What is in the label of a champagne?
First and foremost, the identity of the maker. A name carries with it so much value. If you have watched Sour Grapes, you know.
The EU law mandates 9 elements to be included in the label (front and back). Apart from the identity of the maker and that it is a champagne (by definition, from the Champagne region in France only), there are some other useful information, including the type as classified by the residual sugar content (from low to high): Extra Brut, Brut Nature, Brut, Extra-Dry, Sec, Demi-Sec or Doux. I usually see the first three types and rarely the others in the champagnes I drink. I prefer mine to be refreshing, and of course, lower sugar level means lower calories (not counting the alcohol).
The label should also state the volume, but that is to me redundant since one should be able to tell from the size of the bottle (half, standard or magnum). The rest of the information may not be so relevant for casual consumption unless you are a serious drinker or collector. Information on Cuvee/Réservée, Vintage, and differences between acronyms such NM (a champagne house which may or may not grow its own grapes) and RM (a grower champagne) etc., would make some significant difference to the "pros" and sometimes adds an extra zero to price. Information on the type of grapes used, the classification of the Cru, may be also of interest to a more discerning drinker. Further information beyond the labels is required to properly study a bottle. Yes, it is a study, not for everyone if all you want is to wind down the day with some bubbly high.
Champagne labels are also aesthetic in nature. There is strong national pride in marketing and branding and as one champagne-maker says it:
“Champagne must be to wine what couture is to fashion.”
- Alfred Gratien, founder of Alfred Gratien Champagne
The more refined champagnes generally have better aesthetics in the labels too. It is therefore just and right to judge a bottle by the quality of its label.
I might have went a bit further when I bought some champagne purely because of its packaging. How could I resist a Stradivarius (although what is an Italian violin doing on a French champagne)? So I snapped up the only two bottles remaining in the wine shop. Look at the little violins hanging around the necks! I made sure they were perfectly in tact when I opened the bottles.
To some it might seem gimmicky but given the price it was retailing at (slightly over S$100), it is a reasonable buy and could be a nice gift and interesting talking point at a dinner. The champagne was decent. the only complaint was that the gold on the bottle does not last (the thin layer peeled off quickly within a few months) and could not make a good souvenir.
Moral of the story? Well, there is no moral here. I am just bubbling about the labels.
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