Is Lanson Good Champagne?
Lanson is one of the best known and recognised Champagne brands worldwide. The highly competitive market and aggressive marketing campaigns by other top brands have pushed it further down the charts in recent years but, it still holds a high position in the Rose market. You might have also spotted its red cross logo at Wimbledon as the official Champagne of the event, with another 5 years of sponsorship agreed in Summer 2023.
Lanson have focused on maintaining the quality of their production and reputation, in order to maintain the integrity of the brand. Amongst all Grande Marques Champagnes, Lanson is unique in one aspect of its style of production, which is that it avoids malolactic fermentation – this keeps the acidity levels higher in the wine, and gives a livelier, fresh, zesty style of Champagne, which ages well and keeps its freshness. Lanson also mature all their Champagnes for at least twice the legal requirement, to ensure that they are at optimum drinking condition when they are released.
What’s The Background To Lanson?
The house of Lanson was established in 1760, set up by a local magistrate, Francois Delamotte and initially named Maison Delamotte. It was the 3rd Champagne house established, and like others, focussed, in the early days of gaining royal and ministerial approval at home and especially abroad, at both the English and the Russian courts.
The famous ‘Maltese cross’ on the label of every bottle of Lanson was created as far back as 1798, when Louis-Nicolas Delamotte, son of the founder, and a Knight of the Order of Malta, took over the company. The name of the company changed to ‘Lanson et fils’ in 1837, 9 years after Delamotte had gone into partnership with business man Jean-Baptiste Lanson.
Above all others, the focus on the English market was at the heart of the company, with one of the first ever ‘agent contracts’ being set up with an English wine supplier in 1882. Shortly afterwards, Lanson was awarded a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria and has been an official provider of Champagne to the English court ever since.
Over subsequent years, Lanson continued its focus on the international markets, with Belgium, Germany, Norway and Spain increasingly important, and simultaneously built on its reputation for top quality vintage wines, following its triumphant 1904 vintage. With increasing wealth, Lanson purchased in 1926 ‘Clos Lanson’, what is now the only vineyard within the walls of the city of Reims, and the current company headquarters are now based there, with kilometres of chalk cellars running beneath the building.
In the years just preceding the war, great grandson Victor Lanson, created the now famous ‘Black label’ (recently renamed Le Black Creation), and continued to develop the international reputation of the wine, as far as the states. In the post war years, the high profile continued, with Lanson being served at state banquets and celebrations by royalty and presidents in France, England and the US.
In more recent years, Lanson launched its unique Noble Cuvee, followed by Noble Cuvee Rose in 2004. The turn of the millennium had been especially successful, with sales of over 8 million bottles of the brand.
In 2006 Lanson merged with Champagne Boizel Chanoine. The company continues its focus on heritage, tradition and quality in its marketing strategy today.
What Styles Of Wine Does Lanson Make?
Lanson Le Black Creation NV
- The recently recreated house style redefined. Each "Création" is unique, made with grapes from over 100 crus and reserve wines going back over 10 years. Every bottle has its own number, denoting the number of harvests since Maison Lanson was founded in 1760. Le Black Creation is aged for four years before release giving some added richness. With the Lanson trademark of no malolactic fermentation, the style is fresh, lively, and lifted with a racy edge. You’ll find it rich yet elegant with citrus and orchard-fruit marrying well with brioche and dried fruits.
Lanson Le Rose Creation NV - delicately pale, and deliciously fruity, this top selling Rose is lively, red berry scented, balanced Rose, with elegance and style.
Lanson Le White Label NV - a slightly off-dry style, with over 38% Chardonnay in the blend, to provide a softer, creamier style. It has a lively fruitiness, and freshness, with a round, smooth style.
Lanson Le Vintage - a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from top ‘crus’ vineyards, this is a classic expression of Lanson style, made only in the very best years, and still without malolactic fermentation, which means that the wine will continue to age and maintain freshness for longer.
Lanson Noble Cuvee Vintage - the classic expression of the Lanson style, this Champagne, in its replica of an old 18th century shaped bottle, is only made from grapes from the very best vineyards in the very best years; from a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir only, and aged for at least 5 years, it’s exquisite, complex, and refined.
Lanson Le Black Reserve -Le Black Réserve is made from numerous different plots from the best parcels of the year's harvest. They is great use of reserve wines aged in oak casks, reaching over 10 years old, giving it a full body and complexity. It spends a minimum of 5 years in perfectly conditioned cellars to help it evolve before release
Lanson Blanc De Blancs - Le Blanc de Blancs is made from Chardonnay grapes from 15 different Crus. It spends 4 years in cellar, bringing out a lovely complexity.
Updated 06/11/2024