The Ultimate Gift - Ace of Spades Champagne

Probably the most luxurious bottle of champagne anyone can give or receive this season or for whatever occasion…

The first time I saw the photo of this bottle, I was amazed. How can a bottle of wine be so beautiful? And when I saw the actual bottle for the first time, I was mesmerised, captivated, enamoured. Is this for real? 

One look at the box gives you an immediate feeling of class and elegance. Have you ever seen any ordinary wine or champagne bottle packaged in such style? Ace of Spades Champagne, or Champagne Armand de Brignac, comes elegantly packaged in a black lacquered box. Take note - lacquered. The cover is adorned with the brand’s logo in pewter, the stylized letter A inside a spade.  This is definitely the most beautiful letter I’ve seen. 

The inside of this box is lined with solid rich black velvet. Under the top cover is a gold plate embossed and imprinted with “Armand de Brignac, Reims, France - Edition Limitee”. The bottle lies perfectly inside, with grooves specially made and designed to fit its size. 

And here’s another magnificent thing; the box comes with a sexy booklet, also in black and stamped with the logo and name in gold. 

The bottle itself is in opaque gold and all labels are made of genuine pewter —- all handmade. Unique, elegant, classy. Who wouldn’t be delighted to receive this as a gift? 

The Taste of Ace of Spades

Marvelously complex and full-bodied, its bouquet is both fresh and lively, with light floral notes. On the palate, Brut Gold has a sumptuous, racy fruit character perfectly integrated with the wine’s subtle brioche accents. The Champagne’s texture is deliciously creamy, with great depth paired with a long, silky finish. Armand de Brignac Brut Gold is pressed from a perfectly balanced blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier wine. - Armand de Brignac

How to enjoy it:

Recommended serving temperature - 6 - 8 degrees Celsius

(place the bottle in the refrigerator the night before or chill in an ice bucket for 30 minutes)

Use a flute or champagne glass, not a broad-rimmed glass

For many different occasions, I think that the Ace of Spades is an ultimate gift.  Whether it’s for a loved one, a close friend, a business partner or a client, giving this bottle as a gift will make a solid statement of value and appreciation. Expressing it with a gold - pewter bottle of Champagne perfectly packed in a black lacquer box is just pure class. 

It was no surprise when I heard the news in November 2014 that Jay-Z bought this label. The Ace of Spades champagne was featured in his video, Show Me What You Got. Well, he’s also seen serving this US$300-worth-a-pop champagne in a lot of events and has long been associated with the brand.  

I haven’t tasted this Champagne yet, not that I can afford one. Well, one can dream. And I think that it’s one of the best wines to feature this season, seeing how such bottle can be the perfect gift for Christmas or New Year. 

Armand de Brignac - Ace of Spades Champagne

Where to buy in Malaysia: www.winetalk.com.my

Normal price: RM1,480 / Limited promotion price: RM1,280

Origin: Champagne, France

Type: Non-Vintage Champagne/ Sparkling Wine

About Armand de Brignac via www.wine-searcher.com 

Armand de Brignac is the brainchild of the Cattier house, located in the Champagne village of Chigny-les-Roses, and the New York drinks distribution company Sovereign Brands.

The Cattier family have been growing grapes in the Montagne de Reims area since 1763, and have made Champagne since 1918. The house is still family owned and run by Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son Alexandre, both respected winemakers. Champagne specialist and writer Michael Edwards speaks highly of the Cattier Champagnes and is particularly fond of the family's single-vineyard cuvée Clos du Moulin.

According to Jean-Jacques Cattier, Armand de Brignac aims “to present something authentically luxurious and which does justice to the once-in-a-lifetime events at which Champagne is so often present.” He believes that Champagne produces "bubbles in the eyes."

De Brignac was the name of a hero in a book that Jean-Jacques Cattier's mother once read. She liked it so much it became stuck in her memory, though no-one nowadays can remember which book the character was in. Later, Jean-Jacques' sister added "Armand" to round out the name. The family registered it as a brand in the 1950’s with Champagne's wine authority, the Comite Interprofessionnel du vin de Champagne (CIVC). It then lay dormant until 2006, when they dusted it off for their prestige cuvée and the forgotten hero once again enjoyed the limelight.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my fellow wine lovers!