Gérard Garouste drew his inspiration from conversations with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild and from the photographs of Baron Philippe he was shown. After playing with various ideas in his sketchbooks, the idea of a portrait of Baron Philippe, accompanied by the symbols of the ram, the front wall and the vine, soon came to the fore. The work took shape as a gouache which he naturally chose to call Hommage au Baron Philippe [Tribute to Baron Philippe].

“It was really my discussions with Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild that inspired me; I wanted to know more about his grandfather’s amazing life. He showed me lots of photos, and the man’s physical presence really spoke to me as a painter. It was clear that I had my model. I was greatly attracted by his character, not least because elegance is something I set great store by. Baron Philippe was a man of great elegance, very hard-working, and he had the look of someone very sure of himself, with a mischievous side. That is what I have tried to capture in the way I have portrayed him.
I find it fascinating that Baron Philippe chose the ram’s head as a symbol, as it features in both Greek and biblical mythology. The front wall is a symbol for Mouton Rothschild. I also included the fruit of the vine, and all the symbolism of a wonderful wine that was his life’s work. I wanted to pay tribute to that story, to his respect for wine, which is also a tribute to nature as it is given to us.” Gérard Garouste

Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild and Gérard Garouste

Julien de Beaumarchais de Rothschild – co-owner of Château Mouton Rothschild, responsible for the estate’s artistic and cultural activity and relations with artists – shares his vision of the work created in tribute to his grandfather:

“Gérard Garouste’s painting can be read like a kind of heraldic banner: it needs to be deciphered. It comprises three very powerful images: the ram, the front wall of Château Mouton Rothschild and the portrait of Baron Philippe. It all starts with an encounter: that of Baron Philippe with the front wall, which has always been a singular feature of Mouton Rothschild. From that encounter sprang a symbol which expresses and transcends them both: the ram, the dual embodiment of Baron Philippe, whose astrological sign was Aries, and of Mouton Rothschild, reflecting both its name and its vital energy. For me the label tells the story of a metamorphosis.”

Gérard Garouste

A leading French painter, Gérard Garouste is a stand-out figure on the international art scene.
He takes a keen interest in the roots of western culture, the legacy of the old masters and the myths that are the springboard for his work on “dismantling images and words” and his fascination with questions of origins, time and transmission. His paintings are born of associations of ideas; now unsettling, now joyful, they teem with sometimes fantastical animals and human figures with distorted bodies. His sources range from the Old Testament to popular culture and literary greats such as Cervantes and Rabelais.

Source: Château Mouton Rothschild 2022 vintage

Inspired by Mackintosh’s exceptional depiction of nature in architecture, art and design, The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team’s exemplary art of whisky making is expressed in The Macallan Art is the Flower single malt scotch whisky.

This single malt, matured in sherry seasoned European oak casks, recognising Mackintosh’s time in Europe, presents a beautiful, deeply coloured whisky with flavour characteristics that have been allowed to develop naturally over time.

Art is the Flower, with aroma and tasting notes of fruits that bear their own blossoms, is a delicate nod to the beautiful words from Mackintosh’s lecture on Seemliness.

A Harmonious Collaboration

This art collaboration explores nature and its power to inspire. The inspiration for this beautiful release is the world renowned Scottish architect, designer and artist, Charles Rennie Mackintosh whose unique style continues to influence artisans and global projects today.

Mackintosh’s 1902 stained-glass panel ‘The Spirit of the Rose’ gracefully captures the philosophy of the tree of life with unique and iconic visual character. His interpretation of the perpetual advance of nature inspired the creation of The Macallan Art is the Flower.

Mackintosh poetically considered art as the flower to life’s green leaf. He appealed to the arts and crafts community in his 1902 lecture on Seemliness to ‘offer the flowers of the art that is in you – the symbols of all that is noble – and beautiful – and inspiring.’

The Macallan Archival Series

The Macallan Archival Series revisits the legendary advertisements from the 1980s and 1990s, breathing new life into much-loved campaigns. These adverts introduced The Macallan to a wider audience for the first time and now have a moment to captivate once more.

The series brings together stories, anecdotes, drawings and photographs to showcase how The Macallan grew from a remote farmstead on the River Spey to become a world-renowned single malt whisky recognised for its incomparable craftsmanship and creativity.

Commemorating Our Vintage Advertising

Today, Folio 8 breathes new life into this timeless campaign. It is accompanied by a special booklet commemorating the brand’s vintage advertising—plus digital content—all presented in a beautiful book-shaped box.

It celebrates the rich heritage of The Macallan – and one of its most unforgettable advertising campaigns from decades past.

Source: Folio 8

Overture 2021, the first vintage-dated bottling of the second wine of Opus One, offers fresh aromas of plum, blackberry, and cherry enhanced by alluring notes of dried rose petal, forest floor, and earthy minerality. Juicy and bright on the palate with distinctive flavors of black currant, blueberry, and fraises du bois; the wine delivers a velvety texture with powdery tannins. Subtle coffee and dark chocolate round out the long finish coupled with a well-integrated acidity.

Elegance and Complexity

Overture reflects the winemaker’s artistry by showcasing the talent of blending five traditional Bordeaux grape varieties and capturing terroir characteristics of the same variety grown in different soils. However, Overture’s third blending aspect – that of marrying multiple vintages – yields a softer, rounder expression of our estate that can be enjoyed upon release.

The Essence of Place

Overture is a timeless reflection of our Opus One estate vineyards. This remarkable terroir expresses itself in the complex aromas, flavors and especially, textures of Overture. The classic blackberry and cassis character of Cabernet Sauvignon melds seamlessly with the black cherry, red currant and violet from the Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec.  The blending of wine-lots across vintages and extended barrel aging give Overture a supple structure and silky texture

Source: Overture

Source: Current Releases

To mark 200 years, The Macallan has released two new creations to celebrate the brand’s interpretation of time travel through whisky mastery.

As The Macallan would have you know, time is of the essence when making whisky. Scotch malt whiskies are matured in oak casks for anything between three and 50 years or longer.

And for its 200th anniversary, the legendary distillery has released two new creations, which highlight its interpretation of time travel through whisky mastery. These were introduced at The Heart of The Spirit Experience in Singapore, which ran from September 7 to 22 at CQ @ Clark Quay, The Warehouses.

Time:Space, where past and present come together

With only 200 available – one for each year of The Macallan’s history – Time:Space brings to life the essence of time travel. Within its dual-chamber vessel houses a 1940 vintage, also the oldest whisky released by The Macallan. Bottled at 43.4% ABV, this results from two meticulously selected casks – first-fill American oak butt and the second-fill European oak butt – seasoned with sherry in Jerez de la Frontera. Thanks to 84 years of maturation, this rare, aged single malt Scotch whisky offers a rich hue, exceptional depth, and long-lasting flavour.

Meanwhile, held in the vessel’s central chamber is the single malt 2018 vintage. It is the first release of a whisky by The Macallan’s distillery that opened in the same year, and was bottled at 54.9% ABV. As a nod to The Macallan’s future, it also reiterates the brand’s commitment to excellence.

“It was an absolute privilege to be able to reach back in time and select stock from the 1940s to honour and celebrate our 200th year anniversary,” Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan, says.

“To nose, taste and select whisky distilled eight decades ago is an exceptionally rare occasion in the life of a whisky maker and one which I will treasure.” Displayed in an oak sculpture, the vessel accentuates the whisky’s 100 percent natural colour. And to pay homage to The Macallan’s signature sherry seasoned oak casks, it is crafted with alternate layers of American oak and European oak.

Time:Space Mastery, drawn from 14 cask types for remarkable complexity

An extraordinary single malt with incredible depth of aroma, texture and flavour, Time: Space Mastery highlights The Macallan’s exceptional inventory – with distinct influences from European Oak sherry seasoned casks, American Oak sherry seasoned casks, American Oak Bourbon casks, and the finest refill casks.

This expression highlights The Macallan’s unwavering commitment to protecting and nurturing its craft for the future. “Inspired by past masters, we have explored the full extent of our warehouses to capture the complex influences of cask seasoning, oak origin, cask size, and distillery character in one incredibly special bottle of whisky—with the elegance provided by European Oak sitting at its heart,” says Euan Kennedy, Lead Whisky Maker for Time:Space Mastery.

Housed in a circular vessel that evokes the enduring cycle of life and an ongoing journey from past to future, it features intricate details inspired by origami. The presentation case bursts to life with a vibrant pop of red and 200 spikes to represent the brand’s bicentennial year.

And the journey continues

Both releases symbolise The Macallan’s dedication to artisanry and creativity. For Jaume Ferras, Creative Director at The Macallan, Time:Space Collection is an incredible way to pay tribute to its 200th anniversary. It not only celebrates the accomplishments of previous generations; it is also, as he highlights, “a symbol of anticipation what is to come, as we build upon our heritage and look to the times ahead.”

Meanwhile, The Macallan’s profound connection to nature is encapsulated through two enthralling films to commemorate the release of Time:Space Collection. Visit The Macallan’s YouTube channel to watch the Time:Space Story and Time:Space Whisky Film.

Source: aplussingapore.com