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In 2023, the sommelier at Chef Paul Bocuse’s restaurant discovered 18 bottles of Ruinart 1926 Vintage in the restaurant’s cellars. Recognizing the heritage value of these bottles, he offered to return them to the House.
These precious bottles were then added to Ruinart’s wine library and became the oldest wines currently held by the House. Nearly a century after their production, their remarkable state of preservation still reveals aromas of ripe fruit, apricot, and candied citrus, testifying to the ability of Ruinart wines to stand the test of time.
Caroline Fiot, Cellar Master of Maison Ruinart
Born amid the reconstruction of the Champagne vineyards following World War I, the 1926 vintage coincided with Maurice Hazart’s formal appointment as cellar master at Maison Ruinart, a position he had held since 1911.
Despite vines weakened by disease and late ripening, the sunshine and dry weather of October yielded a fine harvest, resulting in wines renowned for their elegance. A few decades later, some bottles were given to Paul Bocuse, a wine enthusiast and collector of the finest 1926 vintages, and were then stored in his restaurant’s cellar until 2023, before joining the Ruinart wine library via Frédéric Panaïotis.
Caroline Fiot, Cellar Master of Maison Ruinart
A rare testament to an era and to the bond that united a three-Michelin-starred chef, an iconic restaurant, and a great wine, the 1926 vintage embodies a legacy of tradition for Maison Ruinart.
Today, this rare vintage embodies the winemaking heritage of the oldest champagne house. From Maurice Hazart to Frédéric Panaïotis, and now Caroline Fiot, it bears witness to nearly a century of expertise and tradition, at the heart of the style and history of Maison Ruinart.