2006 marks the unveiling of Armand de Brignac in the stunning gold bottle originally developed by Cattier for the André Courrèges fashion house. Cattier's gold bottle also made an appearance at Queen Elizabeth II of England's Golden Jubilee celebration. All labels for each bottle of Armand de Brignac are made of real pewter, polished and applied by hand. Each bottle is packaged in a black embroidered velvet bag, which completes a package that speaks to the quality of the Armand de Brignac Champagne and the care taken with each step of its realization.

Tasting notes

Bright gold with a strong bead. Highly perfumed bouquet displays pear, nectarine, honeysuckle and sweet butter, plus an undercurrent of spice, ginger and lemon pith adding energy. Fleshy pit fruit and soft citrus flavors provide very good palate coverage and offer pungent spice and candied floral qualities on the back end. Nervy minerality adds lift and cut to the long, gently smoky and subtly sweet finish, which leaves candied orange peel and floral notes behind.

Review

94 Points - Wine & Spirits: "Bright gold with a strong bead. Highly perfumed bouquet displays pear, nectarine, honeysuckle and sweet butter, plus an undercurrent of spice, ginger and lemon pith adding energy. Fleshy pit fruit and soft citrus flavors provide very good palate coverage and offer pungent spice and candied floral qualities on the back end. Nervy minerality adds lift and cut to the long, gently smoky and subtly sweet finish, which leaves candied orange peel and floral notes behind."

Wine maker notes

Armand de Brignac is marvelously complex and full-bodied, with a bouquet that is both fresh and lively. Its sumptuous, racy fruit character is perfectly integrated with the wine's subtle brioche accents. Its texture is deliciously creamy and the palate has great depth and impact with a long and silky finish. A superb and singular example of a Prestige Champagne.

Other text

"The refinement of the bubbles and impeccable pale color brought James Bond to mind for one taster, "the new Bond, the blond Bond." The comment generated a flurry of critical reviews from the panelists: "This is more Timothy Dalton: polished, looks good, but doesn't have a lot to say." "This is more like Gregory Peck: It has nothing to prove." "Burt Lancaster in A Wild Thing." "Clooney on ER before he got polished..." This is a bold and powerful wine that holds its balance. Driven by scents of brioche and chalk, along with intense acidity, it should develop well with several years of bottle age."