It’s Time For A Proper Introduction To One Of My ‘BFF’ Champagnes, Champagne Brimoncourt

I was lucky enough to meet with Champagne Brimoncourt Australian Brand Ambassador, François Crémière, a little while ago. And François offered me a tasting of the full range and gave me some inside info about the house and its champagnes that I just have to share with you.

With Champagne Brimoncourt Australian Brand Ambassador, François Crémière

Here’s what I learnt from François Crémière, Champagne Brimoncourt’s Australian Brand Ambassador…

• Fundamentally, Champagne Brimoncourt was founded on the idea of getting back to the original DNA of champagne, to a time when it was a light, joyful fun wine, that you’d drink with friends but not at all formal.
• The house was re-born in 2008 by Alexandre Cornot, a former lawyer and art collector who almost accidentally started a champagne house…
• After investing in a printing press (which printed champagne labels) at around the same time the long-dormant Brimoncourt champagne brand came up for sale.
• The printing press business was eventually sold but Cornot retained the building which is where he started making his new champagne.

What I love about this story is that it is totally non-traditional and well… a bit bold!

Bold was my first reaction to trying the Brut Régence (80% chardonnay is a really different blend from the main-stream brands we’re used to) long before François told me the story. And I love and totally relate to Alexandre not having a conventional background in wine or champagne… because neither do I. There is no Masters of Wine or Vin de Champagne entries hidden under my cap which I think brings a different perspective.

And I can feel that in Brimoncourt too… Champagne Brimoncourt deliberately cultivates a tension between the modern and the traditional. They think of champagne as a short and refreshing moment of entertainment, used to celebrate the everyday and as being a wine of fun and lightness.

When I asked François Crémière for what occasion he’d pop a bottle of Brimoncourt, he said “from breakfast, every day and every moment’.

Who doesn’t love champagne with breakfast????

So… let’s look at these wines!

Their overall style is for no oak and low dosage to focus on the champagne flavour. Currently there are four non-vintage champagnes in the range and I have links below to my full notes on each…

Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence

Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc de blancs

Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé and

Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut (my fave!)

They are looking to explore more styles and expand when the time and the style is right.

The Chardonnay comes from the best villages of the Côtes des Blancs (Avize, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Chouilly…) and the Pinots from the Montagne de Reims and the Marne Valley (Aÿ, Hautvillers, Mailly-Champagne, Avenay, Bouzy).

The wines actually pay homage – in both name and branding – to Louis XV. The cuvee Brut Régence (the Régence era was the period of time when Louis XV was a minor before coming of age and enjoying the second longest reign of any French Monarch – from 1715 till 1774) and in the label (below) of the Extra Brut is a design of the garden at Versailles.

Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence

Blend – The Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence is dominated by Chardonnay – 80% chardonnay and 20% pinot noir.

Dosage 6g/l

Time on lees 3-4 years

In a word (my word)… BOLD

My moment or mood… this is a steadfast staple in my fridge Spring through to early Autumn when friends drop by, or just because it’s a day that ends in Y and I feel like a champs. Pre-dinner with cheese = perfection.

Read my full champagne chat about the Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Regence here.

You can buy the Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Regence from Emperor Champagne online for $85 or selected Vintage Cellars for $85.

Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc de blancs

Blend – Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc de blancs is 100% chardonnay from 8 crus : Avize, Vertus, Oger, Grauves, Le Mesnil sur Oger, VillersMarmery, Cuis and Chouilly (About 90% Grand Cru according to François)

Dosage 6-7g/l

Time on lees 4 years

In a word (my word)… Floral and fresh (OK so it’s two words!)

My moment or mood…To start with, it’s SUMMER. And there is probably water nearby (beach or pool). This is perfect for an Aussie Christmas seafood feast. You can pop a bottle of the Brut Regence from Brimoncourt first and work your way up to the blanc de blancs with your prawns and scallops, bugs and fresh lobster.

Read my full champagne chat about the Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc de Blancs here. 

You can buy the Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc de blancs from Emperor Champagne online for $89 or selected Vintage Cellars for $86.

Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé

Blend – Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé is 35% Chardonnay for elegance and finesse, 40% Pinot Noir for structure and colour and 25% Pinot Meunier for fruity aromas with 17% blended still red wine according to François.

Dosage 8g/l

Time on lees 4 years

In a word (my word)… Sensual and juicy (I am not very good at using just one word!)

My moment or mood… It is a delightful attack on the senses which I would pair with a charcuterie platter on a self-indulgent Saturday night in.

Read my full champagne chat about the Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé here. 

You can buy the Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé from Emperor Champagne online for $93.

Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut 

Blend – Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut is 80% Pinot noir and 20% Chardonnay, from six villages classified as Grand Cru (Aÿ, Ambonnay, Bouzy, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant).

Dosage 2g/l

Time on lees 5 years

In a word (my word)… I’m home (OK two words, again!). This is actually my fave of the Brimoncourt range… no surprise as I am a pinot lover from way back.

My moment or mood… An exceptional way to learn about the differences in champagne.  I love serving it alongside the Brut Régence because the blend is exactly the opposite and it is a really clear way to learn to pick chardonnay from pinot notes in a champagne and to tell brut from extra brut.

Read my full champagne chat about the Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut here. 

You can buy the Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut from selected Vintage Cellars for $110.

I’ve listed Champagne Brimoncourt  in a bunch of my top fives, so by now you might know I’m a big fan… #ICYMI check these out below…

And again those links to the full notes for each cuvee…

Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Régence

Champagne Brimoncourt Blanc de blancs

Champagne Brimoncourt Brut Rosé and

Champagne Brimoncourt Extra Brut (my fave!)

Santé

Marnie

Let me know what you think of Champagne Brimoncourt! Have you met François Crémière in your champagne travels? Make sure you post a pic and tag @bubbleandflute #bubbleandflute #happychamper #champagnefan 

Wine tasting is a subjective and personal experience. What I smell and taste will be different to what you smell and taste. It doesn’t make either of us right or wrong but I enjoy sharing my experience and would love to hear yours. Even if you respectfully and totally disagree with me!

Prices are a guide at time of writing.