At the dawn of the 21st century, Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son, Alexandre Cattier, decided to create a unique and prestigious champagne. Ace of Spades Brut Gold, the first edition of Armand De Brignac champagne was unveiled in 2006. That same year, the appearance of an Armand De Brignac Ace of Spades Brut Gold bottle in one of Shawn Carter's (famously known as Jay-Z) music videos marked the starting point of this wine's unprecedented ascension. In 2014, Shawn Carter bought the Armand De Brignac brand. In 2021, he sold 50% of the shares to Moët Hennessy.

The first release from Champagne Armand de Brignac, the Brut Gold remains the most iconic cuvée in the range. Rich with the old-world tradition of champagne blending, it is a trio of vintages 2009, 2010 and 2012 from some of the most lauded terroirs of the region.

Weather: The 2012 weather has been hallmarked by many as very challenging but has created some stunning Champagne. Relatively low yields due to various weather conditions throughout the year. The winter months brought some frosts and hail which damaged the early stages of bud burst. August and September were very warm and this helped rescue and give the grapes a stunning maturity.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Montagne de Reims - Rilly-la-Montagne, Chigny-les-Roses & Ludes
Grape Varieties: 40% Pinot Noir | 40% Chardonnay & 20% Meunier
Disgorged: 2019
Dosage: 9 g/l
Base vintages: 2009, 2010 & 2012
Lees Ageing: 6 years
Alcohol: 12%
Drink: Now to 2030

Tasting Note: Peach, apricot, red berry aromas, followed by crystalized citrus, orange blossom and hints of brioche. Palate is rich with exotic fruit, cherry and a touch of lemon, vanilla and honey.

The Cattier family is based in the Montagne de Reims and own 33 hectares of vines across some of the most lauded crus in Champagne, including the villages of Rilly-la-Montagne, Chigny-les-Roses and Ludes.

12th and 13th generation wine growers, Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son, Alexandre, craft the prestige cuvées of Armand de Brignac. Their dream was to create a champagne of the most exceptional quality, that would represent the best of the best from the region, where their family have grown vines for more than 250 years.

A group of just 18 highly skilled people touch a bottle of Champagne Armand de Brignac, from pressing the fruit, to the moment the bottles leave the cellars. Each step of the process is led by the human touch, from handpicking the grapes to polishing each bottle and hand-applying French pewter labels. Without the pressures of volume, the team behind Champagne Armand de Brignac focuses on each small detail, to ensure ultimate quality at every step.

The fruit selection is guided by the intimate knowledge the Cattier family have of the tapestry of vineyards in Champagne, after working the land for more than 250 years.

Each year they search for the plots that present fruit with the most remarkable character – regardless of cru – from what Mother Nature presented from the season.

Sustainability is a core principle of the Cattier’s vineyard management and their owned lands are certified HVE level 3 – the highest grading from the French government – acknowledging the level of care they give to the environment, to protect it for future generations.

In the 1950s, Nelly Cattier, mother to Jean-Jacques, discovered a character in a novel she was reading, called ‘M. De Brignac’. She found the name noble and registered it for use on a new wine in the future. It was long forgotten, and during the creation of this new tête de cuvée from the house in the early 2000s, Jean-Jacques decided to pay tribute to his mother by adopting this special name.

Each bottle of Armand de Brignac is coated in metal, finished with the hand application of French pewter labels and polished. Only 20 bottles can be completed per person per hour in the winery, and as a result, no two bottles are the same.

Cellar Master: Jean-Jacques and Alexandre Cattier
Winery Location: Chigny-les-Roses, Montagne de Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 100,000