Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 1996 - Magnum

The prestige cuvée of Champagne Ruinart, Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs is a Grand Cru only, pure-Chardonnay blend. With grapes sourced predominantly from the Côte des Blancs, this cuvée is a firm and muscular champagne with a reductive style that rewards patience if left in the cellar. The 1998 vintage, originally considered very good, has continuously been reappraised over the years and as a consequence is now considered an excellent vintage, producing champagnes with incredible ageing potential.

Weather: The 1998 vintage shows all the hallmarks of a truly outstanding year. The features of the vintage were a high natural sugar content in the grapes and an excellent level of acidity, indicating an exceptional overall balance and long ageing potential.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 12 years on the lees
Disgorged: 2010
Dosage: 6.5 g/l
Drink: Now to 2026

Tasting Note: Fine bubble and hints of citrus fruit on the nose. On the palate this champagne is quite rich: a very expressive and complex wine. Intense on the mid-palate and with very good length, this is still very youthful - especially from magnum.

The magnums are stunning: something happens with champagne aged in magnum, their evolution slows and it's like a little magic is sprinkled. Factors come into play that we can't always explain and what was a superbly rich champagne seems even more developed and complex. If you enjoy Dom Ruinart, you have to experience the same champagne in magnum. It's differently amazing.