Gosset
Gosset, founded in 1584, is one of the oldest champagne houses of the Champagne region in north-eastern France. It was founded when Jean Gosset, a grape grower in Aÿ, left a vineyard to his grandson, Pierre Gosset, mayor of the village, who began to export wine under his name. Typical for this era in Champagne, Gosset initially produced still wines, mainly reds, whilst his cellars were adjoining those owned by King Francis I of France, who enjoyed these red Aÿ wines.[1]
In 1994, the house was sold to the Cointreau family. Under the management of Beatrice Cointreau, (also the head of Cognac Frapin), Gosset succeeded in increasing its production to one million bottles in 2005. The house is now successfully headed by Jean-Pierre Cointreau and its headquarters have been transferred to Epernay in 2009.
Gosset wines are made from a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier. The house is known for its slightly sweet Brut Excellence and its vintage prestige cuvee Célebris and Grand Millésime. The house also produced a commemorative wine the Quatrième Centenaire.[2]
Wines
- In antique bottle
- Grande Réserve Brut (Non-vintage). A blend of 46% Chardonnay, 39% Pinot Noir, and 15% Pinot Meunier. 12% reserve wines with an average age of 2 years.[3] In the 1980s, the blend had been 65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay.[4] Also available in magnum and in jeroboam
- Grand Rosé Brut (Non-vintage). 56% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir Grand Cru and 9% red wines from Bouzy and Ambonnay.[5] Also available in magnum
- Grand Millésime Brut (Vintage, latest is 2000). 56% Chardonnay and 44% Pinot Noir from grand and premier cru vineyards. In the 1980s, the blend was 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay.[4]
- Grand Blanc de Blancs (Non-vintage)
- Cuvée du 425ème anniversaire (Non-vintage)
- Celebris Vintage Extra Brut (latest is 1998). 64% Chardonnay and 36% Pinot Noir. Vintages produced, 1998, 1995, 1990 and 1988.[6]
- Celebris Rosé Extra Brut (Vintage, latest is 2003) [3]
- Celebris Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut (Non-vintage)
- In standard champagne bottle
- Brut Excellence (Non-vintage). A blend of 42% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir and 13% Pinot Meunier.[3] Also available as rosé, and in magnum.
Previous wines
- Cuvée Quatrième Centenaire (Non-vintage Prestige Cuvée). This wine was produced in 1984 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the foundation of Gosset and contained some wine from the 1971 vintage. It was a blend of 36% Pinot Noir and 63% Chardonnay. Less than 2,500 cases were produced. Bottles were numbered. Numbers 1-200 were for the use of the Gosset family, 201-1,500 were magnums and numbers 1,501 to 28,500 were other sizes.[4]
- Coteaux Champenois Blanc de Blancs[4]
References
See also
External links