A selection of ten uniquely bottled or packaged champagnes and sparkling wines for New Year’s Eve. Some benefit charities, most benefit taste buds and all benefit the eyes. Bring one of these bottled beauties to a New Year’s Eve party (or break into one of these at home) and you can start off the New Year with no regrets (assuming you don’t drink too much of it).
The Best Beautifully Bottled Bubbly
Of the ten selections shown here, seven are special commissioned designer editions created for respected Champagne houses: Philippe Starck for House of Louis Roederer, Piet Hein Eek for Ruinart, Vik Muniz for Perrier-Jouet, Iris Van Herpen for Dom Perignon, Christofle for Krug, Atelier Casanova for Maison Henriot and Arthus-Bertrand for Moet & Chandon.
Of the remaining three, one is a glittered edition Brut for ONEHOPE, whose proceeds are donated to charity, one is a rose gilded birdcage and miniature stopper for Laurent-Perrier and the last, unique cuvées from the House of Devravry, each in a Carbon Fiber clad bottle that takes six hours to produce. Most all of these have high ratings (90+) from the Wine Spectator or the Wine Enthusiast.
• ONEHOPE NV Glitter Edition Brut
Bring a bottle of ONEHOPE NV Glitter Edition Brut and you’re not only indulging, you’re giving. Pour a glass from the festive glittery bottle and toast to the fact that half of the profits from the purchase of this wine go directly to help end childhood hunger in America via the United Nations World Food Program.
The California Sparkling Wine is light in color and displays aromas of fresh green apple and nectarine with a hint of fresh baked bread. Crisp, intriguing fresh fruit reminiscent of succulent peach, sweet berries and pear linger on the plate, finishing with creamy and refreshing bubbles. This Brut Sparkling Wine can be paired with appetizers, seafood, sushi as well as a wide range of desserts and cheeses.
Buy ONEHOPE California Glitter Edition Brut Sparkling 750 ml here
• Champagne HENRIOT Coffret Twist – Blanc de Blancs
The Blanc de Blancs, Maison Henriot’s symbolic cuvée, packaged in the Twist, a uniquely designed case conceived of and designed by Atelier Casanova (Paris). The white lacquered wood and the natural wood tilted case lends harmony and elegance, in line with the qualities of this Champagne. The case keeps the cuvée cool, and the two parts can be adjusted to different positions in whatever fashion one wants.
Awarded 92 points by Wine Spectator October/November 2013. “Sleek acidity lends fine balance to the rich notes of honey, toasted brioche and nut in this version, filigreed with flavours of patisserie apple, candied lemon peel and fleur de sel. Offers a long, vibrant finish. Drink now through to 2020.”
• Perrier-Jouët’s Cuvée Belle Epoque Rosé 2005 in Vik Muniz Bottle
This sparkling Rosé is bottled in a special edition featuring a hummingbird created by Brazilian artist and photographer Vik Muniz.
Learn the story behind this creation, see more photos and a video with the artist here.
• Krug and Christofle.
Krug Grande Cuvée presented in a special stamped and numbered silver plated box by Christofle. The box is pierced with text in the shape of a fingerprint, giving it two purposes. The first, as a protective presentation box and the second is that afterwards it can function as a lovely silver-plated candle holder.
This limited edition also employs by Krug ID. This means each bottle has its own identity indicated by 6 numbers on the label. By scanning these 6 digits with the available Krug application, one can find the complete path of their own bottle, narrated by Eric Lebel, cellar master of the house Krug. You can also simply type the six digits from the back of your bottle here to learn the story.
Tasting notes for King Grande Cuvée: Notes of toasted bread, hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar and jellied fruits may take you by surprise. You may even taste hints of apples still on the tree, flowers in bloom, ripe and dried fruit, almonds, marzipan, gingerbread, sweet spices and even brioche and honey. You may also notice its exceptional freshness in the mouth, with rich and tangy flavours of lemon and grapefruit enhanced by the subtlety of its fine and elegant bubbles. Krug Grande Cuvée can age beautifully.
• Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne Birdcage Edition
This bottle of Laurent Perrier Rosé Champagne Birdcage Edition is packaged in a rose metal colored cage whose design is based on a traditional bird cage. The cage not only acts as a carrying case for the champagne bottle, but also comes with a matching stopper to preserve the champagne once opened.
Laurent-Perrier Brut Rosé is one of the rare rosé champagnes made using the free-run method, that is to say that the color of the grapes give the champagne its color and aromas quite naturally. It’s a delicate operation requiring great precision and patience.
The Brut Rosé from the house of Laurent-Perrier shows a multiplicity of scintillating salmon pink tints. The first aromas reveal magnificently fresh champagne, with strawberry, redcurrant and raspberry notes. The palate is full of bright fruit, with lightly acidulous tones, and extremely gourmand omnipresent red berry fruits.
• ONE ROSE BOTTLE BOX By Piet Hein Eek for Ruinart
In 2014, Piet Hein Eek is extending his collaboration with Maison Ruinart by creating a new opus for Ruinart Rosé.
Hand sculpted in old wood, with dark hues, its massive natural treatment lends it the appearance of a raw sculpture. Cut like a diamond, the case appears to be made from a single piece, shaped by time. It follows closely the generous curves of the bottle of Ruinart Rosé, a deep pink marking emphasizing the opening, a hint at the wine’s delicate colour.
Each piece is unique and entirely hand-made. A limited series, numbered from 1 to 1729, and signed by the artist.
• Iris van Herpen for Dom Perignon
Dutch fashion designer Iris Van Herpen’s special editions for Dom Perignon consist of two limited-edition bottles and gift boxes, for the Dom Perignon Vintage Blanc 2004, in metallic green, and 2003 Rosé in metallic pink, respectively.
Read all about this and see the accompanying Metamorphoses Cocoonase sculpture, more photos and a video here.
• Moët & Chandon Impérial Nectar Rosé Methuselah Leopard Luxury Edition
This $6200 six-liter bottle (the equivalent to 8 regular sized bottles) is embellished in 22-carat gold leaf with a leopard print motif. Designed by renowned French engraver Arthus-Bertrand, only 60 bottles were produced worldwide.
See more photos and a video of this extravagant edition here.
• Philippe Starck Brut Nature 2006 for Roederer Estate
‘The theme of the bottle of Brut Nature 2006 is really related to its contents,’ explains Philippe Starck, ‘and the contents were so potent that I decided to design a bottle that was stripped of any superfluous embellishment. “— Philippe Starck, Creator
Philippe Starck chose an untreated and unpainted tin sealing capsule, without any inscriptions, whose grey nuances would convey the cuvée’s elegance and authenticity. And the label is a water-resistant Japanese-inspired paper that can be printed and embossed. The reason: the most significant words would be highlighted in colour and the others to be simply inscribed and evocative.
Together, they sum up the story of the champagne: ‘This is a Brut Nature Vintage champagne produced in 2006 by Louis Roederer and Philippe Starck in Reims, France’. This perfectly expresses their quest for the elegance of simplicity. ‘Brut Nature 2006 is both a wonderful adventure and a complete creation: both of the product and its production processes.’
• Cuvée Carbon Champagne
These elegant and luxurious Cuvées are clad in carbon fiber wrapped bottles. There are three Vintages: Vintage 2006, Vintage Rosé 2005 and Blanc de Blancs from the House of Devravry, each available in one of three sizes: Magnum (1,5L), Jéroboam (3L), Nabuchodonosor (15L), and Melchizedek (30L).
Designer of the bottle, Alexandre Mea-Devavry, felt that Carbon would both keep the wine safe from alteration and give the container the prestige that the Cuvée deserves. This led him to create this bottle, the embodiment of his family’s philosophy.
Each bottle of Devravry House’s Carbon Cuvée Champagne is unique and bears the signature of the craftsman. The achievement of each bottle requires six days of work before receiving therein the precious nectar of the Cuvée, costing $3000 a pop.
Learn more about Carbon Cuvee here.
With few exceptions, most of these are available through fine liquor stores and outlets. Prices vary. Please do not drink and drive. And have a very happy new year.
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• More Bubbly For Your Buck: 10 Top Sparkling Wines For New Year’s Eve