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Viinin Kuvailu
The Story
The blend is 80% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards, with 75% coming from the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Chouilly, LeMesnil-sur-Oger, and Oger) and 25% from the Montagne de Reims (Sillery and Verzenay); ther emaining 20% is composed of Pinot Noir made into red wine, from the only Grand Cru vineyardin Aÿ.
Vinification:
- Wine characteristics for the year in Champagne
- Potential alcohol: 9.3° for Chardonnay, 9.5° for Pinot Noir
- Total acidity: 8.6g H2SO4/l (average for all grape varieties combined)
- Harvest by hand
- Alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks
- Malolactic fermentation
- Dosage: 5g/l
Wine Information
Dom Ruinart rosé 1998
The sublime expression of the Ruinart Taste
VINTAGE - BLEND - VINIFICATION
After the extravagance of 1996, Champagne had a more classically balanced vintage in 1998.
Following a variable summer, sunny weather from mid-September onwards made it possible to
harvest very good quality grapes combining maturity, freshness and healthy fruit.
The blend was made using 85% Grand Cru Chardonnay, 66% of this from the Côtes des Blancs(Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger) and 34% from the Montagne de Reims (Sillery, Puisieulx,Verzenay), and 15% Pinot Noir made into red wine from the Sillery and Verzenay crus.
Vinification:
• Characteristics for the year in Champagne:
- Alcohol: 9.8° GL
- Total acidity: 8.1 g H2SO4/l
• Hand picked
• Fermentation in temperature-regulated stainless steel fermenters (18 - 20°C)
• Full malolactic fermentation
• For the red wine, “Burgundy” vinification with daily “pigeage” (treading of grapes in open tanks)
• Dosage: 5 g/l
TASTING NOTES
A luminous, soft rosé with golden pink reflections, freckled with coral shades that will become more prominent with maturity.
Aromatically, it expresses an elegant mixture of rose and geranium floral character and along
with Mirabelle, and red plums, forest fruits and redcurrants. The superb maturity of the vintage becomes apparent several minutes later with warmer notes of cream and fruit jam, white chocolate and preserved grapefruit, all enhanced with a touch of honey.
On the palate, the complementary nature of the grape varieties and originality in blending Dom
Ruinart Rosé is expressed exceptionally. The Chardonnay emerges first, soft, precise and delicate.
The finish is beautifully structured and powerful, allowing the pinot noir to express itself. Aromas of pink grapefruit and sweet rhubarb lingers, leaving a refreshing and savoury note.
FROM FLUTE TO PLATE
1998 Dom Ruinart Rosé is extremely generous in flavour, and may be enjoyed with rich and complex dishes such as king prawns marinated with coriander, or veal cutlets and caramelised sweetbreads served with braised artichokes and chanterelle mushrooms.
Wine lovers should consider keeping it for several years in their cellars to allow it to reach optimum maturity, just like its illustrious ancestors, the 1996, 1990 and 1986 vintages.
Vuosikerta 1998
This year's harvest is the largest the region has ever seen. Every corner of the appellation has managed to achieve the maximum authorized harvest yield of 10,400 kilos of grapes per hectare. Producers were also allowed to harvest an additional 2,600 kg which was allocated to the Champagne reserve, called blocking. This led to 330 million bottles of champagne being made in total. The lock-in system (which allows more production than necessary to meet demand) was the main tool for maintaining a stable price level in the 1990s.
