After making a fortune in the wool industry, Mr Pommery was in fragile health in 1856 and decided to retire. However, destiny had a twist, Madame Pommery fell pregnant at 38 and needing to provide for Louise, Mr Pommery moved into the champagne business that was booming. Two years later he died; the rest is history: the young widow Pommery took over the champagne business and led it on to success and glory. Madam Pommery died in 1890 and for the next hundred years it was owned by a succession of people. In 1991 LVMH purchased Pommery, selling it in 2002 to Vranken Monopole Group while keeping hold of much of the highly sort after Pommery portfolio of Grand Cru vineyards. Today the Pommery Estate in Reims stretches to 50 hectares of glorious gardens, tourists love the underground world some 18 kms of cellars with art displays in a large section of the cellars Madam Pommery had constructed in 1868.

Apanage is a recent creation, one of Clèment’s first achievements as Cellar Master was to introduce a new champagne range, Apanage showcases single varietals, made in a lightly reductive style that promotes freshness and precision. The Blanc de Blancs is one of the best I have tasted at this price point.

Weather: 2018 was a very unusual year in more ways than one. After an exceptionally rainy winter, spring was very mild. The warmth brought with it stormy and sometimes destructive weather as well as variable rainfall throughout the appellation. Summer was very warm, dry and sunny and surpassed even the record breaking temperatures of 2003. 2018 is therefore a new benchmark for the Champagne region in terms of the heat, drought and sunshine levels.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Côte des Blancs cru & the northern part of Montagne de Reims.
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay,
Lees Ageing: 4 years
Base vintage: 2018
Disgorged: June 2023
Dosage: 10 g/l
Drink: Now to 2035

Tasting Note: Subtle floral notes of jasmine and acacia are harmoniously combined with delicate grades of linden. Astounding freshness and complexity. Aromas of citrus and white fruits (fresh apple), leading to a perfectly balanced finish with subtle flavors of yellow grapefruit.