R de Ruinart is a non-vintage Brut champagne from the Champagne region, the signature cuvée of the house of Ruinart built around the freshness of Chardonnay characteristic of the brand. Ruinart Brut champagne is also sometimes referred to as Ruinart R de Ruinart and represents a wine in the house style.
The house of Ruinart has the longest lineage in Champagne. Founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in Reims, it is the oldest champagne house, and its origins are intertwined with the figure of Dom Thierry Ruinart, a close friend of Dom Pérignon, whose vision inspired the creation of the house. Chardonnay remains the axis of this manufacturer's style and appears in all of its cuvées.
Regarding the blend, sources give slightly different proportions, which results from changes in the vintage base across successive batches of this non-vintage wine. The producer's version indicates that the blend is made up of 40% Chardonnay, 49% Pinot Noir and 11% Meunier, of which 20 to 25% are reserve wines from the two previous years. The wine is made using the classic technology of the house: manual harvest, fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and full malolactic fermentation. The champagne then ages 2 to 3 years in the cellars, building its character.
In the glass it presents a lively, clear yellow colour with golden reflections, with good brilliance, a persistent effervescence and a very long-lasting mousse. On the nose there appear notes of white-fleshed fruits (pear, greengage apple), apricot, as well as hazelnuts and fresh almonds, accompanied by floral and spicy accents; the second aromatic plane reveals intensity against a more brioche-and-biscuit background. The attack on the palate is direct and expressive, the wine structured and rounded, with notes of ripe fruits, greengage and nectarine. The finish is long, and the well-integrated dosage gives way to the characteristic freshness of Chardonnay, which dominates the blend.