Description
Champagne Renaudin, Premier Cru “L’Espiegle” MAGNUM
If you were a subscriber last year, I know you remember today’s monstrous stunner. These ’96 Premier Cru Champagne magnums went down as one of the fastest sellouts in SommSelect history, and for good reason: Given the combination of (legendary) vintage, (perfect) provenance, and (insane) price, this is among the shrewdest wine purchases you can make. The only difference between today’s offer and last year’s? These are STILL resting on their lees, in their estate’s cellar, waiting to be disgorged—that’s 24 years of slow, cool, undisturbed maturation. Unless your mode of transportation requires a helipad, no one gets to drink ‘96 Champagne whenever they want, let alone a magnum of it.
This legendary vintage has been inscribed in the annals of all-time greats and was accordingly met with incendiary demand upon release. Few have survived. But Champagne Renaudin had a trick up its sleeve—namely, stashing aways a small trove of magnums in the dark recesses of their cellar, away from the public’s outstretched hands. More recently, they’ve been disgorging these vinous titans on order, just a few magnums at time, for private consumption and/or cherished clients. You read that right—today’s 24-year-old giant is still resting in the cellars of Renaudin, awaiting your purchase. Once we send them your orders, the champagnes will finally be disgorged and shipped to us. I can’t think of any other producer who is releasing something of this magnitude: These magnums are like gold dust; they deliver a rich and profoundly savory drinking experience; and they’re bound to draw everyone’s attention, from novice to connoisseur.
[NOTE: Today’s wine is only available as a pre-offer and is being disgorged on order from the cellars of Renaudin, so please allow several months for arrival. These magnums are ineligible for “Build-a-Case” and should not be combined with any other orders. Free Ground Shipping on one magnum and up.]
Curious about the peculiar writing that wraps around the neck of the bottle? Renaudin originally planned to disgorge these during the end of 1999 to celebrate the new millennium. And, in a nod towards the colorful cultures around the globe, they etched “2000” in a number of different variations. When it came time, a small batch was left behind and untouched until today.
Although it has passed through many hands and been rebuilt, Renaudin upholds the traditions of an ancient noble estate (Château de Conardins) that was first established in 1724, making it one of the oldest enterprises in all of Champagne. Today, they own 24 hectares—mostly Premier Cru Chardonnay—that are spread throughout villages in the Coteaux Sud d’Épernay and the Côte des Blancs. Most of their crop is sold off to the blue-chip houses, but a small portion does remain in-house for personal production.
Their 1996 comes from 100% Premier Cru Chardonnay vines and was fermented in a combination of stainless steel and neutral barrels for eight months. Malolactic was avoided, but they did continuously stir the lees to add more texture to the acid-driven ‘96 vintage. Upon bottling in magnums in April of 1997, the wines have remained unmoved. The few magnums that remain will be disgorged upon order and dosed with approximately six grams of sugar.
A couple of things to keep in mind: (1) magnums mature slower since there is more liquid and less oxygen; (2) the few ‘96 Champagnes that still remain on the market and/or are in the possession of collectors will have oxidative qualities since they have long been disgorged and removed from their lees—which acts as a preservative. So, what you’re getting in today’s late recently disgorged magnum are the inimitable qualities of this blockbuster vintage in its most pristine form. The wine reveals a dazzling yellow-gold core that shimmers with silver hues. Within moments, jaw-dropping notes of yellow apple, grilled peaches, pineapple, Mirabelle plum, lemon curd, honey, acacia, crushed almonds, Bosc pear, crushed chalk, and nuanced spices unfurl from the glass. It’s a richly layered Champagne that builds with the powerful acidity of ‘96 and the seductive profile of world-class Chardonnay. Because it spent so long on its lees, it’s near impossible to correctly identify this as a 24-year-old wine but quite simple to label it as one of the finest wine experiences out there. Further, there’s no rush to consume this: it was still firing on day three (with a Champagne stopper), and if choosing not to open your bottle, it will survive another decade. What a wine!!! If you’re splurging on Renaudin’s extraordinary ‘96 magnum, keep it going with a visit to your local market for some fresh caviar. Cheers!
