The Drink shop Vouchers and offers on G.H. Mumm Champagne

G.H. Mumm at TheDrinkShop

For nearly two centuries, the House of G.H. Mumm has been shaped by the strongly held values that still form an integral part of its identity today. The history of the House reads like an adventure driven by the passion and courage of its founders. Exploring and travelling the world over in pursuit of excellence, they shared a passion for discovery and experiencing the extraordinary that thrived on their innate daring and panache. This spirit lives on today in their successors.

G.H.Mumm’s entire philosophy can be summed up in Georges Hermann de Mumm’s famous maxim, “Only the best”. This bold approach has long been applied to several different areas of the business. These include product quality, of course, but also employee welfare, advertising and technology.

Terroir

The vineyards of Champagne are 120 kilometres east of Paris. Spread over 35,000 hectares, they are divided into four main wine-producing regions – the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, the Côte des Blancs and the Aube. Since 1927, Champagne has been classified into 321 crus or growths rated on a scale from 80-100% based on their soil composition, micro-climate and exposure to the sun, factors which influence wine quality.

A major characteristic of the Champagne region is its 300-metre-thick chalky subsoil, left by the sea that covered Champagne 95 million years ago. This unique, porous material can absorb up to half its own weight in water (300 litres per cubic meter). The subsoil functions as a heat regulator, trapping moisture and releasing it when it’s most needed by the vines. The vines themselves are only planted on hillsides where the chalk penetrates the surface and where the sunlight can easily reach them. Lastly, the chalk’s density has made possible the excavation of the unique network of champagne cellars with their constant temperature (10-12°C), ideal for maturing wine.

The weather in Champagne is a mix of coastal mildness with a harsh continental climate. The winters are unforgiving, the spring frosts frequent and sunshine is relatively rare (1,743 hours per annum). Rainfall is spread evenly throughout the year (670mm). Paradoxically, these extreme weather conditions help produce top-quality grapes and wines of great finesse.

Vineyards

G.H. Mumm has nearly 218 hectares of vineyards rated at 98% on the Champagne quality scale.

These are mainly sited in the eight most renowned Grands Crus in Champagne: Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Verzy, Verzenay, Avize, Cramant and Mailly-Champagne. These holdings cover 25% of G.H. Mumm’s production needs. The remaining 75% comes from independent growers with whom the company has developed strong ties.

This combination of its own vineyards and external supply enables the House of G.H. Mumm to maintain a consistent style and continue its philosophy of close scrutiny over grape quality. At G.H. Mumm, the chef de cave can call on raw material of the very best quality from a range of sources.

Harvest

Usually, the grapes are picked between the end of September and mid-October, around 100 days after the vines have flowered. This is when the grapes are most ripe. As required by the Champagne appellation rules, picking is exclusively by hand, vineyard parcel by vineyard parcel, bunch by bunch.

For about three weeks, the House of G.H. Mumm employs approximately 1,000 grape pickers. The grapes are pressed, with only their juice collected during the process which minimises the risk of damage from the long journey to the winery or from the weather.

Today, the House of G.H. Mumm still has seven traditional presses from that time, known as ‘Coquard presses’, near its vineyard holdings. After pressing, the grape juice must have any organic residue, pips or skins from the grapes and any vineyard soil removed.

Vinification

After pressing, the must is stored in vats for about two weeks at between 18 and 20°C for the alcoholic fermentation process. Natural yeasts convert the sugar in the must into alcohol and carbon dioxide, turning the must into wine. The company has always allowed a second fermentation, known as the malolactic fermentation, to occur. This is a natural process during which the malic acid turns into lactic acid, reducing acidity and making the wines softer. Following the fermentations, the wines are transferred to other vats to remove any remaining yeast or solids that could affect the taste. The wines are called "still wines" after clarifying, as they have yet to acquire their sparkle.

To reach the blending stage, around 2,000 samples are tasted, noted and memorised every year by chef de caves Didier Mariotti and his team of expert winemakers. Up to 77 different crus go into the Cordon Rouge blend each year. The wine is then chilled to -4°C for 8-10 days to safeguard its quality. The wine can now be bottled and the liqueur de tirage added. This is a mixture of sugar and yeast that will trigger the alcoholic fermentation in bottle, giving the wine its sparkle. Bottling starts in February and ends in July. After filling, the bottles are sealed with a bidule (French for "thingummy") or plastic cover held in place by a crown cap that acts as the bottle’s final closure.

MUMM - Cordon Rose NV


ABV: 12.5%
Grape Type: 60% Pinot Noir, 18% Pinot Meunier and 22% Chardonnay.
Colour: The wine is bright, clear pink in colour with shades of yellow and orange. The sparkle is delicate but lively, with light, elegant bubbles.
Nose: There are forest- and fresh-fruit aromas of strawberry, redcurrant and grapefruit on the nose. These are offset by caramel and vanilla accents reminiscent of G.H. Mumm Cordon Rouge.
Palate: In the mouth, the wine has exceptional length due to its Pinot Noir content. The fruit and caramel notes give it a pleasingly fresh and rounded taste.
Food Matching: This rosé makes an ideal aperitif and goes well with red berries or fruit desserts. As part of a meal, it forms a good match for grilled fish – mullet, bass or turbot for example. It also complements Coquilles Saint-Jacques or grilled gambas.

On Special Offer - Was £26.75 - Now £23.36

MUMM - Cordon Rouge

ABV: 12.5%
Grape Type: 45% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier and 30% Chardonnay.
Colour: Golden yellow to the eye with tinges of jade green. The sparkle is gentle, elegant and sustained.
Nose: On the nose there are citrus hints and rich fruit aromas of white peach and apricot. These lengthen into notes of vanilla, dried fruits and honey.
Palate: On the palate, the complex fusion of fresh fruit and caramel point to the wine’s inherent quality. Gentle acidity, sparkle that’s ample but not overbearing and an unusually long-lasting taste are the hallmarks of a balanced finish, consistent and multi-faceted.
Food Matching: The Cordon Rouge works well as an aperitif. Its freshness and intensity make it an equally fine match for grilled fish or roasts.

On Special Offer - Was £24.99 - Now £21.84

MUMM - De Cramant


ABV: 12.5%
Grape Type: 100% Chardonnay.
Colour: The wine is bright, soft yellow in colour. Bubbles that are light and delicate yield a gentle, creamy sparkle.
Nose: The nose is of white flowers, fresh fruit and lemon. Young, fresh aromas predominate with an inherent elegance.
Palate: The taste opens on fresh fruit and lemon, followed by grapefruit and kumquat notes. The gentle sparkle, at first expansive, gives way to the Chardonnay grape’s natural grandeur.
Food Matching: Mumm de Cramant, the blanc de blancs champagne, makes an ideal aperitif. It's an equally fine match for fish and seafood, for example carpaccio of Coquilles Saint-Jacques, lobster with crisp, young vegetables or even warm oysters.

On Special Offer - Was £39.84 - Now £34.76

MUMM - Demi Sec


ABV: 12.5%
Grape Type: 55% Pinot Meunier, 35% Pinot Noir and 10 % Chardonnay.
Colour: To the eye, the wine is golden yellow with amber tints. The sparkle is lively and the bubbles prolific.
Nose: There are intense fruit notes on the nose, with peach, pear and exotic fruit. Vanilla and honey aromas complete the picture.
Palate: On tasting, the palate is consistently rounded and smooth, complemented by a touch of fresh acidity.
Food Matching: From its inception, the Demi-Sec has been enjoyed with desserts such as: fresh fruit salad, sabayon of stone fruits in champagne and tarte tatin.

On Special Offer - Was £26.33 - Now £22.98

MUMM - Grand Cru NV


ABV: 12.5%
Grape Type: 10.6% Pinot Noir from Aÿ, 10.5% Pinot Noir from Bouzy, 35.8% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, 28.4% Chardonnay from Cramant and 14.7% Chardonnay from Avize.
Colour: The wine’s clear, bright yellow hue with its golden tinges contains fine bubbles that produce a light yet generous sparkle.
Nose: The nose opens on fresh, crisp aromas and honey, the richness then giving way to floral notes (white flowers), vanilla-sweetness, wax and lush white fruit.
Palate: On tasting, the champagne's depth of character is immediately discernible, given extra force by the refreshing, consistent sparkle. The long, delicate finish is bewitching. The final impression left by G.H. Mumm Grand Cru is invariably one of harmony and completeness.
Food Matching: The Grand Cru is an exceptional champagne. It can be enjoyed as an aperitif, but it comes into its own when accompanying white meats, waterfowl, fish or seafood.

On Special Offer - Was £36.99 - Now £32.17