Winemaker Notes
Blanc Singulier Edition 18 is composed of 100% chardonnay from 80% of wines from the harvest in 2018 and 20% of reserve wines. It is made mainly from about twenty vintages, from the Côte des Blancs but also from the Montagne de Reims, the Coteaux d'Epernay and Sézannais.The wine’s colour is a clear, bright golden yellow with subtle green highlights.The aromatic profile reveals juicy and sweet fruit notes reminiscent of white peach, mirabelle plum, and exotic fruits. Accompanying these fruity aromas are hints of yellow citrus fruits with candied peel, adding a touch of brightness. Delicate floral scents, particularly honeysuckle, lend a honeyed and inviting character. Subtle hints of aromatic herbs like pine, sage, and rosemary contribute to the aromatic complexity. As the scent evolves, gentle undertones of blond sugar, vanilla, and subtle brioche-like pastry notes emerge, complemented by a delicate touch of fresh almonds.The initial taste sensation is vibrant and lively, swiftly transitioning into a rounded and robust texture. This remarkable mouthfeel imparts a unique sense of expansiveness to the wine. It conveys a delightful impression of substance, offering flavors of ripe peach, pear, and hints of candied lemon, with the subtle presence of their velvety skins. The wine's impressive length is accompanied by enticing spicy notes, culminating in a harmonious finish of delicate vanilla nuances.
Professional Ratings
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Tasting Panel
Composed of 100% Chardonnay wines primarily from the very warm 2018 vintage (80%), this fascinating brut nature-cre- ated, according to the tech sheet, "to bear witness to the impact of climate change on Champagne"-commands the intersection between boldness and finesse. Scents of yuzu, white peach, and honey are dashed with salt, then flecked with fennel and vanilla. Between high-flying acidity and a mouthfeel with depth come flavors of lemon bar and stone fruit nectarine, yellow plum-plus a hint of green tomato, all swirling toward an exciting finish laced with frangi- pane
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Jeb Dunnuck
A more intense and gastronomic expression compared to the classic Blanc de Blanc of the range, the NV Champagne Blanc Singulier Edition 18 Brut Nature is entirely Chardonnay and is based on 2018, with the addition of 20% reserve wine from 2017 and 2016, with zero dosage added. It pours a bright pale yellow color and is fresh with aromas of ripe pear, citrus blossoms, and wet stone. Medium-bodied, it’s pithy in texture, with a rounded mousse and a bit of yeasty bread dough on the finish. As it opens in the glass, it takes on very nicely layered aromas that are well-balanced.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The NV Blanc Singulier from Ruinart reveals a delicately citrusy bouquet with aromas of spring flowers, almonds, honeysuckle and ripe orchard fruits. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny and textured with bright acids and a lively core of fruit that finishes long and mouthwatering. With no dosage, this Blanc de Blancs is crafted with 80% of the 2018 vintage and 20% of reserve wines.
A term typically reserved for Champagne and Sparkling Wines, non-vintage or simply “NV” on a label indicates a blend of finished wines from different vintages (years of harvest). To make non-vintage Champagne, typically the current year’s harvest (in other words, the current vintage) forms the base of the blend. Finished wines from previous years, called “vins de reserve” are blended in at approximately 10-50% of the total volume in order to achieve the flavor, complexity, body and acidity for the desired house style. A tiny proportion of Champagnes are made from a single vintage.
There are also some very large production still wines that may not claim one particular vintage. This would be at the discretion of the winemaker’s goals for character of the final wine.
Associated with luxury, celebration, and romance, the region, Champagne, is home to the world’s most prized sparkling wine. In order to bear the label, ‘Champagne’, a sparkling wine must originate from this northeastern region of France—called Champagne—and adhere to strict quality standards. Made up of the three towns Reims, Épernay, and Aÿ, it was here that the traditional method of sparkling wine production was both invented and perfected, birthing a winemaking technique as well as a flavor profile that is now emulated worldwide.
Well-drained, limestone and chalky soil defines much of the region, which lend a mineral component to its wines. Champagne’s cold, continental climate promotes ample acidity in its grapes but weather differences from year to year can create significant variation between vintages. While vintage Champagnes are produced in exceptional years, non-vintage cuvées are produced annually from a blend of several years in order to produce Champagnes that maintain a consistent house style.
With nearly negligible exceptions, . These can be blended together or bottled as individual varietal Champagnes, depending on the final style of wine desired. Chardonnay, the only white variety, contributes freshness, elegance, lively acidity and notes of citrus, orchard fruit and white flowers. Pinot Noir and its relative Pinot Meunier, provide the backbone to many blends, adding structure, body and supple red fruit flavors. Wines with a large proportion of Pinot Meunier will be ready to drink earlier, while Pinot Noir contributes to longevity. Whether it is white or rosé, most Champagne is made from a blend of red and white grapes—and uniquely, rosé is often produce by blending together red and white wine. A Champagne made exclusively from Chardonnay will be labeled as ‘blanc de blancs,’ while ones comprised of only red grapes are called ‘blanc de noirs.’