Ruinart Blanc Singulier was conceived as a witness to the climatic variations observed in the vineyards
© Pierre MONETTA
Blanc Singulier is Ruinart’s first new Champagne cuvee to launch in two decades. It bears witness to climate change in France's Champagne region, where Chardonnay grapes have seen an evolving aromatic profile over the last ten years.
French Champagne house Ruinart (LVMH) is out to demonstrate how it adapts its winemaking savoir-faire to the changing climate with the launch of Blanc Singulier. The inaugural release in the collection is Blanc Singulier Édition 18, a reference to 2018, a particularly warm year in Champagne, says Ruinart, with record levels of sunshine and lower rainfall than previous years.
"The Ruinart Blanc Singulier cuvée was conceived as a witness to the climatic variations we observe each year in the vineyards," Ruinart Cellar Master Frédéric Panaïotis said in a statement. Indeed, the Champagne house notes that Chardonnay, an early-maturing grape variety, has seen its growth and development directly impacted by climate change, resulting in a changing aromatic profile over the past decade, with "increased fruitiness and spiciness".
The 100% Chardonnay cuvée is described as "the fruit of an innovative oenological approach" blending 80% of base wines from 2018 with 20% reserve wines. The cuvee is aged for three years, rather than two; half of the reserve wines are stored in oak barrels and the remaining half in stainless steel vats. Successive editions of Blanc Singulier will be released for years marked by an atypical climate.
Blanc Singulier Édition 18 is housed in Ruinart's signature bottle ©Pierre Monetta
Slight variations in packaging design
Ruinart has kept its packaging for the collection in line with tradition: Blanc Singulier Édition 18 is housed in the maison's curved glass bottle (Verallia) inspired by the first Champagne bottles of the 18th century. The 75cl vessel weighs in at 900g. The cork stoppers come from Amorim and Relvas in Portugal, while the muselets are from ICAS and the overcaps RMD Group. The label, however - the work of Multi Color Corporation in Italy - breaks from tradition with its rectangular, rather than oval shape. It uses Avery Dennison's Fasson Pure Cotton Extra White and is hot stamped in black. Smurfit Kappa supplies the cardboard transport boxes.
Earlier this year, Ruinart unveiled its consumer-facing transparency platform. It is designed to provide the end-user with more information on the lifecycle of Ruinart products, from its vineyards and the Champagne production process to details on packaging and logistics.
Bottle Verallia
Label Multi Color Corporation
Cork stopperAmorim/Relvas
MuseletICAS
OvercapRMD Group
Transport boxSmurfit Kappa
Label paperAvery Dennison
