A fine Champagne does not shout. It draws the taster to its singular character with nuance and subtlety. Nuance and subtlety might be odd words to describe the Champagne of a giant house, one producing millions of bottles — in some cases, well over 100 million each year. But the words are apt descriptions of A.R. Lenoble Champagne, a house that keeps its quality up and its production down to about 400,000 bottles annually, small by most Champagne standards.
Maison Lenoble began in 1920 when Armand-Raphaël Graser, a wine merchant from Alsace, established his vineyard in the Champagne village of Damery. He named his Champagne Lenoble fronted by his initials, A.R. Today, the fourth generation, Armand-Raphaël’s great-grandchildren, sister and brother Anne and Antoine Malassagne, run Maison Lenoble. It is one of the few Champagne houses still owned by the founding family.
Of Champagne’s 320 villages, only 17 vine-growing villages are classified as Grand Cru and 44 as Premier Cru. Maison Lenoble’s 44.5 acres of vineyards are in the Grand Cru village of Chouilly in the Côte des Blancs and the Premier Cru village of Bisseuil.
For the past 15 years, Lenoble has been only intermittently distributed in the United States. Now Cognac One, its new importer, reintroduced the Champagne starting with four non-vintage bottlings and with vintage Lenoble to follow shortly.
To begin, there is Brut Intense ($47), a blend of 40 percent Chardonnay with 30 percent each of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Clean, round, combining a light yeastiness and fruit flavors, it is a beautifully balanced Champagne.
Brut Nature ($52) is stunning. The same blend as Brut Intense but aged six months longer, it receives no dosage and yet it is round, bordering on creamy, and rich in fruit.
The Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs ($56), made 100 percent from Grand Cru Chardonnay, is fine, focused and exquisite with a lingering finish — elegance in a glass.
Lenoble’s Rosé Terroirs ($62) is truly rosé, not salmon as many Rosés are, and offers a whiff of Pinot Noir and a hint of strawberries. It is round with good length and a satisfying finish.
Lenoble is a welcome addition to Champagne in America.
Read This Next
2013 Airline Of The Year And Hotel Of The Year
2013 / December 2013
Dec 5, 2013All Reads on This Topic
Read Them All
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Sep 18, 2026Downtown Phoenix Welcomes First Upscale Urban Retreat
This month, in Phoenix, Arizona, Pacific Hospitality Group opens Denū Hotel & Spa, the newest hotel property in The Meritage Collection.
Sponsored Content
Get to Know TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal's program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business. TAP FORBIZ offers solutions suited to each business: travel cost reduction, more flexibility, more benefits and more value. With TAP FORBIZ, businesses can centralize purchases, control the company budget and ensure greater cost predictability with exclusive discounts and benefits tailored to each company's profile. Each trip becomes a strategic decision to travel more and spend less.
Daily
Sep 18, 2026New Short-Term Rental Brand Just Hit the Scene … And It’s Worth a Second Look
In early 2026, more than 5,500 former Vacasa homes across 24 markets were quietly taken over by an emerging brand. From beach destinations along Florida’s Gulf Coast to mountain getaways in Park City, Utah, these properties are now under Avari, formally launched this month.
Daily
Sep 18, 2026Windstar Unlocks Tower of London After Dark and Other New 2027 Experiences
Explore three different remarkable European destinations in 2027 with Windstar Cruises. The brand’s newest 224-guest, all-suite yacht, Star Explorer, debuts alongside complimentary Destination Discovery Events in Livorno, Dubrovnik and London.
Sponsored Content
What Actually Happens If You Get Sick or Hurt on a Cruise?
You’ve booked your cabin, mapped the ports and packed the sunscreen. Hopefully, you also bought some insurance. But have you ever thought about what actually happens if a medical emergency strikes mid-voyage?
September 2026
Sep 17, 2026High-Spirited Hong Kong: The Dynamic Hub Embraces Its Maritime History and Culture
It was known as the “Kai Tak heart attack” — the thrilling, terrifying final approach into Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Airport. Airliners were required to bank sharply at the last moment, dodging hills and apartment blocks to line up with a runway jutting out into Kowloon Bay. The airport is long gone, but international visitors are arriving at Kai Tak again, albeit more sedately. Their cruise ships dock smoothly at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, a modern gateway designed by Sir Norman Foster.
METT Hotels to Debut in Albania
Daily
Sep 17, 2026Review: InterContinental Barcelona
eFlyer Reviews
Sep 17, 2026Conrad Washington D.C. Introduces 1/3/5 Experiences
Daily
Sep 17, 2026eFlyer News
Sep 16, 2026LXR Hotels & Resorts Coming to Costa Rica in 2029
Hilton’s LXR Hotels & Resorts debuts in Costa Rica in 2029 with the launch of Maravé Manuel Antonio, bringing a new level of luxury to Costa Rica’s Pacific beachfront. The property will sit on a nearly 40-acre estate of rare beachfront that descends from rainforest ridge to ocean.
Sponsored Content
An Adults-Only Resort for All the Milestone Moments
On Saturday, Feb.14, Devossion by Live Aqua celebrated its grand opening, marking a significant milestone for Grupo Posadas and the Live Aqua brand. This adults-only resort focuses on celebration, authentic Mexican experiences and elevated hospitality — perfectly situated in the heart of the Riviera Maya.
Airlines
Sep 16, 2026Delta, Hyatt Announce Long-Term Loyalty Collaboration
Hyatt and Delta Air Lines announced a new, long-term strategic loyalty collaboration bringing together two leading premium travel brands to create a connected, personalized and rewarding experience for World of Hyatt and Delta SkyMiles members.
ShareThis