Founded in 2014 by journalist, author and critic Tom Stevenson, the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships awards the world's best sparkling wines each year. The winners of the 2022 edition were revealed at London's iconic Merchants Taylors Hall, crowning the Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 cuvée and awarding it the title of Supreme World Champion. It was also awarded the title of Best Champagne et Best French Sparkling Wine.
Le Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships is an international sparkling wine competition that aims to provide consumers and professionals with an annual guide to the world's finest Champagnes and sparkling wines. The jury consisted of three world-renowned wine experts, including Tom Stevenson, Essi Avellan MW, and György Márkus, who conducted the tastings completely blind.
For the second consecutive year, Maison Ruinart has been awarded the highest distinction at this competition. In 2021, it was Dom Ruinart Rosé 2004 presented in magnum. This award highlights the instinct of Ruinart's oenological and winemaking teams, who decided to reinstate, with the 2010 vintage, the cork-pulling system for the Maison's finest cuvée.
"This award pays tribute to the visionary spirit of the men and women who have contributed, over time, to the excellence of our wines, from the vineyard to the cellar," says Frédéric Panaïotis, Cellar Master of Maison Ruinart.
In 2010, there was little or nothing to predict a beautiful and great year, as the vagaries of the weather had so weakened nature. However, from these fruits was born a champagne of completely unexpected aromatic complexity.
To achieve this, previous cellar masters sought to further develop the wines' maturation, to give them more liveliness and complexity. Thus began the first attempts at corking the Dom Ruinart cuvée in the 90s. Over the years and through tastings, this intuition has become a conviction. It enriches the aromatic complexity of this Blanc de Blancs while preserving its freshness and dynamic tension.
The launch of a Dom Ruinart vintage is always a remarkable moment. It is the perfect expression of a great Blanc de Blancs. Since the first Dom Ruinart vintage was released in 1966, only 27 vintages have been produced.
The year 2010 was characterized by a very cold winter, a dry early summer, and a very rainy August. The harvest began on August 15, and from the moment we tasted the base wine, the 2010 Chardonnays were astonishingly intense—the promise of a great vintage.
The Chardonnays selected by the Maison come from exceptional terroirs, most of which are classified as Grand Cru. 90% come from the Côte des Blancs (Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Chouilly & Cramant) and 10% come from the northern slope of the Montagne de Reims in Sillery, the brand's historic stronghold. These Chardonnays, grown on limestone soils, benefit from optimal sunshine.
Dom Ruinart 2010 is the result of this hard work. It is the most faithful reflection not only of a particular vintage but also of a long aging process that has highlighted all its facets and subtleties.
Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blanc 2010 is sold at a price of 230 euros.
Ruinart revolutionized its packaging in 2020 with a unique second-skin case that replaces the individual box. This innovation, designed for sustainable development, required two years of research and development.
THEpencil case Dom Ruinart's champagne is a continuation of this innovation. Smooth to the touch, as soft as chalk, with reliefs and fissures, it looks as if it was carved directly from the chalky rock. A final hand-applied gold marking gives it an extraordinary character, while on the closing button, the meticulously engraved 1729 announces the heritage of Maison Ruinart, the first Champagne house.
About Maison Ruinart
Born in the Age of Enlightenment into a world of new ideas, exchanges, and culture, Maison Ruinart, founded in 1729, is the oldest Champagne house. In its cellar, Chardonnay specialists have perfected and perpetuated the "simplexity" that is the House's true trademark. A certain natural elegance and aromatic freshness that accentuate the brilliance of the grape variety.
The Ruinart House defends a lifestyle Elegant and inspired, and nourished by encounters and exchanges between art and gastronomy. It takes concrete action to minimize its environmental impact, constantly adapting its practices while preserving the exceptional quality of its wines.
Maison Ruinart continues to innovate, research and place its signature character at the heart of each of its vintages: Chardonnay.
André Tirlet
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