Armand de Brignac
Summary
Armand de Brignac is a luxury Champagne producer operating from the historic Cattier family facilities in Chigny-les-Roses, creating a boutique portfolio of five cuvées sourced from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards across Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. The brand combines traditional Champagne craftsmanship—including three-vintage blending, hand-riddling, and extended aging—with distinctive metallic packaging and high-profile ownership shared between Jay-Z and LVMH, positioning it as a modern luxury icon in the ultra-premium segment.
Heritage & Leadership
Armand de Brignac traces its origins to Champagne Cattier, a family-owned house established in 1763 in the village of Chigny-les-Roses in Montagne de Reims. The Cattier family has maintained continuous operation for over 250 years, with Jean-Jacques Cattier serving as the 12th generation winemaker who developed the Armand de Brignac brand. The modern incarnation of Armand de Brignac was launched in 2006, with the distinctive metallic bottles quickly becoming recognizable in the premium Champagne market.
In 2014, American entrepreneur and musician Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter acquired full ownership of the brand after having been associated with it since 2006. The ownership structure evolved again in February 2021, when luxury goods conglomerate LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) acquired a 50% stake in Armand de Brignac through its Moët Hennessy division. This partnership maintained Jay-Z's significant ownership position while providing expanded distribution capabilities through LVMH's global network.
The production remains under the technical direction of the Cattier family, with Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son Alexandre overseeing winemaking operations. The brand maintains its production facilities in Chigny-les-Roses, where all aspects of vinification, aging, and bottling take place.
Vineyards & Wines
Armand de Brignac sources grapes from vineyards throughout Champagne, with a particular focus on Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne. The house does not own extensive vineyard holdings but instead maintains long-term contracts with growers across these prestigious areas.
The brand produces five distinct cuvées, each presented in metallized bottles with pewter labels. The flagship Brut Gold blend consists of Pinot Noir (40%), Chardonnay (40%), and Pinot Meunier (20%), incorporating three different vintages. The Rosé cuvée contains 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, and 10% Chardonnay, with the addition of still red wine from old-vine Pinot Noir for color and structure. The portfolio also includes Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs), Blanc de Noirs (100% Pinot Noir), and Demi Sec.
Annual production remains deliberately limited, with approximately 60,000 bottles produced across all cuvées. Each bottle is finished by hand, including the application of French pewter labels and polishing of the metallic coating.
Philosophy & Practice
Armand de Brignac adheres to traditional Champagne production methods while incorporating specific techniques to develop their house style. The winemaking team utilizes a traditional vertical Coquard press, which is valued for its gentle pressing capabilities. Only the first pressing (cuvée) is used for Armand de Brignac Champagnes.
A distinctive element of their production approach is the use of three consecutive vintages in their non-vintage Champagnes, rather than the more common practice of using a base vintage with reserve wines. This three-vintage approach aims to balance freshness with complexity and depth.
All Armand de Brignac Champagnes undergo aging in the chalk cellars beneath Chigny-les-Roses, with a minimum maturation period of three years for the Brut Gold and extending to five or more years for prestige cuvées. Dosage levels are kept relatively low, typically between 7-8 grams per liter for the Brut Gold.
The house employs a small team of 18 people who handle the production process, including the labor-intensive riddling process which is performed entirely by hand. The final assembly and packaging of each bottle involves 14 separate steps, reflecting the brand's emphasis on artisanal methods and attention to detail in both production and presentation.