Gosset Champagne
23rd March 2014
Champagne Gosset was founded by Pierre Gosset, the mayor of Aÿ, in 1584 and is the ‘Oldest Wine House in Champagne’
The house remained in the Gosset family until 1993 when it was bought by the Cointreau family. The Cointreau family can trace their involvement in the wine and spirit industry back to 1210.
The Cointreau’s vowed to remain true to Gosset’s roots and it remains a family owned and run business with Jean-Pierre Cointreau taking over as C.E.O from his sister, Beatrice Cointreau, in 2007.
Originally based mainly in Aÿ, Gosset celebrated it’s 425th birthday in 2009 with the purchase of Domaine Gosset in Epérnay. Moments from the famous ‘Avenue de Champagne’, Domaine Gosset is a stunning mansion, once owned by the Trouillard Family, and is a fitting headquarters for the brand.
The cellars of Domaine Gosset are 18 metres underground and a mile long. They hold 3 million bottles. Remaining close to its roots, Gosset still maintains the original premises at Rue Jules Blondeau in Aÿ where it all began. Another 3 million bottles are currently stored there too!
Gosset blends bring together the best crus in the Marne (Grand Crus and Premier Crus), with an average classification of 95% on the official Crus scale. They use grapes from approximately 60 villages.
When they reach the winery, the crus are kept separately in small vats. In this way, they are always easy to identify, right up to the moment of blending.
Malolactic fermentation is avoided on the antique (grandes) cuvées; this preserves acidity which in turn keeps the wine fresh for much longer.
The Gosset style is very creamy, biscuity, yeasty, dry but not acidic and full-bodied.
All cuvées spend extra time on the lees. Brut Excellence – 3years, Grande Reserve & Grand Rosé – 4 ½ years, the other cuvées – depending on vintage. (The legal ageing requirement on an NV is 15 months).
All Gosset Champagnes are recently disgorged and the disgorgement dates (week & year) are shown on the bottle.
The antique cuvées are presented in an old-style bottle, identical to the bottle that Jean Gosset, Chief Magistrate of Aÿ, used in the 18th century. Its unique and distinctive shape is recognised the whole world over.
Gosset’s total production is now just over 1 million bottles making it one of the smallest of the Grandes Marques houses.
Shared by Katherine Wilson
www.champagne-gosset.com
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