Lanson

THE HISTORY OF THE LANSON HOUSE BEGAN IN 1760, WHEN FRANÇOIS DELAMOTTE DECIDED TO CREATE HIS OWN CHAMPAGNE HOUSE. IN 1798, NICOLAS-LOUIS DELAMOTTE, A KNIGHT OF THE ORDER OF MALTA, TOOK OVER FROM HIS FATHER AND ADOPTED THE MALTESE CROSS AS THE EMBLEM OF THE BRAND. TODAY THE HOUSE PROUDLY DISPLAYS THE DISTINCTIVE RED LANSON CROSS ON EACH OF ITS BOTTLES AND IN ALL OF ITS COMMUNICATION.

The unique ‘Clos Lanson’ vineyard, planted 100 per cent Chardonnay THE ORIGINS OF CHAMPAGNE LANSON go back to the year 1760, making it one of the very oldest Champagne Houses. Over the years it built its distribution on the back of relationships established with many of the Europe’s Royal Families.

Lanson was awarded the famous Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1900 as an official supplier to the Court of England, a distinction the House has retained ever since. Later Lanson was chosen by the Royal Family of Monaco to produce a champagne in its own heraldic colours, which it still supplies today.

In 1937, Victor Lanson, known as the “great ambassador of Champagne”, decided to promote sales of non-vintage dry wine and name the blend “Black Label”, in honour of the House’s biggest market, The United Kingdom.

In 2006, the House of Lanson changed ownership, and today belongs to the ‘Lanson BCC’ Group, with Philippe Baijot as the House President.

The House of Lanson ages its wines for longer than the minimum required time: three years minimum at Lanson for the non-vintage wines versus the regulatory minimum of 15 months, and five years minimum at Lanson for the vintage wines versus the regulatory minimum of three years.

Since its beginning in 1760, Lanson Champagne chose to focus on Pinot Noir as the main grape variety in its classic nonvintage blends, giving pride of place to body and power. Alongside that, at least 30 per cent of each wine produced for sale is made up of Chardonnay, selected for the rich aromas and delicacy on the palate. To create its champagnes, Lanson purchases grapes from among the Champagne regions’s best Crus, often located near its historic presshouses, most notably including Verzenay, Dizy and Trepail.

Moreover, Lanson benefits from a unique plot in Champagne; the Clos Lanson. This plot has an area of one hectare in the heart of the city, and it is the vineyard closest to the Cathedral of Reims. Surrounded by high walls, the Clos enjoys an exceptional microclimate that is favourable to the development of the vine. Planted in the 1930s, it has remained within the purview of the House ever since and it is entirely planted with Chardonnay.

The uniqueness of this small but extraordinary vineyard-plot explains its rarity and very limited production and also why, among the Great Houses within Champagne, it represents one of the very few enclosed ‘Single Vineyard Estate’ wines made within its historic walls.”

In addition to its high standards for quality, the unique Lanson style is intensely fresh with an exceptional aromatic depth. This style results from a bold choice made by Victor Lanson in the 1970s to continue the Champagne tradition of preserving the champagne-making process free from any malolactic fermentation. This specific trait allows the best aromas of the fruit to be kept, retaining the original purity of the fruit, and guarantees a unique freshness. It is not surprising that with its unique style of freshness and fruitiness, Lanson is well known to represent ‘The Perfect Start’ to many of life’s important moments.

Crucially, this traditional process also gives the Lanson wines an extraordinary capacity to age over time, - as seen in the ‘Lanson Vintage Collection’, - a library of vintage wines going back to the very dawn of the 20th Century, and testimony to the enduring qualities of a unique style. ❧

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