Alfred Gratien : Collection Memory 1996

The power and finesse of a generous vintage champagne

The estate

Alfred Gratien founded this eponymous house in 1864. Located in Épernay, at the heart of the Champagne wine region, the Alfred Gratien House has advocated for a rigorous selection of grapes and vinification in barrels as well as volume control to preserve the terroir’s original character and to exude all of the freshness of the wines.

Alfred Gratien Champagne is produced from a know-how which has been passed down from father to son for multiple generations and which contributes to the unique style of the house’s cuvées.

The vineyard

The Alfred Gratien Champagne House overlooks 1.56 hectares of vines situated on two exceptional Premiers and Grands Cru terroirs in the Champagne region: the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims. The house completes its supplies by acquiring grapes from over sixty long-standing and loyal winegrowers who have worked with the house for generations.

The wine

A tribute to the fine years in the Champagne region, the Collection Memory offers the opportunity to discover the greatest vintages of the Alfred Gratien house. Stored among the Alfred Gratien wine collection located in the house’s cellars, these rare bottles are aged for more than 20 years before seeing the light of day. Testifying to a treasured know-how and comprising exclusively vintage champagnes, the bottles in the Collection Memory express the finesse and generosity of Alfred Gratien's style.

The vintage

Regarded as the finest vintage of the last century for Alfred Gratien, 1996 truly stands out and produced powerful and fine wines with intense aromas.

The blend

Chardonnay (65%), Pinot Noir (18%), Pinot Meunier (17%).

The tasting

Colour

The Alfred Gratien Collection Memory champagne has a beautiful, clear, brilliant golden colour.

Nose

Intense and expressive, the aromatic bouquet exudes seductive fruity and pastry-like notes. The first nose exudes notes of almond and dried fruit, while the second nose highlights beautiful notes of summer fruit such as plum and mirabelle.

Palate

From the outset, Collection Memory is fresh on the palate, while retaining delicious notes of summer fruits such as mirabelle plum and autumn fruits. A beautiful vintage champagne that is perfectly balanced and is the fruit of an exceptional year.