Champagne Brut
Le Sourire de Reims Millésimé 2013

The Champagne Le Sourire de Reims Millésimé 2013 represents the Cuvée de Prestige of Maison Abelé 1757, resulting from the blending of 60% Chardonnay, mainly harvested in the Grand Cru village of Cramant in the Côte des Blancs, and 40% Pinot Noir, from the Grands Crus villages of Verzenay and Verzy, located in the northern part of the Montagne de Reims. Fermentation takes place in steel tanks and, after draught, the wine rests for maturation on the lees for a minimum of 8 years, culminating in a final dosage of 6 g/l - making it a Brut.

The Cuvée de Prestige ‘Le Sourire de Reims’ made its debut with the 1986 vintage, as a tribute to the famous statue ‘l'Ange au Sourire’, one of the most iconic symbols of Gothic art, which was destroyed during the Reims Cathedral fire in 1914. The bottle is distinguished by its elegant and innovative curves, whose balanced and refined design hides a secret: the Cuvée Sourire de Reims. This unique expression of the best terroirs of the Champagne region represents a challenge to the passage of time, in perfect harmony with the philosophy of Maison Abelé 1757.

On tasting, Le Sourire de Reims Millésime 2013 stands out for its strength and sensuality. On first sip, one immediately perceives the red fruit notes, with a particular emphasis on raspberries, brought by the Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay then reveals its elegance with distinctive touches of buttered brioche and grilled bread, further enriched by spicy hints of candied ginger and black pepper. The finish captivates with its lively acidity, evoking the flavour of mandarin orange, and with a mineral tension that underlines the complexity of Champagne's chalky terroir. The freshness of this Champagne is a clear tribute to the 2013 vintage, characterised by contrasts between hot and cold, a rare and distinctive vintage that expresses a fresh maturity, the result of a targeted oenological choice by the Chef de Caves. The Sourire de Reims Brut Millésimé, a true jewel finely crafted in its structure, just like the features of the famous sculpture 'Angel of the Smile' in Reims, is produced in extremely limited quantities.