Armand de Brignac "Ace of Spades" Brut Champagne

SKU #1030627 95 points Decanter

This is a three-way assemblage: three grape varieties – and equal percentage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with 20% of Pinot Meunier – and a blend of 3 vintages, 2009, 2010 and 2012. The nose is full of flavours and rich with notes of white flowers and crème patissière. However, the palate is crisp, fresh and delicate with a lovely creamy texture. It is elegant, refined and very stylish (unlike the bottle!). It’s a pleasant combination of power and concentration blended with finesse and elegance. While the dosage is 9g/l, it feels much drier, more like a 5g/l and this probably due to the spinal cord of acidity. (CG) (11/2016)

93 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Tasted from magnum (the 750-milliliter bottle costs $285), the NV Brut (Gold) opens with lovely matured brioche, toast and ripe fruit flavors. Fresh, pure and elegant on the palate, with beautifully matured flavors and an elegant creaminess I don't find in the other cuvées, the "Gold" is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier as well as the vintages of 2009, 2010 and 2012. The wine reveals good grip and mineral tension and drinks well as an aperitif or with seafood and fish. Tasted from L09B8, April 2018. (SR) (6/2018)

92 points Wine Spectator

An elegant, creamy Champagne, with pretty apple blossom and spice notes leading to finely meshed flavors of ripe white cherry, whole-grain toast and spun honey, framed by fresh, citrusy acidity. Drink now through 2021. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. (AN) (11/2017)

91 points Wine Enthusiast

A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, this ripe, well-balanced wine has some toast that adds complexity and richness to the apple and lemon fruit, indicating a mature bottling. The wine in a gold-foil bottle is one of five made by the Cattier house for rapper and entrepreneur Jay Z's Armand de Brignac Empire brand with the 'Ace of Spades' logo. (RV) (12/2016)

K&L Notes

This is the highly sought-after ultra-luxury cuvée made by Cattier. It is packaged in a gold bottle with a pewter playing card, a spade and an A, instead of a label, giving rise to the nickname "Ace of Spades." It is a favorite of many musicians as evidenced by its appearance in celebrity circles and music videos. Take your cue from Jay-Z, and pop open a bottle of this bubbly, made exclusively from Premier and Grand Cru-rated villages in three different terroirs: Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, and Côte des Blancs. It is a blend of 40% Chardonnay, 40%, Pinot Noir, and 20% Pinot Meunier. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne buyer)