The prestige cuvée of Champagne Ruinart, Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is a Grand Cru only, pure-Chardonnay blend. With grapes sourced predominantly from the Côte des Blancs, this cuvée is a firm and muscular champagne with a reductive style that rewards patience if left in the cellar.
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 | 63% Côte des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger | 37% Montagne de Reims: Puisieulx, Sillery
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 11 years
Disgorged: 2018
Dosage: 4.5 g/l
Alcohol: 12.5%
Drink: Now to 2035+
Tasting Note: This champagne is a pale yellow with green reflections, that on the nose presents a very fresh and fruity note, an abundance of lemon, nectarines and other white fleshy fruits with a more floral ending. On the palate a slightly toasted brioche flavour gives way to an elegance of citrus and natural sweetness with plenty of refreshing acidity.
Although not the oldest wine estate in the region, Ruinart holds the title of the oldest established Champagne House. Dom Thierry Ruinart, friend and confidant of Benedictine monk Dom Pérignon, foretold that the new "wine with bubbles" being developed in his native region of Champagne was destined for a bright future and encouraged his nephew Nicolas Ruinart to enter the trade. When Louis XV declared that champagne could henceforth be sold in bottles instead of barrels, Nicolas heeded his uncle's advice and founded Champagne Ruinart in 1729.
Famed for their affinity for the white-grape variety, Chardonnay dominates the blend in all of Ruinart's finest cuvées, even their prestige rosé. Favouring the reductive style, they use a pneumatic press to guard the juice against oxidation and deploy nitrogen gas to protect the wine at every production stage. They are also adverse to oak and vinify all of their wines in stainless-steel tanks. Cosmopolitan and savvy, Ruinart produce approachable, muscular and vinous champagnes that deserve recognition beyond the trade industry within which they are currently most well-known.
The longest-established Champagne house of all, Ruinart has an affinity with chardonnay's freshness, finesse and elegance and all of its finest cuvées lead with this variety, even its prestige rosé. ""We hate oxygen!"" declares Frederic Panaïotis, Chef de Cave; Ruinart use a pneumatic press to guard the juice against oxidation and nitrogen gas to protect the wine at every production stage. They are also adverse to oak; vinification only takes place in stainless steel. This meticulous attention to detail along with the distinctive rounded bottles, give Ruinart its well-deserved reputation. Ruinart's Crayeres were dug by hand - the deepest measuring 38 meters in height beneath the vault - and their numerous tunnels criss-cross over a length of more than eight kilometres.
Cellar Master:
Frédéric Panaïotis
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region:
Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): Undisclosed
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Ruinart:
Frédéric Panaïotis - 2007 to current | He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of champagne production, from grape selection to the final blend. Panaïotis is known for his work on the 2010 vintage, which was the first time Ruinart aged its prestige cuvée entirely under cork rather than a crown cap. He also played a key role in the development of Ruinart's rosé champagne and has a deep appreciation for the Japanese market.
Jean-François Barot - 1985 to 2003 | He was at the helm during the development of some key vintages, including the 1998 and 2002.
Bertrand Mure - 1947 - 1967 | He was the cellarmaster who created the first Dom Ruinart in 1959.
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Ruinart:
Frédéric Panaïotis - 2007 to current | He is responsible for overseeing all aspects of champagne production, from grape selection to the final blend. Panaïotis is known for his work on the 2010 vintage, which was the first time Ruinart aged its prestige cuvée entirely under cork rather than a crown cap. He also played a key role in the development of Ruinart's rosé champagne and has a deep appreciation for the Japanese market.
Bernard Peillon - 2004 to 2007 | After Barot’s departure, Bernard Peillon assumed top leadership responsibilities at Ruinart. He effectively bridged the gap between Barot and Frédéric Panaïotis and oversaw major structural and stylistic continuity during that transitional era.
Jean-François Barot - 1985 to 2003 | He was at the helm during the development of some key vintages, including the 1998 and 2002.
Bertrand Mure - 1947 - 1967 | He was the cellarmaster who created the first Dom Ruinart in 1959.