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Lanson is a French wine house with a rich history. Champagne of this brand is distinguished by its own unique style. The production does not use malolactic fermentation, which suppresses natural acidity, so the wines are distinguished by a fresh fruity taste and a complex aromatic bouquet. The brand belongs to the Lanson-BCC group of companies, one of the major producers of champagne.
Historical information
The wine house Lanson was founded by Justice of the Peace François Delamotte in 1760. Together with his wife, he owned vineyards in Cumier and Ay, where they grew grapes suitable for the production of champagne. The enterprise was built in the city of Reims in the western part of Champagne. Over time, the family business passed to the son of the owner, Nicolas, who was a knight of Malta and added the emblem of the Order, an eight-pointed cross, to the wine label. The company still uses this symbol today.
In 1798, Delamotte entered into a partnership agreement with his longtime friend Jean-Baptiste Lanson, and then retired altogether. After his death, the company was renamed Lanson et Cie, and the owners began to actively promote their products to international markets. The Lansons managed to conclude an agency contract with the English firm Percy Fox, thanks to which the champagne of the wine house occupied a leading position in the UK market for a hundred years.
The company grew and developed, and at the beginning of the XNUMXth century became a supplier to the royal houses of Great Britain, Spain and Sweden. In the Principality of Monaco, Lanson was the only brand to receive such a high title. In honor of this event, the wine house has developed a special bottle design in the colors of the country’s flag.
In 1980, the Lanson family sold the business. Then the company changed owners frequently, and in 2006 it became part of the Boizel-Chanoine Group, which shortly thereafter became known as Lanson-BCC. The products of the wine house are most actively sold in the UK, part of the champagne comes out under private labels.
Production features
By the early 70s, the company owned vineyards, the rating of which reached 96% according to the previously used Echelle classification. This figure is considered one of the highest in France. The production uses grape varieties traditional for champagne: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
Raw materials from different vineyards undergo primary fermentation separately, the total number of fermentation tanks is 103. Then the tasters take samples and classify the wines according to taste and aroma. The aging period of champagne on the lees is at least three years, the total length of the cellars is 6 km. Some of the processes at the plant are mechanized, but elite varieties are still processed manually.
Awards
Gold medals:
- Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2003, Бельгия;
- Sydney International Wine Competition 2006, Australia.
Silver medals:
- Vinalies Internationales 2006, France;
- International Wine Challenge 2007, Китай;
- Decanter World Wine Awards 2008, UK.
Bronze medals:
- Japan Wine Challenge 2007, Japan;
- Decanter World Wine Awards 2009, UK;
- International Wine Challenge 2009, Китай.
Interesting Facts
- The company pays a lot of attention to product design. Bottles intended for the British royal house are wrapped in special envelopes made in the form of a national flag. Lanson champagne invariably accompanies receptions in honor of significant events – from the Queen’s anniversary to the opening of the Olympics.
- For its subsidiary Boizel, Lanson technologists have developed champagne in the style of the Russian Empire. The wine is called “Tsaritsa”, a double-headed eagle flaunts on the label, and the shape of the bottle resembles the dome of St. Basil’s Cathedral.
Types of champagne Lanzon
Lanson, Black Label Brut, 12,5%
The blend consists of a dozen wines with different aging periods. After bottling, champagne is stored for at least three years, and after removing the sediment, it is kept for another 6 months. The drink is characterized by a fresh aroma of meadow flowers and herbs. The taste is full and at the same time light, with a predominance of white and citrus fruits.
Lanson, Rose Label Brut Rose, 12,5%
Champagne appeared in the 50s and was one of the first wines in the now popular Rose style. Created from three grape varieties, 53% is Pinot Noir. The pale salmon-colored drink is saturated with very small bubbles of gas. The aroma is dominated by rose petals and red fruits. In a gentle and harmonious taste there are notes of pomegranate and strawberry.
Lanson, White Label, 12,5%
The blend is made in such a way as to emphasize the delicate aroma of the drink, which mixes the smells of flowers, raspberries and citrus fruits. The flavor bouquet is multifaceted: at the start there are white fruits, to which mineral and mint notes are then added. The white color of the bottle is intended to emphasize the fresh character of the champagne.
