”Two warm bodies and one cold bottle of Champagne will produce something more wonderful than would happen without the Champagne." (Helen Gurley Brown)

Fine Champagne is indeed a wonderful thing and it doesn’t get much better than the superb range of bubbly produced by Champagne Forget-Brimont. Michel Forget is the sixth generation Forget to follow the family’s wine-making tradition. Louis Forget created his vineyard at the beginning of the nineteenth century and Eugène established the family label in 1920 (with a production of only a hundred bottles).

The fifteen hectares of Forget-Brimont vineyards are located in the terroirs of the Montagne de Reims (Mailly-Champagne and Verzenay - Grands Crus Pinot Noir), Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne (Premier Cru Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay). Michel Forget also buys Grand Cru Chardonnay for blending. Each year over 180,000 bottles leave the Forget cellars to help produce those wonderful things that happen for champagne fanciers around the world.

No question about it, the Forget-Brimont champagnes are all terrific. As well they should be. First, all the grapes come from premier and grand cru vineyards. Then, Michel Forget personally oversees absolutely every aspect of the creation of these meticulously crafted champagnes.

The Champagnes on Offer

We are thrilled to bring back the very popular Champagne Forget-Brimont 1er Cru Rosé Brut that has sold over twenty-thousand bottles at the SAQ in Québec (currently $51.50 the bottle) and eighteen-hundred bottles here at Vintages a couple of years ago.

We also have four other delicious Champagnes available along with the ever-popular ‘Champagne Sampler’ that includes two bottles each of the three NV 1er Crus. All of them contain 12.0 percent alcohol by volume and come in convenient six-bottle cases. The Premier Cru Champagnes contain more than twenty-five percent Grand Cru grapes. While drinking very well now, they will develop additional depth and character with an additional year or two in the cellar.  

The prices below include a one dollar handling fee. We will be taking your orders to the LCBO on Friday, December 23^rd.

Champagne Forget-Brimont 1er Cru Brut - $44/264 case of 6 Believe me, this is a great wine for a great price. The grape composition is 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay (all Premier and Grand Cru). It is a pale golden colour with a delicate nose of green apples, white flowers and hazelnuts. It has a very fresh, deep structure and is well-balanced with good length. It is a great way to start any party and is a wonderful accompaniment for white meats. Here’s what Alison Napjus says about it in the November 15, 2011 edition of the ‘Wine Spectator’ – “Light-bodied, with flavors of glazed apple, candied citrus, licorice and ground ginger. Balanced and juicy, with a moderate finish. A good aperitif. Drink now. 17,000 cases made. $63 – 90/100” And, it costs much less than you would pay for regular mass-marketed Champagne. Here are some examples of the prices of ordinary Champagne currently available at the LCBO (not a 1er Cru, let alone one with Grand Cru grapes in the lot): Charles Heidsieck Réserve Brut $54.95 Lanson Black Label Brut $44.85 (including $5 promo discount) Möet & Chandon Brut Imperial $60.40 Mumm Cordon Rouge $53.95 (including $6 promo discount) Veuve Clicquot Brut $66.25 Latch on to this stellar Champagne value now.

Champagne Forget-Brimont 1er Cru Extra Brut - $47/$282 case of 6 This is really excellent Apéritif Champagne in a delicate and refreshing style. Comprised of 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, (all Premier and Grand Cru grapes) this crystal-clear Champagne possesses delightfully persistent tiny bubbles.  Aromas of white flowers, citrus, pears and honeysuckle carry through in the mouth. It is beautifully fresh and lively with a long finish and would be a special treat with lobster, oysters or caviar. This lovely fizz has earned a Five Star rating from Decanter magazine. Click here to order.

Champagne Forget-Brimont 1er Cru Rosé Brut - $49/294 case of 6 This is the Champagne for those most festive occasions. It is also an ideal apéritif. Its rose colour comes from adding red wine from Brouzy to the Forget-Brimont reserve cuvée. The grape composition is 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay (Premier and Grand Cru grapes only!). In the glass, the beautiful light orange, pink colour provides an ideal backdrop for its steady stream of tiny bubbles. Alison Napjus has this to say about it in the November 15, 2011 edition of the ‘Wine Spectator’ – “A fruit-driven tangy rosé, with pure flavors of dried cherry,  ripe blackberry and spiced plum, with more subtle notes of smoke, raisin bread and lemon zest. Fresh and lively, with a long minerally finish. Drink now through 2015. 6,000 cases made. $67 - 91/100” At least $25 cheaper than anything comparable at the LCBO, it is a big hit with our Members. Click here to order.

Champagne Forget-Brimont Mixed Sampler Case - $47/ $282 case of 6 Two bottles each of the above 1er Cru Champagnes. This is a great way to try his wonderful bubbly and to decide which ones you like best for your next order. It would also make a great gift for the Champagne fancier. Click here to order.

Champagne Forget-Brimont 2002 Millésime 1er Cru Brut - $57/$342 case of 6 Most wine pundits rate 2002 as the top Champagne vintage since 1996 (for example, the ‘Wine Spectator’ - Dec. 31, 2011 rates it 94/100).The 2002 Champagne Forget-Brimont Millésime 1er Cru Brut is no exception. The grape composition (all from the 2002 harvest) is 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay (1er and Grand Cru grapes only!). In the glass, the beautiful luminous golden colour provides an ideal backdrop for its steady stream of tiny bubbles. It has a complex nose of stewed fruits, toasted bread, hazelnuts, almonds and vanilla. A wonderfully mature, round wine with a silky finish it would be perfect with chicken, foie gras or sweetbreads with morels. Order some of this spectacular wine now.

Champagne Forget-Brimont Grand Cru Rosé - $61/$366 case of 6 It doesn't get any more festive or refined! This Grand Cru Rosé is made from equal parts Grand Cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As one would expect from such classy Champagne, the bubbles are tiny and explosive. It is a beautiful salmon pink colour with a nose of strawberries, apples and raspberries. In the mouth these flavours persist and are joined by notes of black and red currants and citrus fruits. The finish is fresh and elegant. There is a perfect harmony between the richness of the Pinot Noir and the finesse of the Chardonnay. The Grand Cru Rosé Champagne goes well with many, many things, but is best by itself at the start of a serious party (the kind Helen Gurley Brown dreamt about?). Order your festive potion now.

• The AOC Champagne is comprised of 321 communes covering 31,000 hectares; they are all classified on a scale from 80 to 100.
• Only 17 communes are rated 100; these are the Grand Cru.
• A further 46 communes are rated between 90 and 99; these are the Premier Cru.
• Champagne can be made from only three grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
• More Pinot Noir is grown in the Champagne region than in Burgundy.

Know any Champagne fanciers? If you do, please pass this note on to them.

Coming soon from Arthur’s Cellar
Our next featured wines will be the terrific Barbera d’Asti from Poderi Rosso Giovanni and the lovely biodynamic wines from Château Romanin.

Many thanks and cheers,

Jim & Hélène
jaswalker@arthurseller.com
hbuisson@ofrance.ca
www.arthursellers.com
www.ofrance.ca