Australian winemaker Penfolds has joined forces with family-owned Champagne House Thiénot, marking Penfolds 175^th anniversary and the ‘start of a wonderful French and Australian wine alliance’, says the company. 

 

Three Champagnes, from the 2012 vintage, have been created: 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée; 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Blanc de Blancs (Avize Grand Cru) and 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Blanc de Noirs (Aÿ Grand Cru).

 

Back in March, Simon Carter, General Manager Global Travel, Treasury Wine Estates (TWE), told TRBusiness in an exclusive interview that he was sure the new Champagne products would ‘genuinely excite travellers’.

 

“We’re currently working on plans to launch new premium products in DF&TR, which include Penfolds Champagne…These wines will genuinely excite travellers and we’re working with our strategic retail partners on plans to showcase these.”

 

‘A FIRST FOR US’

Thiénot Managing Director, Stanislas Thiénot said: “This is a first for us, I am proud to say this has also been a truly collaborative experience from the very beginning …. We have created blends reflective of both Thiénot and Penfolds wine styles and philosophies.

 

“We are very happy with the results, the Champagnes are modern reflections showcasing fruit, freshness, and finesse. This is the result of an unexpected encounter between two major wine regions, one belonging to the old world and the other to the new world, but with one single common goal: to produce great Champagnes. In addition, working with Peter Gago is extremely interesting and rewarding both for his immense experience and for his innovative vision.”

 

Penfolds Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago has long shared a love of Champagne and the art of blending. “This is Step One of an inviting and compelling journey. Some time back, we announced our intent to make a Champagne.

 

“We are now revealing a partnership with our friends at Thiénot – one which would not have been imaginable a decade or two ago. To now actually work alongside a Champagne House and ultimately craft Champagnes proudly, which co-bears the globally recognised red stamp of Penfolds, is both wonderful and a first collaboration of its kind for an Australian winery.”

 

The wines represent the joint efforts of Thiénot chef de cave Nicolas Uriel who together with Gago shared agreed style and quality ambitions. The three Champagnes are made from grapes sourced from prestigious and highly regarded vineyards in Champagne from the spectacular 2012 vintage.

 

PINOT NOIR ‘CREATES ITS OWN STAGE’

From the outset, Gago focussed on ensuring Penfolds House Style and blending philosophies aligned with those of Champagne Thiénot and their winemaking approach. Liqueur d’expédition housed in Yattarna barriques from Australia added ‘greater symbolism and connection’, said Penfolds.

 

“Whilst the singularly expressive and acutely defined siblings, 2012 Blanc de Blancs and 2012 Blanc de Noirs, play their role in this trio’s inaugural release, this first release – the 2012 Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée (available June 2019) – synergistically creates its own stage, commanding its own space,” said Gago

 

“What is so obvious from the first sip and sniff – time will be kind to this wine.  A revelational journey awaits.”

 

The Blanc de Noirs (Grand Cru) is sourced solely from a significant Aÿ vineyard, and the Blanc de Blancs (Grand Cru) from a regal single vineyard with vines up to sixty years old.  Singular, special.

 

Simon Carter from Treasury Wine Estates added: “As the category leader for wine in travel retail, we aim to constantly evolve our portfolio to deliver products that are relevant and unique for travellers.

 

“The 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée is a fine example of a truly unique new product from Penfolds and the continuation of the Special Bottlings story in innovation and experimentation targeting travellers in airports around the world.”

 

“We’re thrilled to be launching this product in travel retail and we strongly believe travellers will be captivated by this limited-release product.”

 

The first of the Champagne releases, 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée will be available at Heinemann Tax & Duty Free Sydney from June 2019 at an RRP of $280.00 AUD for an exclusive period of time, after which the 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvée will be available in selected airport locations around the world.

 

The 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Blanc de Blancs (Avize Grand Cru) and 2012 Champagne Thiénot x Penfolds Blanc de Noirs (Aÿ Grand Cru) will be released in 2020.