30. ARMAND DE BRIGNAC
The success of Armand de Brignac, much of which has been the result of celebrity endorsement, is hard to ignore. Smart, some might say ostentatious, packaging – a spin-off from the world of fashion 
and design – has been an important part of it. As have big-format bottles, often opened in glitzy nightclubs by the rich and famous of the pop, fashion and sporting worlds. Rarity also plays a part, as in the release last November of the second Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs cuvée, just 2,333 bottles of which were created, each individually numbered. Each bottle also carries a disgorgement date.
The Cattier family which elaborates them is a serious producer based in the village of Chigny-les-Roses where it has been cultivating vines since 1650. Father and son winemaking team Jean-Jacques and Alexandre, were in London in September 2015 to show off the first Blanc de Noirs blend, an all Pinot Noir blend of Grands and Premier Crus from 2006, 2008 and 2009. For the Armand de Brignac range, they have adopted the same three-vintage blend approach as they use on the Cattier 2.2ha single vineyard Clos du Moulin.
Is it worth the price? Luxury stores such as Harrods in London, Neiman Marcus in the US and De Bijenkorf in Amsterdam, have been quick to see the possibilities.
