Global Masters Wine of the Week: Champagne Rare 2006

Every week we select a wine that picked up either a Gold or Master from our competition series, and tell you why the judges loved it. Enter the Global Masters and this could be your wine.

The big day is just a week away now, so we thought it was high time to celebrate one of the fanciest bottles of fizz on the market to pick up a Master in this year’s competition series.

Thanks to a long ageing period (11 years on the lees), this is a wine full of complex aromas of grilled nuts and wood-smoke, along with a lemony lift imparted by Chardonnay from the house’s Avize, Oger, Villers-Marmery Grand Cru vineyards. On the palate, the nutty aromas translate to flavours of hazelnuts and honeyed toast while exotic fruits also make an appearance. The judges were impressed with the wine’s long finish, “racy” acidity, “crackling” mousse and overall “luxurious” feel. We’re big fans of the opulent bottle design, too.

Retailing at up to £190 per bottle, this is a wine to push the boat out on. Serve with the most expensive caviar you can get your hands on, or maybe just sip on its own for a truly unforgettable Christmas treat. Happy tidings, indeed.

The wine: Champagne Rare 2006

The source: Champagne, France

The grape(s): Chardonnay (70%), Pinot Noir (30%)

Vintage: 2006

ABV: 12%

Dosage: 8.5g/l

The style: A pristine, complex, distinguished brut full of toasty aromas and exotic fruit that finishes with a citrus zest freshness.

The winemaker/cellarmaster: Régis Camus

The price: £190, you can find it at Selfridges for £195, or between £180 and £186 at The Finest Bubble, depending on how many you need…

The medal: Master – The Champagne Masters, 2019

With high quality judges and a unique sampling process, the Global Wine Masters provides a chance for your wines to star, whether they hail from the great vineyards of Europe or lesser-known corners of the New World.

It’s a competition dedicated to making winners out of winemakers.

Please visit the Global Masters website for more information, or please call +44 (0)20 7803 2420 or email Sophie Raichura at: sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com