Champagne Dumangin with Gilles Dumangin

We are very excited to have Gilles Dumangin, fifth generation Champagne producer for the house of Dumangin, as our very special guest for our Wednesday Nite Flites this week.  We met Gilles a few years ago at a French Embassy trade event featuring producers seeking representation in our region.  We fell in love with his wines and were very excited when George Brown of Vino Wholesale added them to his portfolio.  We've carried Brut Cuvee 17 from the start, added the Brut Rose last year and brought in his Premier Cru this past week, all of which you will taste in this super exciting flite nite! 

Valentine's Day treat, compliments of George Brown

The little house of Dumangin was founded by Hippolyte Dumangin in the 1890s. His descendants have maintained control of their domaine through five generations, with Gilles Dumangin, Hippolyte's great, great grandson now in charge, still assisted by his father, Jacky. The two run this successful family business from their base in Chigny-les-Roses, a small Premier Cru village lying on the Montagne de Reims, almost directly between Reims and Epernay. Jacky and Gilles tend five hectares of vineyards, scattered around Chigny-les-Roses and the nearby villages of Rilly-la-Montagne, Ludes and Taissy, the latter a little further north, right on the outskirts of Reims. The Montagne de Reims, Champagne's most northerly region, is Pinot country, and both Pinots feature quite heavily in the Dumangin portfolio.

So here's the deal, we are anticipating that this will be a very popular event so we will take reservations for two time slots, 6-7pm and 7-8pm.  We can accommodate 18 people per time slot so if you want to ensure you'll get in to taste these lovely wines and meet Gilles, please call for a reservation, 504.304.0635.  We will still accept walk in providing we have availability.  The flite is $15 for three really amazing bubblies presented by pretty cool Frenchman....

From the Dumangin webite:

Brut 17 ($45):  This cuvee made roughly of a third of each champagne grape (Meunier, Pinot Noir & Chardonnay) got its name from the tank where Jacky & Gilles Dumangin originally blended the the wine in. A balance in favour of younger wines rather than reserve cuvees, a blending that create a fresh, fruity, young champagne that will make your parties more festive. 

Brut Rose ($56):  A recipe for success: Jacky & Gilles Dumangin have chosen to blend their best wines & decrease their volume of vintage produced every year to create this unmissable pink Champagne. It is the result of 85% white champagne & 15% red wine (from the Dumangin family vineyards ) blend. The white part (54% Chardonnay & 46% Pinot Noir) ensure a powerful structure and a remarquable finesse. The added 15% red wine from Pinot Meunier create a fruity character & a delicate light salmon colour. 
 
Premier Cru ($85):  Blanc de Blancs at its best . Harvested at late maturity, carefully seletced grape from one only vineyards at the exit of Chigny Les Roses… The Chardonnay is fully expressed in this complex and fine Champagne. Keeping potential of at least 5-8 years, it releases its extra-long finish with honey notes and a flowery bouquet.