Maison Brimoncourt is not your average Champagne house but rather a celebration of the art of living. Brimoncourt was founded with a vision to rediscover the original spirit of champagne — a light, joyful wine meant for celebration, meant to be shared freely without the formality that often surrounds it. Brimoncourt is described as “a way of being, inspired by free spirits — it is a chivalrous desire, a sophisticated response to convenience and boredom”. Founded by the charming Alexandre Cornot — a former lawyer, Navy officer and art collector — the Maison aims to return Champagne to its original role as a joyful, shared experience. As an admirer of the terroir and Champagne lover, Alexandre Cornot breathes character and exigency into each and every one of the House’s creations.
Brimoncourt’s Chardonnays, known for their fine bubbles and delicate floral notes, are crafted from the finest vintages of the Sézanais and Côte des Blancs. Their Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, meanwhile, are sourced from the Montagne de Reims and the Marne Valley. At the helm of this meticulous process is François Huré, the Chief Oenologist, whose mastery in blending reflects a deep respect for the unique terroir of Champagne. With its roots in the historic terroirs of Sézanais, Côte des Blancs, Montagne de Reims and the Marne Valley, Brimoncourt crafts wines that combine finesse with a touch of rebellion. In this exclusive interview, LUXUO speaks to Patrick Sng, founder and CEO of OneCellar, about why Brimoncourt is capturing the hearts of Champagne lovers in Singapore and beyond.
Tell us about the origins of Champagne Brimoncourt
The name Brimoncourt was a historic Champagne but had been abandoned until the label was resurrected by the current owner, Alexander Cornot, in 2008. Cornot had been an art buyer in New York and saw how people took wine more casually, and wanted to revive the celebratory roots of Champagne instead of reinforcing the formal, exclusive stereotypes. The first vintage was released in 2013, and since then, the signature style of the label has been “joyful elegance”.
Why did One Cellar decide to bring Brimoncourt to Singapore’s Champagne lovers?
It is a beautifully fresh Champagne — generous, silky bubbles, elegant structure with a freshness that doesn’t need excessive sweetness or heaviness. We think it fits not just the Singaporean palate, but also the spirit and cuisine of Singapore.
Can you share some thoughts on the terroir of Brimoncourt: Cote des blancs, Montagne de Reims, Ay?
The chardonnays, characterised by their fine bubbles and their floral notes, are made from the finest vintages of the Sézanias and the Côtes des Blancs, regions, where the grape thrives. The Pinot Noir and Pinot Munier stem from the Montagne de Reims and the Marne Valley. The Marne Valley is where darker grape varieties shine, particularly the Pinot Noir in Ay. François Huré, Chief Oenologist, strives to respect the Champagne Terroir and is a master in the art of blending.
What distinguishes Brimoncourt Brut Regence from the rest of the Brimoncourt range?
The Brut Regence is Brimoncourt’s signature wine. It’s a blend of 80 percent Chardonnay and 20 percent Pinot Noir, and is aged on lees in the bottles for 48 months. This allows it to develop rich flavours of brioche and toasted nuts, while maintaining a beautiful freshness and a delicate floral fragrance. It’s quite a seductive wine, and goes amazingly with smoked salmon or pan-fried scallops. But of course because of it’s subtle elegance, it’s extremely versatile and divine on it’s own.
Brimoncourt, Cuvees are well-known for their elegance and lightness. Do you think that makes them perfect wines to pair with food, as opposed to heavier champagne that would overtake the flavours of a dish?
Their lightness and elegance make them the perfect, versatile champagne to always have on hand. Their light flavours certainly make them particularly pairable with Asian cuisines. Lightly fried dishes like fried rice variations and many dim sum options are on point with these wines. Plus, they are surprisingly versatile with deep-fried dishes, think tempura and batter-fried chicken and fish. This also makes them compatible with western fusion dishes, or on their own. They’re suitable for a number of occasions.
Do you have a personal favourite from the Brimoncourt range, and what would you pair it with?
Personally, I love the Extra Brut. The grapes are rigorously selected from 6 Grand Cru villages in outstanding years. It spends 4 years maturing in the cellar, giving it refined complexity; the winemaking skills really shine through. With a very low dosage of only 2 grams of sugar, it stays dry and fresh on the palate which spotlights the quality of the vines. Bubbles are fine, the citrus and minerality are a delight if you prefer a drier wine.
When do you recommend drinking the subtle, Brimoncourt brut rosé?
We think of this bottle as “bookends”, or a “before and after” kind of bubbly. On a weekend afternoon, it’s a luxury to open a bottle of Champagne, particularly after a hike at MacRitchie Reservoir or a day of running errands. If you can pair this at home with an afternoon thunderstorm and a bit of brie cheese and prosciutto, you’ve hit the pairing jackpot. Before dinner, it’s fresh and whets the palate.
On the other hand, it is perfect to finish a meal with. When you have guests who need one more glass, or if you’re serving a delicious custard with berry compote, this is THE Champagne to have ready. To pair this directly with a meal, I’d recommend roasted veggies or a goat cheese salad.
Do you think Champagne pairs well with Chinese cuisine?
Absolutely! Dim sum and fried rice variations have already been mentioned. Besides that, the acidity in Champagne makes it an excellent match for almost anything featuring scallops, salmon or prawns. Fresh seasonings and subtle herbs served with vegetables are also a good match for Champagne, plus the bubbles go great with steamed or fried dumplings and spring rolls.
Is Maison Brimoncourt in Ay open to visitors? What can guests expect to experience?
Absolutely! Apart from tasting the various cuvees, one can be amazed with the archive of over 8,000 pieces of lithographic stones for various Champagne houses whose labels were once printed on-site 2 centuries ago. Brimoncourt occupies remarkable historic buildings listed in the inventory of the industrial heritage of Champagne. These buildings, designed by Gustave Eiffel, are surrounded by two-hundred-year-old gardens. Visitors are welcome to visit on an appointment basis; either via the Maison’s website https://www.brimoncourt.com/en/ or contact One Cellar at 93661616 to assist with visitation arrangements.
Tell us about the sustainability policies in place at Champagne Brimoncourt?
Brimoncourt has invested time in slowly building relationships with independent growers who respect and encourage integrated viticulture throughout the vine growing cycle. Through it’s carefully selected partnerships, they support soil and vine nutrition, biodiversity preservation, balance of the vine and strengthening of its natural defences.
Brimoncourt and the Asian consumers, a fast-growing love story?
Brimoncourt meets everything the Asian consumer requires; suitable, delicious and accessible. It’s suitability with Asian food pairings, the exquisite and versatile taste and the accessible price point make it a stunning wine. Not only is it getting high ratings from global wine critics like Jancis Robinson and Wine Enthusiast, but our local audience loves it as well.
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