Reims Champagne house known for Grand Cru Chardonnay and a fresh style shaped by fermentation without malolactic fermentation.
The producer
Champagne Lanson is one of the oldest Champagne houses in existence, founded in 1760 by François Delamotte, a local magistrate. Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs runs through standard and prestige bottlings, including a Noble Cuvée built around Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The house leaves out malolactic fermentation, preserving malic acid and bright acidity. Lanson has supplied Champagne to the British royal court since 1900.
Known for
Fresh Grand Cru Chardonnay Champagne
Notable facts
Founded in 1760 by François Delamotte, a local magistrate.
Based in Reims.
Chardonnay is sourced from Grand Cru vineyards of the Côte des Blancs.
Official supplier of Champagne to the British royal court since 1900.
Noble Cuvée normally blends approximately 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir.
The story
The Six Month Sale
In the 1990s, Moët et Chandon acquired Lanson and sold it within six months. Moët et Chandon retained almost all of the vineyards involved in the purchase, so the house changed hands while most of those vineyards stayed with the acquiring company. The sequence moved the house through an acquisition, a rapid resale and a later change of ownership, with the vineyard retention part of the transaction.
The 1985 Magnum
Collection 1985 spent more than three decades on lees before its release in magnum. Lees are yeast cells left after the second fermentation, and long contact can build toast and creaminess while protecting the wine from oxygen. A commercially available Champagne held for that length of time is unusual. The release combined a named vintage with a magnum format and lees ageing measured in decades.
From the atlas
Champagne Lanson
Champagne Lanson in Reims, a Champagne house built around Grand Cru Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs and a fresh house style shaped by fermentation without malolactic fermentation.
At A Glance
Field
Detail
Region
Champagne
City
Reims
Main grapes
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Named cuvée
Noble Cuvée
Defining feature
Fermentation without malolactic fermentation
The Producer
Champagne Lanson is one of the oldest Champagne houses in existence. The house is known for a fresh style, and has been an official supplier of Champagne to the British royal court since 1900.
Place
Reims is the home city of Champagne Lanson. The house sources Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte des Blancs. Grand Cru names the highest vineyard classification in Champagne, identifying grapes from its top rated vineyard villages. Those grapes are used across Lanson's standard and prestige bottlings.
Story
François Delamotte, a local magistrate, founded the house in 1760. In the 1990s, Moët et Chandon acquired Lanson and sold it within six months while retaining almost all of the vineyards involved in the purchase. The sale left the house and most of those vineyards under different ownership.
Vineyards And Cellar
Lanson leaves malolactic fermentation out of its wines. In this process, bacteria convert sharper malic acid into softer lactic acid. Keeping that conversion out preserves malic acid, so the wines retain freshness, bright acidity and the capacity to live for a long time.
Wines
Lanson's standard and prestige bottlings use Grand Cru grapes. Noble Cuvée normally combines approximately 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. The range also includes Black Label, Le Rosé Création, Le Vintage and Blanc de Blancs, moving from a core cuvée and rosé to vintage and white grape styles.
In The Glass
Black Label has well defined, crisp acidity balanced by delicate sweetness, with a clean, crisp finish. Le Rosé Création opens with strawberries and raspberries, rose petal and a hint of citrus peel; its acidity is gentle, its texture smooth, and its finish rounded. Le Vintage is pale gold, with dried and candied fruit, grilled almonds, apricots, figs and mandarin, followed by a textured mouthfeel and lingering tangy nuances. Blanc de Blancs brings crisp orchard fruit and honey melon with toasted brioche and ripe fruit aromas.
A Bottle To Understand It
The first bottle is Noble Cuvée. It is Lanson's prestige cuvée, with Chardonnay in the lead and Pinot Noir supporting it, using Grand Cru grapes in the blend. Chardonnay brings acidity and orchard fruit, while Pinot Noir adds red fruit and breadth, placing both grape varieties in one bottle.
Anecdote
Collection 1985 was released in magnum after spending more than three decades on lees. Lees are the yeast cells left after the second fermentation, and long contact can build toast and creaminess while protecting the wine from oxygen. A commercially available Champagne held for that length of time is unusual. It was released as Collection 1985 in magnum.
Final Word
Champagne Lanson is a Reims house where Grand Cru Chardonnay sourcing and the decision to leave out malolactic fermentation shape the wines.