PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
Every Armand de Brignac bottle turns heads, and the Demi-Sec’s shiny purple one might do it best. In a lineup of gold, rosé, silver, and black, this is the one that stands out: a richer, softer, more indulgent Champagne for the guest who likes their celebration a little sweet, and a bottle that looks like nothing else at the table. It comes in a black, velvet-lined wooden gift box, and it’s the one you bring to the dinner, the brunch, or the after-party when the plan is to linger.
The look is made by hand, as with every Ace of Spades. Each bottle is metal-clad, finished, polished, and fitted with its French pewter labels by hand, and the brand says that no two bottles are identical. It’s also one of the rarest in the range: Demi-Sec was once reserved for guests of the Maison in Chigny-les-Roses, and wasn’t released more widely until the end of 2015. The brand calls it “a rare expression of the House style,” “crafted as a richer, more indulgent cuvée” that “balances freshness with refined sweetness.”
The wine is built to be sweet without being heavy. It’s a blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier, with half from the harvest year and the rest from two older reserve vintages, and its 33 g/L dosage is low for a Demi-Sec, “just the right level of sweetness” for rich food, with fresh acidity running through it. The dosage is aged in oak, which adds creamy depth and a toasty note. The nose is buttered brioche, English candy, and stone fruit compote; the palate layers in “chocolate, wild blueberries, and crystallized citrus,” and finishes long and elegant. Wine Spectator described “a lively backbone of acidity” balancing “this creamy Champagne, which offers subtle notes of pastry cream and candied ginger.”
It’s a wine for the moments that call for something sweeter: dessert tables, brunch, spicy and rich food, foie gras, blue cheese, and the celebrations where the bubbles are meant to be the treat. And it’s built to photograph: the purple bottle against a white tablecloth, a pastry tower, or a cheese board is unmistakable.
Armand de Brignac Demi-Sec is produced by the Cattier family in Champagne, France, led by Jean-Jacques and Alexandre Cattier. It is a multi-vintage blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier (50% from the harvest year, 25% each from two reserve vintages), with a 33 g/L dosage made from base wines aged in French oak. Each metal-clad bottle is finished and polished by hand, fitted with French pewter labels, and presented in a black wooden gift box with a velvet lining. 12.5% ABV, 750ml.
It’s the one for people who like sweet; critics who’ve tasted it agree it’s well made.
Wine Spectator — 90 Points (Alison Napjus):
“A lively backbone of acidity balances this creamy Champagne, which offers subtle notes of pastry cream and candied ginger. Drink now.”
The Tasting Panel — 92 Points (Anthony Dias Blue, April 2016):
“Juicy, floral and long; only Demi-Sec prestige cuvée.”
Wine Enthusiast — 90 Points (Roger Voss) · Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate — 91 · James Suckling — 91
Jancis Robinson:
“I could easily imagine this accompanying a luxurious meal. Very well made with fully integrated sugar.” (18/20)
Wine Spectator (additional note):
“This is the sweetest of the five Champagnes... It is a well-tuned wine, fruity while maintaining the soft aftertaste of a demi-sec.”
Armand de Brignac (official tasting notes):
“The nose reveals notes of buttered brioche, English candy, and stone fruit compote. The palate is layered with chocolate, wild blueberries, and crystallized citrus, culminating in a long, elegant finish balanced by vibrant acidity.”
Nose
Bright straw. Buttered brioche, English candy, and stone fruit compote, with orange blossom and fresh berries.
Palate
Creamy and softly sweet, with crystallized citrus, wild blueberries, honey, and a touch of chocolate, balanced by lively acidity.
Finish
Long and elegant, with pastry cream and candied ginger.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Style | Multi-Vintage Demi-Sec Champagne — Prestige Cuvée |
| Blend | 50% Pinot Noir · 40% Chardonnay · 10% Pinot Meunier |
| Dosage | 33 g/L, from base wines aged in French oak |
| Vintages | 50% harvest year, 25% each of two reserve vintages |
| Producer | Armand de Brignac (the Cattier family) — Champagne, France |
| The Bottle | Shiny metallic purple, hand-finished and polished; hand-applied French pewter Ace of Spades label; black wooden gift box with velvet lining |
| ABV | 12.5% |
| Critics | Tasting Panel 92 · Wine Advocate 91 · James Suckling 91 · Wine Spectator 90 · Wine Enthusiast 90 · Jancis Robinson 17–18/20 |
| Aging Potential | 7–10 years |
| Style / Identity | The sweet, creamy, indulgent Ace of Spades in the purple bottle |
| Aromas & Flavors | Buttered brioche, English candy, stone fruit compote, crystallized citrus, honey |
| Bottle Size | 750ml |
Serve well chilled, at 8-10°C, in tulip-shaped Champagne glasses.
Bottle Size: All bottles are 750ML/700ML unless otherwise noted.
21 and Over: Adult Signature Required
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