Ruinart Dom Ruinart 1998 (Sparkling)

Ruinart, the longest established champagne house, was founded in 1729. It is based in Reims and currently part of the LVMH group. At the time of Louis XIV, one Dom Thierry Ruinart (1657-1709), a Benedictine monk from Champagne, was working in the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés in Paris. Here, he became aware of worldly society and the "bubbling wine" that was all the rage with young aristocrats. He inspired his brother and nephew, who were still living in Champagne, to start producing this wine. 20 years after his death (in 1729), his nephew Nicolas Ruinart founded the eponymous champagne house – the very first in history. Maison Ruinart owns some fantastic chalk tunnels which it uses as cellars and have UNESCO world heritage status. The house remained a family-run business for almost two centuries before entering the LVMH fold. However, it has retained its independence and kept its own unique style, nurtured by the cellar master Frédéric Panaïotis. With their high Chardonnay content, the champagnes are delicately mineral, and often have some chalky notes and a fruity and floral aromatic palette. Their very light character makes for a particularly good aperitif. The house has also wisely refreshed its white and rose Dom Ruinart prestige cuvées. The vineyards are located primarily on the Montagne de Reims and complemented by supplies from a few other very selective areas. Ruinart is unquestionably one of the most famous champagnes in the world.

In most champagnes, the Chardonnay accounts for only one quarter or one third of the blend, the rest is usually composed of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Ruinart develops a prestige cuvee, "Dom Ruinart", with an exclusive blend of Chardonnay. For Ruinart, time does not count: the wines made with Chardonnay have indeed the slowest change of all Champagne grapes when bottled. The "Chardonnay policy" practiced by this estate requires an exceptional nine years maturing on average for a Dom Ruinart. Its colour is a bright yellow gold with extremely fine bubbles that are expressed by a thin and tenacious cord. The flavours are marked by complex notes of dried fruit, linden and hawthorn, full of finesse. Nervous, with lots of freshness and finesse, Dom Ruinart is a perfectly balanced luxury cuvee.

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