Louis Vuitton 2011 Annual Report Download - page 78

LVMH 2011
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Maisons
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WINES & SPIRITS
CHÂTEAU D’YQUEM
— Since 1593 —
The infinite care and attention lavished
on Château d’Yquem’s outstanding terroir
over the centuries by the Lur Saluces family
earned the estate the unique rank of Premier
Cru Supérieur in the 1855 classification.
The birth of the first of the great
Sauternes is still the result of extraordinary
requirements.
Selection takes place at every step at
Yquem, from the vineyard to the cellar,
through an insistence on specific grapes
achieved with successive sorting processes.
The grape pickers must take from each
bunch only the grapes attacked by Botrytis
cinerea. This microscopic fungus works a
marvellous alchemy, adding special aromas
and flavors that utterly transform the grape
must.
Without botrytis there can be no Château
d’Yquem!
This extremely careful selection con-
tinues in the cellar, where the wine is aged
for thirty months in new oak barrels. In the
end, the yield is just one glass of wine per
vine. This infinitely complex and extraordi-
narily aromatic nectar can only be made in
years when nature cooperates with Man.
Château d’Yquem is the only Bordeaux
classified as Premier Cru Supérieur. The
vineyard joined the LVMH group in 1999.
The château has been listed on the supple-
mental inventory of Historical Monuments
since 2003.
RUINART
— Since 1729 —
The House of Ruinart was officially
created on September 1, 1729 by Nicolas
Ruinart, a bold entrepreneur. In penning
the founding document, he was realizing
the dream of his uncle, the Benedictine
monk Dom Thierry Ruinart, to make
Ruinart the leading Champagne House.
For centuries the House and Ruinart’s
successors have focused on a culture of
excellence, embodied by the fundamental
values of authenticity, openness, refine-
ment and quality.
This quest for perfection is particularly
illustrated by the predominance of the
Chardonnay grape, which is included in the
composition of the entire Ruinart product
line and the prestigious Dom Ruinart cham-
pagnes, enhancing them like a golden
thread.
The Chardonnay illuminates all these
wines, exalting their brilliance and creating
the particular fluidity that makes them so
distinctive.
These qualities have perpetuated the
culture and style of Ruinart over the years,
so that today it is recognized around the
world as a master of the art of champagne.
The House of Ruinart has had a privileged
relationship with the world of art for many
years. Today, it participates in a number of
international events, including ARCO, Art
Basel, Carré Rive Gauche, London Design
and Miami Art Basel, and enjoys collabora-
tion with the greatest names in contempo-
rary design.
MOËT & CHANDON
— Since 1743 —
Since 1743, the House of Moët &
Chandon has shared its champagne with
the world, including the emblematic Moët
Impérial and the great vintages that are the
signature of the cellar master. The quality
of its wines gives full expression to the
richness and diversity of its vineyards, the
largest estate in Champagne, composed
almost exclusively of Premiers Crus and
Grands Crus. The Moët & Chandon style is
revealed in its brilliant fruity undertones,
the delight it brings to the palate and its
elegant maturity.
The history of the House is marked by
the pioneer spirit of its founders. Jean-
Rémy, the grandson of Claude, transformed
the family trading business into one of the
world’s leading international luxury brands.
The leaders of the House very quickly
understood that an association with the
celebrities of their era, including Madame
de Pompadour, Napoléon Bonaparte and
Richard Wagner, would be an asset to
spread recognition of their champagne
throughout the world.