When the company was sold in 2006, new owners discovered a unique and extraordinary plot within the famous grounds of Champagne Lanson. Situated in the heart of the city of Reims, Clos Lanson is a 1-hectare pure-Chardonnay plot entirely surrounded by walls. Facing temperatures two degrees higher than typical vineyards in Reims, this walled plot produces a much riper yield that, in previous years, has been used in the assemblage of other cuvées. Inevitably, the new owners decide to create Lanson's first single vineyard champagne from this plot, and 2006 is the very first vintage. Due to the size of the plot, production is extremely limited. Just 7,780 bottles of Clos Lanson 2006 have been created and each are individually numbered.

Weather: The 2006 vintage was a year of mixed weather. It began with a rainy spell and late spring, but with little or no frost in the vineyards. Early summer was positive, with the months of June and July creating perfect conditions for flowering. Although there were some storms in late-July, the overall health of the vines was great since the weather remained hot through to the harvest with spells of rain in August promoting even healthier grapes.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Clos Lanson
Grape Varietes: 100% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 7 years
Disgorged: December 2014
Dosage: 3 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030

Tasting Note: A pale golden colour with a stream of fine bubbles. Initially on the nose there are hints of lemon and roasted apples. On the palate it is very delicate: lemon and ripe fruits are abundant, leading to a mid-palate of toasted biscuits and vanilla. The length of flavour is long at the finish and there is so much fruit in this champagne you just can't believe it has such little dosage.

Founded in 1760, Champagne Lanson is one of the oldest producers in the region, with a rich history embedded in the famous city of Reims. The red cross in the logo comes from, Nicolas-Louis Delamotte who in 1798 took over from his father and as a knight of the Order of Malta, decided to use the Maltese Cross as the House’s emblem. Developing steadily and winning numerous awards over the years, they gained real prominence in the 1900s, becoming official supplier to the British court. This strong relationship with Great Britain was further cemented in 1937, when owner at the time Victor Lanson named their non-vintage dry champagne Black Label, in honour of Lanson's biggest market. Champagne Lanson has also sponsored the The Championships, Wimbledon - one of the UK's oldest and most traditional sporting competitions - for over forty years.

Traditionally favouring a high-acidity style with blocked malolactic fermentation, Lanson has changed considerably under new Chef de Caves, Hervé Dantan. Universally blocking malolactic fermentation has been discarded to produce a softer and more complex style. More recently, in efforts directed towards image building, Lanson have begun displaying disgorgement dates on their bottles. Their cellars have also undergone an impressive makeover, affording this most historic of Champagne Houses an ultra-modern HQ.

Cellar Master: Hervé Dantan
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 5,000,000