Lanson Vintage Collection 1976

The House of Lanson is one of a select few to possess a truly impressive collection of fine vintage champagnes. Each coveted bottle has been carefully crafted by the longstanding Chef des Caves whose passion and devotion complements the classical blending techniques of preceding generations. The marriage of the finest selection of grapes from a single year, each champagne in the Lanson Vintage Collection is the epitome of true craftsmanship and reflects the House’s perpetual quest for excellence. A small number of bottles that date back to 1976 are proposed to a restricted circle of connoisseurs each year.

Weather: The 1976 season was a warm vintage overall, with flowering in early June. A very hot and dry summer produced grapes of great maturity and quality with very high potential alcohol levels. Champagnes from this vintage are rich, vinous and soft with heaps of character without overbearing strength.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: Chardonny: Avize, Cramant, Oger, Les Mesnil sur Oger, Trepail | Pinot Noir: Ay, Verzenay, Verzy, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Dizy
Grape Varieties: 53% Chardonnay 47% Pinot Noir
Ageing: 39 years on the lees
Disgorged: January 2017
Alcohol: 12.5%
Drink: Now to 2050+

Tasting Note: A deep golden colour with a steady stream of bubbles. On the nose aromas of dried fig, mirabelle plum and prunes. The palate has a deep nuttiness, rich in fruits and very complex. The mouthfeel is smooth and elegant with still balanced acidity. The finish is lingering and long.

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. 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