Champagne house Ruinart has launched Dom Ruinart 2004, the latest vintage of its prestige Blanc de Blancs cuvee. This exceptional vintage pays tribute to Dom Thierry Ruinart, the visionary who founded the House. This rare wine, from vineyards that are among the most beautiful in Champagne, offers a remarkable tasting experience. Dom Ruinart 2004 is a luminous yellow with pale green reflections. It has a fine but persistent effervescence. This vintage’s nose reveals the sweet, gentle notes of chestnut, coconut and fresh bread. This biscuity side to the wine very quickly gives way to the aromas of flowers (iris, lily-of-the-valley and the flowers of Seville orange trees) and citrus fruits (bergamot and citron). Just beneath the surface several mineral (wet rock and flint) and iodised saline notes make their appearance.
On the palate this vintage is initially direct but silky, sustained by mineral notes. The ephemeral nature of the Dom Ruinart 2004 is then revealed through citrus fruit freshness with touches of gentian. The very long finish is characterised by grapefruit and kumquat zest notes with just the slingthest hints of salinity. The ephemeral, delicate structure of this vintage combined with outstanding freshness, typical of the House, offers the potential to complement very sophisticated dishes such as sea bream ceviche Peruvian style, or a lobster carpaccio with lemon caviar and coriander oil. The Dom Ruinart 2004 would further benefit from cellar ageing to be enjoyed following several years’ maturation. It will then complement dishes with more intense flavours.
Dom Ruinart 2004 is made entirely of Chardonnay Grands Crus: 69 percent from the Côte des Blancs (predominantly from Chouilly, Avize and Le Mesnil) and 31 percent from the northern slope of the Montagne de Reims (predominantly Sillery and Puisieulx). This is a perfect combination giving this vintage its ephemeral, delicate structure.
