Private Air New York

www.privateairny.com Private Air New York | Winter 2014/2015 70 ACE OF SPADES CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AND RING IN A NEW YEAR – FOLLOWED WITH A BUBBLY TOAST ON VALENTINE'S DAY WITH ARMAND AND THE ACE UP YOUR SLEEVE. WRITTEN BY: PAN YUN-ZHI PHOTOGRAPHY BY: ASHER Armand de Brignac, the lovely French name evokes images of a historic chateau in the country, lush vineyards, and cool, deep wine cellars. In truth, that is exactly where the 251-year old champagne and wine producing Cattier family makes their home. Nestled deep in the Champagne region, The winemaker's family and the Parisian fashion house of Courrèges, came up with the novel idea of dipping the bottles in gold or silver, named the specialty champagne after a character in a 1950s French novel, and designed each label out of pewter rather than paper, to give it the crème de la crème character. The Ace of Spades is honored as the "Perfect Maharajah Gold" and has reasons for its unparalleled success: it not only has a glamorous bottle, but more importantly, the wine inside is delicate, delicious, pure, and fresh. Winemaker Jean-Jacques Cattier, son of the elder Cattier, makes this non-vintage champagne personally. Grapes for this champagne are carefully selected in Grand Cru and Premiere Cru cuveé methodology. In order to avoid any possible bitter taste, it is mixed with base and stored wine, then aged at least three years. After having been poured into the gold bottle, it is stored in low temperatures of the Cattier underground cellar for the second phase of in-bottle fermentation. The cellar has three levels with a depth of 30 meters. During the fermentation process each bottle is individually handled and turned manually in the final process of making the bubbly. Three words epitomize the classy cuvée: Exclusivity, tradition, and excellence. The champagne is aged for nine months in oak casks for that magnificent flavor. It is refined; it is distinct, and as the Cattiers hope, "Will bring bubbles to your eyes." TIPPLE

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