Champagne Armand De Brignac Unveils Blanc De Noirs Assemblage Two

Champagne Armand de Brignac, known as the "Ace of Spades" Champagne, has released the second assemblage of their Blanc de Noirs in the U.S., but fans of the Jay-Z-owned winery should take note: You will have to act fast to score a sip—just 2,333 bottles of the ultra-prestige cuvée were disgorged. This batch is even smaller than that of their inaugural Blanc de Noirs blend, which was named the number one Blanc de Noirs Champagne in the world, following a blind tasting of 250 cuvées for the 2016 annual ranking by FINE Champagne Magazine and Tastingbook.com.

Blanc de Noirs A2 is a distinctive assemblage of 100-percent Pinot Noir from the 2008, 2009, and 2010 vintages. The bottles rested in the cellars in France for a little more than five years before each was labeled with its serial number (1 through 2,333) and its disgorgement date to commemorate the assemblage's exclusivity and collectability.

Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Two was crafted with hand-picked fruit from the lauded Pinot Noir growing villages of Bouzy, Verzenay, Chigny-les-Roses, Ludes, and Rilly-la-Montagne. The 13th-generation Champagne growers, the Cattier family, selected the trio of vintages based on the refined acidity of the exceptional 2008 vintage, the powerful layers of fruit and texture offered from the 2009 year, and the lively green notes from the 2010 harvest. The blend's nose includes notes of vibrant grape, honeysuckle, and peppermint with hints of peach and apricot. On the palate, red fruits, mint, and a hint of cinnamon combine to create a beautifully layered wine with an elegant, fresh finish. It's lovely when enjoyed on its own, but perfectly pairs with roasted black cod with truffle, freshly shucked oysters, and lightly grilled lamb.

The highly limited number of bottles of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs A2 are available at fine wine stores in select cities globally, and Wine.com in the U.S.