MANCHESTER, UK, 2014-9-8 — /EPR Retail News/ — Twenty-eight working class men from the Lancashire mills of 1844 have today (4 September) become synonymous for world-class champagne after their namesake inspired, The Co-operative Les Pionniers Vintage Champagne, beat off stiff competition to be awarded three “World Champion” titles at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2014.
An exclusive long-standing partnership between the world-renowned Piper and Charles Heidseick led by the award-winning winemaker Regis Camus and the Co-op has helped to secure the own-label vintage champagne, named after the Rochdale Pioneers, with its biggest accolades yet from the world’s leading fizz experts.
The Co-operative Les Pionniers Champagne 2004 was awarded the title of “World Champion Supermarket Vintage Champagne”, “World Champion Greatest Value Champagne”, and “World Champion Vintage Brut Blend” at this year’s Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2014 beating hundreds of famous brands including Moet, Waitrose and other Champagnes costing up to three times the £24.99 own-brand bottle.
The judges said:
“This is possibly the most amazing result of the entire competition. The 2004 Les Pionniers is as much a tribute to the winemaking skill of the Piper-Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck winemaking team, under the direction of Régis Camus.”“Unlike so many own-label Champagnes, its strength lies in its superior construction, with components from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger adding class, longevity, and minerality to the rest of this cuvée’s Chardonnay, which comes from the southern part of the Sézanne region. Equally, it is the Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Ambonnay that adds backbone to the rest of this variety, which is sourced mainly from Les Riceys and the Epernay area, while the Meunier is exclusively from the premier cru of Rilly-la- Montagne.”
Champagne buyer at The Co-operative Food, Ben Cahill, said:
“This is a fantastic result for our wonderful award-winning vintage champagne. We’re really proud to have a long-standing relationship with Regis Camus who offers his expert wine making skills from one of the best Champagne producers in the world.“And, now matured for 10 years, our own-label vintage champagne is at its best age for drinking and is a steal at £24.99!”
The Co-operative Les Pionniers Champagne 2004 also picked up Silver at this year’s International Wine Challenge and a Bronze medal at the Decanter awards. The retailer has already been awarded more than 210 medals for wines across its entire range this year.
The Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2014 saw more than 650 entries from leading branded and own-label fizz from across the world – judged by a team of experts including the World’s leading authority on Champagne, Tom Stevenson as well as Essi Avellan and Dr Tony Jordan.
The Co-operative Les Pionniers Champagne 2004, £24.99 12% (39% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier) Made by the legendary Regis Camus (seven times International Wine Challenge ‘Champagne Winemaker of the Year’) at Piper Hiedsieck, this beautifully–crafted champagne offers outstanding value. With a complex and layered palate of crisp apple and gentle citrus fruit intertwined with a delicious bready maturity this is a champagne of great depth and persistence. Toasty, biscuity notes lead to a lingering, slightly nutty finish.
For further information and images, please contact:
Lauren Chambers – Public Relations Officer
Tel: 0161 767 4290
Email: Lauren.chambers@co-operative.coop
Jennifer Long – Senior Public Relations Officer
Tel: 0161 767 4254
Email: Jennifer.long@co-operative.coop
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