Beschreibung:

RARITIES DIRECT FROM THE CELLARS OF THE HOUSE OF LANSON The following lots 560 to 613 have been consigned directly from the cellars of the House of Lanson in Reims prior to delivery to LCB. The Lanson Vintage Collection lots were disgorged in September 2018 unless otherwise stated specifically for this auction. THE HOUSE OF LANSON The House of Lanson was founded in 1760 by François Delamotte, an influential character in Reims society. The joint owner, alongside his wife, of a not-insubstantial vineyard in Cumières and Ay, he decided to found his own Champagne house – one of the very first ever to exist. In 1798, Nicolas-Louis-Delamotte, his younger son, took over from his father. Having been admitted as a knight of the Order of Malta at a very young age, he decided to use the Maltese Cross as the House’s emblem. Now revised, the Lanson cross has become the icon of the company. Jean-Baptiste Lanson, a long-standing friend and later associate of the Delamottes, gradually began to play an increasingly important role in the management of the House. After an agreement between the two families, he succeeded Nicolas-Louis-Delamotte on the latter’s death and renamed the business Maison J-B Lanson et Compagnie. In 1855, Victor-Marie Lanson, Jean-Baptiste’s son, took over the running of the House. The House then took the name Lanson Père et Fils. Jean-Baptiste worked to develop the business outside France, and particularly in Great Britain. He signed the first exclusive agent’s contract with the well-established Percy Fox company in London. This contract lasted a hundred years and gave the House a dominant position in Great Britain. The House developed steadily and won increasing numbers of admirers among connoisseurs, including crowned heads – The House of Lanson has been the Official Supplier to the British Court since 1901, when Henri Marie Lanson was awarded the title of “Purveyor of Champagne to Her Majesty” by Queen Victoria. It retains its Royal Warrant to this day. Later, Lanson also became the only Champagne of the principality of Monaco. In recognition of this honour, the House developed a special design including Monaco’s symbolic chess-board pattern. Victor Lanson then took the helm in 1928. He had a considerable influence on the House’s history, and would become known as the “great ambassador of Champagne”. In 1937, he wanted to promote sales of non-vintage dry wine and decided to name the blend Black Label in honour of the House’s biggest market, Great Britain. He was also one of the first to develop rosé champagne. Etienne Lanson, one of Victor’s sons, joined the House alongside his father. He took over in 1967 and decided to conserve vintages in the cellars to develop a unique wine library, from which the House still benefits today. In 1972, Jean-Paul-Gandon joined the House and in 1986 became the Winemaker – a role he held for almost 30 years! In 2013, Hervé Dantan joined the House, working alongside Jean-Paul-Gandon. In 2015, after two years of sharing and passing on the secrets of the House of Lanson’s production, he has now taken on the great responsibility of being the House’s Winemaker. Since 1760, the house of Lanson has remained family own. Faithful to its heritage, Lanson Champagnes have always been made the original way, offering an exceptional development of flavours while preserving the natural purity of the fruit. This historical commitment makes Lanson wines more fresh, crisp and elegant with a longer ageing potential. A truly unique style. The freshness and energy that are key to the Lanson style are closely linked to the House’s historic commitment to using a traditional wine-making method, without malolactic fermentation. Lanson emphasises the fruit and the richness of aromas in a search for purity in its wines. Wines from different plots are vinified separately. Through numerous tasting sessions they are assessed and classed according to their aromatic family. Blending is the art of creating a