Sacred Spirits, known for its flavoursome gins and whiskies, is now the exclusive UK importer of the Champagne Aspasie that hails from the village of Brouillet. Jeremy Webb tasted the Aspasie Brut Rosé with some French foods to get into the spirit of things.
I am fortunate to have a good relationship with the owners of Sacred Spirits, so I was pleased when they asked if I would be the first to write about their new venture stocking Champagne from Maison Aspasie. The brand is an exclusive, low output producer, and it is noteworthy that they have chosen to supply Sacred Spirits.
The owner of Aspasie is Paul-Vincent Ariston, the fifth-generation winemaker in his family, producing Champagne for two centuries. Set across twelve hectares of vines, the Maison is exceptionally proud of its unique terroir – the family has a collection of fossils, crocodile teeth, and even dinosaur bones discovered in the soil and contributed to the abundant environment in which the grapes flourish.
The vineyard works with two fascinating and historic grape varieties, Arbanne and Petit Meslier, which are nearly extinct and can be found in the Cépages d’Antan cuvée, which, rather charmingly, translates as “grape varieties of yesteryear”. These are cultivated together with Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris and the traditional varieties associated with Champagne – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – and crushed on the family ‘Coquard’ press, then fermented and bottled on the estate.
Maison Aspasie is working towards an entirely organic vineyard, a status enjoyed by less than 2% of Champagne vines.
Champagne Aspasie
Brut Réserve (Chardonnay 40% Pinot Noir 30% Pinot Meunier 30%)
A powerful and balanced blend of two different crus with reserve wines creates this Champagne that retains freshness and floral notes.
- Nose: Floral nose with hints of hawthorn, acacia and orange flowers.
- Palate: Soft and fresh with a minerality of sand and limestone gives a particular delicacy and salty structure.
- 12% abv, 75cl, RRP: £39.95
Blanc de Blancs (Chardonnay 100%)
It is balanced and complex, with fine bubbles and aromas of hazelnuts and white flowers—an assemblage of a single cru with reserve wines.
- Nose: Inspired by the sea with notes of iodized limestone, acacia flowers and lemon.
- Palate: clean and fresh, develops a lemon acidity.
- 12% abv, 75cl RRP: £44.95
Brut Rosé (Pinot Noir 50% Pinot Meunier 50%)
A beautiful Rosé Champagne with a complex nose and light spice. An assemblage of two different crus with reserve wines.
- Nose: Evokes notes of wild strawberry, blood orange and quince.
- Palate: Dry, fresh, and develops grapefruit acidity.
- 12% abv, 75cl, RRP: £42.95
Brut Millésime (Chardonnay 34% Pinot Noir 33% Pinot Meunier 33%)
A powerful and refined single-vintage Champagne made with the most exceptional wines of a single year.
- Nose: Open and rich, developing expressions of apricots, candied fruit and toasted hazelnuts.
- Palate: Fresh and balanced, distinctive with a slightly honeyed finish
- 12% abv, 75cl, RRP: £49.50
Brut de Fût (Chardonnay 50% Pinot Noir 25% Pinot Meunier 25%)
A perfumed and persistent Champagne, aged in oak barrels at Maison Aspasie, is a genuinely aromatic cuvée with a distinct personality.
- Nose: Woody vanilla, cocoa and toasted hazelnut with a smoky accent.
- Palate: Fresh with character, offering a creamy and melted effervescence. The oak barrels bring out fruit notes while still preserving mineral freshness.
- 12% abv, 75cl, RRP: £69.50
Cépages d’Antan (Arbanne 40% Petite Meslier 40% Pinot Blanc 20%)
Made with three historic (and rare) grape varieties, this is a dry, aromatic and generous wine with brioche notes and a very long finish.
- Nose: Rich notes of ginger and citrus fruits, with an earthy undertone
- Palate: Clean and fresh, develops lemon acidity—Compact, with limestone minerality and background of aromatic herbaceous notes.
- 12% abv, 75cl, RRP: £120.00
I sampled the Brut Rosé and was delighted by the depth of the fruity flavour, particularly as my favourite fruit is Strawberries. It was not overly dry for a Brut and is crisp and clean. A delicious Champagne which doesn’t break the bank.
To find out more about Aspasie and Sacred Spirits, please visit www.champagneaspasie.com and https://sacredgin.com.
Read more features on wines and champagnes here.
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