Limited Edition. Price £475.00. SOME OF THE BEST CORDON ROUGE VINTAGES FROM THE LAST 30 YEARS Collection du Chef de Caves Re-releasing a limited quantity of magnums of the celebrated Cordon Rouge Millésimes of 1985, 1990 and 1996 from a brand new Collection du Chef de Caves. The entire Collection includes magnums of the best vintages from the last 30 years that have been kept in perfect conditions in the cellars at Mumm in Reims, enabling the House to track its oenological history. The decision to re-release small quantities of three vintages at a time, when they are considered by Cellar Master Didier Mariotti to showing one aspect of the vintage particularly well, will showcase the consistency and ageing potential of Mumm Vintage Champagnes. Each magnum has been given a light dosage of just 4g/l to let the true characteristics of the wine shine through. The new Collection du Chef de Caves will enable the House to share some of its finest mature vintages with Champagne connoisseurs across the world. Each magnum within the initial release will carry a bespoke label inspired by the historical look and feel of the famous Cordon Rouge Millésime bottle of the 1980s. With the back labels personally signed by Didier Mariotti and featuring the date of disgorgement, the magnums will be presented in an authentic antique-white wooden gift box. The Collection du Chef de Caves will be available in prestige retailers and top restaurants in France, the UK, Singapore, Italy, Spain and Switzerland. The 1985 Vintage: The 1985 vintage has been heralded as one of the classic vintages of the 1980s in Champagne. Despite a very cold winter, that saw temperatures plummet to -30°C, and a challenging spring, the summer of 1985 was warm and very sunny helping to produce a good crop of perfectly healthy grapes with an ideal balance between fruitiness and acidity, so good that the Cellar Master at the time compared it to the grand vintages of 1979 and 1975. At the time, 1985 became the 43rd vintage of the Champagne Maison Mumm in its one and a half century’s history. 30 years later, this magnum of 1985 was taken out of the cellars and staged in this brand new Collection du Chef de Caves. At the peak of its evolution, it reveals its complexity in aroma and its well-rounded, full-bodied character in the palate. Tasting Notes: The 1985 vintage has a luminous golden robe with lingering fine bubbles. Rich and complex, yet still very fresh. With aromas of citrus fruit, dried orange peel, coffee, nuts and spices are undercut by a distinctive flinty minerality. On the palate the wine is still very lively and fresh, but with perfect balance and a beautiful long finish. Food Pairing: An excellent wine of gastronomy, the Collection du Chef de caves magnum can accompany the most refined and avant-garde cuisines that reflects the spirits of the Maison Mumm. The degustation of the Millésimé is recommended with brittany Dublin Bay prawn in fine aspic or blue lobster and côteaux Champenois extraction. Arnaud Lallement, 3 star chef. Crafting: 75% of Pinot Noir compose the assemblage in 1985 as the quality of the Pinots was oustanding, the remaining 25% comes from the Chardonnay. This vintage has been given a light dosage of just 4g/l to let the true characteristics of the wine shine through. THE LAUNCH VINTAGES The 1985 vintage has been heralded as one of the classic vintages of the 1980s in Champagne. Despite a very cold winter, that saw temperatures plummet to -30°C, and a challenging spring, the summer of 1985 was warm and very sunny helping to produce a good crop of perfectly healthy grapes. Mariotti comments: “We used 75% Pinot Noir in the assemblage in 1985, as the quality of the Pinots was outstanding. When you taste the wines now, the mature Pinot aromas and flavours are extraordinary. The nose and palate are rich and complex, yet still very fresh. Aromas of citrus fruit, dried orange peel, coffee, nuts and spices are undercut by a distinctive flinty minerality. On the palate the wine is still very lively and fresh, but with perfect balance and a beautiful long finish.” 1990 WAS ALSO CONSIDERED TO BE A CLASSIC CHAMPAGNE VINTAGE The final in a trio of ‘great vintages’ at the end of the 1980s. Yields were low in 1990 because of the late spring frosts, and following a very hot and dry July, the grapes reached very high levels of natural sugar, but with a fairly low acidity level. However, the Pinot Noirs again were outstanding, particularly from the key crus for Mumm in the Montagne de Reims: Verzenay, Verzy, Bouzy, Ambonnay and Mailly. Mariotti comments: “Because of the quality of the Pinot Noirs in 1990 they dominated the cuvée accounting for 81% of the assemblage. This comes through strongly in the wine now, which is very intense and beautifully evolved. The nose is dominated by aromas of dried fruits and fruit compote, in particular dates, nougat, acacia honey, caramel and raisin. An attractive vinous quality on the palate leads to a long rounded finish.” CORDON ROUGE 1996 WAS THE 50TH MILLÉSIME FROM MUMM The year produced grapes with both high natural potential alcohol and exceptionally high acidity. At the time many commentators were excited about the potential quality, but winemakers were more cautious, concerned that the acidity would overwhelm the final wines. However, with careful sourcing of grapes from those crus with the necessary power and structure to complement the high acidity, Mumm produced an outstanding vintage with the perfect balance between freshness and intensity. Mariotti comments: “We used just under 63% Pinot Noirs in the blend in 1996, particularly from Bouzy, Ambonnay and Aÿ, where the grapes are known for their power and dominant red fruit flavours. The resulting wine is now rich and smoky, with aromas of lemon zest, sirop baked plums and pears and hints of white tobacco. The mouth is racy and fresh, with good fruit and a very long finish, typical of the best wines from this vintage.” TIPS FROM DIDIER MARIOTTI, CELLAR MASTER Should the vintages in Cellar Master’s Collection be cellared longer? “We have kept these vintages for up to thirty years especially for you… Now they are yours! An essential part of our savoir-faire is being patient in conserving them for you. So my recommendation is that you enjoy them now. At the same time, if you are curious to see how they continue to evolve and have a good wine cellar, you certainly won’t regret it. You’ll find that these wines will continue to get even better, surprising you with new notes that that express additional aspects of their remarkable character.” Why the magnum format? “Magnum sizes are best for long-term ageing. Magnum bottles are both refined and stylish, adding esthetic pleasure to the quality of the wines. These individually signed magnums attest to the passage of time, from vineyard to glass.”