Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Blanc de Blancs Champagne

• What is the difference between Blanc de Blancs and Brut champagne?

  Blanc de Blancs champagne can be Brut, when Brut refers to the dryness of a champagne. But, Brut is the term most often used for Champagne made with white and black grapes. Therefore, champagne can be a Blanc de Blancs or a Brut. But not every Brut is a Blanc de Blancs. Brut champagne is usually fuller and more complex than many Blanc de Blancs, and the latter is more delicate and ethereal.

• Why is Blanc de Blancs champagne more expensive?

  The main reason Blanc de Blancs Champagne is more expensive is that it is made exclusively from white grapes. The predominance of a single grape limits the winemaker's supply and increases their risk if the yield isn’t as plentiful as expected. Because there are no other grapes in 100% chardonnay, it is solely responsible for the wine’s final quality. As such, it bears the weight of elegance, minerality and high acidity, alone. Another quality of Blanc de Blancs Champagne is its high ageing potential. However, it requires extensive ageing to begin with, which increases the storage costs of the producer and thus, the champagne.

• Is Blanc de Blancs dry or sweet?

  Blanc de Blancs Champagne is typically dry. However, there are several tiers of sweetness that a Blanc de Blancs Champagne can fall into. The first is Brut Nature, the driest tier, which has no added sugar. Then, Extra Dry, which is slightly sweeter than Brut Nature, but still very dry. Brut is the most common tier, not to be confused with Brut Nature, and is the standard for Champagne. Sec is noticeably sweet, and Demi-Sec is undeniably sweet and great for dessert pairings.