Do you feel a little lost in the world of champagne? Not sure which is the best sparkling wine to opt for? Don’t worry. Champagne AOC and its wines can be overwhelming. But take note of one name, and one great winery: G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Rose.
G.H. Mumm - and any of its wines - is synonymous with quality. Since 1761, the Mumm family has been involved in winemaking, and it was not until 1827 that they ventured into sparkling wines. Gottlieb, Jacobus and Philipp, the three heirs, were the ones who identified the fame that bubbly began to have at the start of the 19th century. And since then, it has been one success after another: suppliers to the English Royal Household, major movie stars, appearances on the big screen, pairings in the best restaurants in the world... Nothing can resist G.H. Mumm!
With so many years of history behind it, the wine portfolio is pretty expansive. In this case, we have opted for G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Rose, a type of sparkling wine that features a long history in the house. Specifically, it was Georges Hermann Mumm who was the first to make "oeil de perdrix", a champagne named after the color of the partridge's eyes. Since then the productions of G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Rose have not stopped. In total, the Maison Mumm currently owns 218 hectares, where the prevailing variety is pinot noir, which grows in the Reims mountains. This is followed by chardonnay and pinot meunier. Of this total area, 160 hectares are classified as Grands Crus located in historic villages such as Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy, Verzenay, Mailly, Avize and Cramant.
G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Rose is harvested by hand and pressed directly, without exerting too much pressure, right in the centers that the winery built near the vineyards (to ensure that the clusters arrive in the best possible condition). At present, the company still has seven traditional presses from the early 20th century. After pressing, the must goes directly to the barrels, where it remains for 16 to 18 hours at rest, allowing the suspended particles to fall to the bottom, leaving a clean and clear juice. At this point, fermentation begins with naturally occurring yeasts, carried out in separate tanks to maintain the character of each terroir. G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Rose also undergoes malolactic fermentation, fining and blending with the different cuvées. After bottling, the liqueur de tirage is added (between 6 g/L - 9 g/L) and the second fermentation takes place in the bottle, where the bubbles are formed.
As a general rule, the bottles by G.H. Mumm Grand Cordon Rose bear no label, and the iconic ribbon is etched directly on the glass. Just as Georges Hermann Mumm himself said: "Only the best."