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Wine Description
The Story
A perfect complement to the House’s trilogy of vintage wines, Sublime Réserve is a dry (30 g/litre) Blanc de Blancs specifically deve- loped to accompany haute cuisine.
100% Chardonnay. First press juice of mainly Grand and Premier Cru Chardonnay grapes.
vinification
Vinified using traditional methods to avoid premature oxidation. A portion of the wine is produced without malolactic fermentation, and without the use of wooden barrels in order to preserve its overall natural freshness and improve the aging potential. The dosage of 30 g/litre does not mask the wine's character or pleasant acidity.
aging
Aged for 6 to 8 years in order to obtain the characteristic roundness of old Chardonnay wines. This aromatically rich wine retains its natural acidity, thereby avoiding any heaviness.
Wine Information
Sublime Réserve was specially created for gastronomical occasions when Brut Champagne proves too dry. Its quality stems from the chosen base wine rather than the sweetness of the dosage.
Made from pure 2002 Chardonnay coming from Premier and Grand Cru, it is dosed as sec (30 gr/l) and has matured on its lees in our cellars between 6 to 7 years.
Sublime Réserve is perfectly suited to accompany sweeter dishes like Foie Gras and light desserts (iced nougat, light creams).
Blend:
Pure Cuvée (first pressing) of Premier and Grand Cru Chardonnay.
Wine making:
Traditional, a portion of the blend is not subjected to malo-lactic fermentation in order to preserve more freshness and to increase the potential for keeping the wine. It is dosed at 30 g/l in order not to overwhelm the character of the wine and its pleasant acidity.
Ageing:
After more than sufficient ageing in our own cellars, Sublime Réserve 2002 can be kept for at least 5 years after disgorgement in an adequate environment (cool and dark) during which it will evolve towards more roundness and honey-like flavors and aromas.
Storing and service:
Sublime Réserve 2002 is now ready to drink but it will improve and gain fullness for the next 2 or 3 years if stored properly in a cool and dark cellar.
Wine & Food Pairing:
This great Champagne has been specifically produced with gastronomy in mind. It should be served cool (8-10°C) with such sweeter dishes as Foie Gras, meat or poultry cooked with dried or fresh fruit (prune, apricot, peach); sweet and sour oriental cooking, pastry, fruit tarts, nougat...
Vintage 2002
A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.
