Philippe Gilbert and Marc Chagall: what do a Belgian cyclist and a Russian painter have in common? Certainly the allure of great personalities: Giulio Menegatti has created an evocative union between the two, entrusting it to the Philippe Gilbert champagne range.
The Philippe Gilbert champagnes are born of an emotional approach to France and its bubbles.
Giulio Menegatti is a leading authority on the subject, an Italian professional who has devoted much of his working life to discovering French creations, not only in wine.
From his admiration for the phenomenal Gilbert and his enchantment with the creations of the artist Chagall, he has made champagnes of great class, for everyone.
Philippe Gilbert, a metaphor for humanity, strength and elegance
For those who don’t know him, Philippe Gilbert is a professional cyclist, a classics specialist who stands out for his explosive attacks.
His record includes striking victories linked to extraordinary feats such as, for example, winning all three races of the Ardennes triptych in 2011. And he has a style like few others: this, alongside his victories, is what makes Philippe Gilbert a champion of the third millennium – an innate elegance that wraps the power of his athletic exploits like an aura.
“Philippe Gilbert is a man of extraordinary humanity, a true champion like few others. He flies over the cobbles of Paris–Roubaix, he has won a world championship, he has class and strength to spare in a body whose muscles are wrapped in pure silk and dynamite.
In my view a great champagne must present itself in this guise: it must make the taster fly, have body and finesse, and lead you back to the symposium of the righteous through the evaporation of its bubbles.” – Giulio Menegatti
Marc Chagall, paintings on the label
Marc Chagall was a Russian painter of Jewish origin who became a naturalised French citizen. His works draw heavily on Russian folk life, and they include several pieces created for religious and civic buildings.
It was the stained-glass windows of a cathedral, painted by Chagall, that captured Giulio Menegatti’s eye and heart. As he tells us himself, the cathedral is Saint-Remi in Reims, whose portal features precious paintings by Marc Chagall that no one can look at and remain indifferent. When your eyes meet such wonders, it is hard to hold back any emotion.
And so some of the artist’s works became labels for the Philippe Gilbert champagnes, because bottles like these must stir the emotions from every point of view. The labels are registered with the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, based in Épernay.
Our Philippe Gilbert champagnes
And now to the substance: four Philippe Gilbert champagnes from enchanting places, outstanding territories for the production of high-profile labels.
Cuvée Le Bonne Nouvelle
This is the Philippe Gilbert rosé champagne, an exceptional cuvée, a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir vinified as a red, together with around 30% reserve wines. The result is excellent: a champagne with a perfect balance of elegance and taste, refined in its red-fruit nose and crisp on the palate. Cuvée Le Bonne Nouvelle has a long, persistent and pleasantly fresh finish.
Cuvée Les Amoureuses
A white from red grapes, Les Amoureuses is a champagne made from single-varietal Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and a blend of two grape varieties typical of champagne. This Philippe Gilbert champagne stands out for its great aromatic complexity, undoubtedly inherited from the finest Pinot Noir grapes from the villages of Aÿ, classified Premier Cru. The work on the label is Marc Chagall’s Les Amoureux.
Cuvée D. Blanche
This Cuvée, Philippe Gilbert’s D. Blanche, is made from 100% Chardonnay grapes. A champagne of exclusive aromatic intensity, made from equally unique grapes grown on the famous hill of the Côte des Blancs. We are in the villages of Oger and Mesnil-sur-Oger, classified Premier Cru: the Chardonnay grapes grown here are renowned for their crystal-clear purity and for the unmistakable aromas that come from the depth of the chalky marl soil. The label features Marc Chagall’s painting La Belle.
Cuvée La Jolie Fillette
Produced in the area south of Reims, between the villages of Aÿ and Dizy, La Jolie Fillette champagne has classic French charm, with a perfect balance of aroma and minerality. The Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes come from well-exposed plots with deep limestone marl. The label of La Jolie Fillette champagne is inspired by Marc Chagall’s La Promenade.
Philippe Gilbert is a great champagne, beyond expectations!
