Why The Lamborghini Countach Is The Ultimate Raging Bull
A brief history of how the Countach became the Italian marque’s most famous supercar.
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In Lamborghini’s rich, nearly six-decade history, few cars have generated more fervour than the Countach.
The supercar, which went into production in 1974, changed the way Ferruccio Lamborghini’s marque would be viewed forever. The company had already proven it could hold its own against Ferrari with the gorgeous Miura, but it was that car’s successor, the Countach, that helped make the Raging Bull into what it is today. It was a vehicle that emphatically stated that Lamborghini cared as much about design as it did boundary-pushing performance.
The vehicle certainly evolved over its 16-year production run, but there’s no denying something special was happening from the very beginning. The first version, the LP400, helped popularise the now-iconic Italian wedge shape, while the last iteration, the 25th Anniversary Edition, was packed with features that have been seen on countless supercars in the decades since. Not to mention the fact that its beastly V-12 mill was capable of producing the sort of power that was virtually unheard of in 1974.
Here’s how and why the Countach became an automotive icon—the most famous Lamborghini ever made.
The Origin Story
The Lamborghini LP500 concept car Lamborghini
The Lamborghini Miura made quite the splash upon its debut in 1966. Yet by the end of the decade, the model’s bold design and performance didn’t stand out the way they had a few years earlier, especially when compared to the Ferrari Daytona. Because of that, Ferruccio Lamborghini set a lofty goal for his designers and engineers in 1970: create a car that could live up to the high standards set by the Miura—and then surpass them.
The team assigned to the project, which was codenamed “LP112,” included chief engineer Paolo Stanzani, assistant engineer Massimo Parrenti, designer Marcello Gandini of Bertone and test driver Bob Wallace. They quickly set about creating an all-new vehicle that took some of the Miura’s best features—like its styling and rear-mid-engine layout—and corrected (or completely jettisoned) some of its worst, such as its uneven weight distribution and poor high-speed stability. But the biggest difference was in the car’s purpose. The Miura was a grand tourer, a favourite of the marque’s founder, while the new model would be purely a sports car.
It couldn’t have been an easy feat, but by 1971 a prototype was ready. The new car would make its debut at that year’s Geneva Motor Show as the LP500 concept, and leave the automotive world in shock—a fitting reaction since the car’s name is an exclamation of astonishment in the Piedmontese language (which is spoken in the northwest of Italy). As with all prototypes, there was still work to be done, but by 1974 the finished car was ready for its moment in the spotlight.
How to Pronounce It
It may look like count-ash, coun-tach or even con-tack, but the proper way to say it is koon-taash.
A Bold Design: The Wedge
Lamborghini Countach LP400 Lamborghini
Ever wonder why so many supercars have that distinctive wedge shape? The answer is the Countach. It wasn’t the first vehicle to sport the bold design flair—that would be the DAF55 Siluro—but it is the car most responsible for popularising the shape and giving it a legacy that lasts to this day.
The body shape, which would remain relatively unaltered throughout the nameplate’s 16 years, is far from the only eye-catching element of its design. Gandini, who also designed the Miura, outdid himself with the Countach, dreaming up a wide and low-set vehicle with bold lines. The car was made to do two things: look cool and go fast. The interior was dominated by geometric shapes that mimicked the lines of the exterior, and its two seats were positioned so low that you’re practically sitting on the floor while driving. It also looked futuristic from the very beginning, thanks in part to its rocket ship–like rear end and scissor doors. The Countach, in fact, was the first production vehicle to incorporate the over-the-top door design.
Lamborghini Countach LP500 S RM Sotheby’s
There is a very clear through-line between the first Countach and the final example, but you can also see how the industry evolved by tracking the changes between the car’s five distinct iterations. Over time, its shape became even more angular. Aerodynamic elements like vents and fenders grew more dramatic and it sprouted a giant rear wing.
Of course, new designs can bring unexpected challenges. The Countach looked like no car before it—in part, because a lot of design decisions seem to have been made with style, not function, in mind. Drivers couldn’t see out the rear window of the first Countach, the LP400, so a special periscope-like rig was setup to help (earning it the very apt “Periscopo” nickname). The cabin, while looking very chic, wasn’t particularly comfortable, either, managing to be both cramped and poorly ventilated. Practicality was not its calling card, one reason why it’s been called the “inconvenient ideal.”
The Engine: A V-12 Beast
Lamborghini Countach LP5000 Quattrovalvole RM Sotheby’s
As thrilling as the Countach’s design may be, it’s far from the only reason the car is considered an icon. The vehicle is a supercar in the truest sense of the word, mixing a bold look with equally impressive performance.
Every single example of the Countach is powered by a naturally aspirated V-12 engine with a Longitudinale Posteriore orientation—that’s where the LP in its full name comes from—meaning it is situated parallel with the length of car and near the rear. This was the first time the engine layout was used on a road vehicle. Like many elements of the Countach, it has become much more commonplace in the years since, especially on Raging Bulls. The engine is mated to a five-speed syncromesh manual gearbox situated between the car’s two seats, which sends power to the rear axle.
Like the vehicle’s design, its V-12 power plant evolved over time. The first was a 4.0-litre mill that produced 276kW and 366Nm of torque, while the final and most refined version was a 5.2-litre engine that churned out 334kW and 500Nm of twist. Regardless the exact size and output of the engine, the Countach was fast for the time. Depending on engine configuration, the car covers zero to 100km/h in anywhere from 5.9 seconds to 4.5 seconds and tops out between 254km/h and 297km/h.
16 Years, 5 Models
1979 Lamborghini Countach LP400 S from “The Cannonball Run” Hagerty Drivers Foundation
The Countach was in production from 1974 to 1990. That was more than twice as long as its predecessor, the Miura. Over that 16-year period, Lamborghini built and released five distinct iterations of the supercar.
Two different versions of the Countach were sold during the ’70s. The LP400 “Periscopo,” which went on sale in 1974, was the most stylistically pure version of the car and was powered by a 4.0-litre V-12. It was followed in 1978 by the LP400 S. That model actually features a downgraded engine and is the least powerful Countach of the bunch. It did get wider tires and more prominent wheel arches, helping establish the look that most people think of when the Countach name comes up (it was also the model featured in The Cannonball Run).
The ‘80s saw the release of three different Countach models. The first, the LP500 S, showed up in 1982. It looked identical to the LP400 S but had a 4.8-litre V-12 power plant. It was followed three years later by the LP5000 Quattrovalvole (or QV). It had a bolder, chunkier design, but the biggest difference was a 5.2-litre V-12 with four valves per cylinder (hence the quattro valvole moniker). The final version, the 25th Anniversary Edition, first went on sale in 1988 and was built until 1990. Mechanically, it was the same as its predecessor, but this model was restyled by Horacio Pagani, who made the car’s aerodynamic elements bigger and bolder than ever before.
The Countach is now widely regarded as Lamborghini’s defining model, but it never sold that well during its lifetime. This was due, in no small part, to its impracticality and sky-high price tag (for the era, at least). That might explain why the marque started working on its successor in the mid-’80s. That car was the Diablo, which premiered in 1990, the same year the brand wrapped up production of the Countach.
How Much Does a Countach Cost?
Lamborghini Countach 25th Anniversary Edition Lamborghini
Exclusivity is nothing new for Lamborghini. Despite a run that lasted the better part of two decades, only 2,049 examples of the Countach produced. That, combined with the car’s historical importance, make prime examples hard to find.
The price of the Countach rose from approx. $72,310 to $201,630 while it was still in production, and it has grown exponentially since. On the rare occasion that a Countach is listed for sale or hits the auction block, it can be expected to more than double its original sticker price. Over the last few years, we’ve regularly seen the car sell in excess of $400,000, and one example sold for just shy of $1.4 million last month.
A New Countach for 2021
The Lamborghini Countach LPI 800-4 hybrid supercar Photo: Courtesy of Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A.
Of course, the secondary market isn’t the only place to score a Countach. Lamborghini is making the car again—kind of.
Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the original LP 500 concept’s debut, and Lamborghini wasn’t about to let a milestone like that pass without a celebration. In August, the marque announced it was bringing back the legendary nameplate as a hybrid supercar. Needless to say, the automotive world lost its collective mind.
The new Countach LPI 800-4 was one of the boldest debuts of 2021. It features a modernized take on Gandini’s design but still holds on to most if its trademark elements, including the scissor doors. The bigger deviation is in the power train. It’s still powered by a V-12—one which can pump out 573kW—but it’s joined by a 48-volt electric motor that adds an additional 33 hp, bringing total output to 598kW.
As impressive as those specs may sound, the car hasn’t been without its detractors, including original designer Gandini. Some critics seem to view the car as little more than a re-skinned Aventador released solely to make money. That’s because the car is priced at $3.67 million, which is a whole lot more than the cost of a well-maintained original. Regardless, something tells us that Lamborghini isn’t losing any sleep from the criticism. The electrified Countach’s 112-unit production run sold out almost immediately.
The Lamborghini Countach LP500 reconstruction Lamborghini
Believe it or not, the LPI 800-4 wasn’t the only new Countach to debut in 2021. In October, the marque also revealed it had built an inch-perfect replica of the original LP 500 prototype for a “very important Lamborghini customer.” It’s unclear who commissioned the project, or how much they paid for it, but it’s hard to imagine the one-of-a-kind machine would cost less than seven figures.
What is clear, however, is that half a century on, the passion for the Countach is alive and well.
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Watch of the Week: TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith
The legendary sports watch returns, but with an unexpected twist.
Over the last few years, watch pundits have predicted the return of the eccentric TAG Heuer Formula 1, in some shape or form. It was all but confirmed when TAG Heuer’s heritage director, Nicholas Biebuyck, teased a slew of vintage models on his Instagram account in the aftermath of last year’s Watches & Wonders 2023 in Geneva. And when speaking with Frédéric Arnault at last year’s trade fair, the former CEO asked me directly if the brand were to relaunch its legacy Formula 1 collection, loved by collectors globally, how should they go about it?
My answer to the baited entreaty definitely didn’t mention a collaboration with Ronnie Fieg of Kith, one of the world’s biggest streetwear fashion labels. Still, here we are: the TAG Heuer Formula 1 is officially back and as colourful as ever.
As the watch industry enters its hype era—in recent years, we’ve seen MoonSwatches, Scuba Fifty Fathoms, and John Mayer G-Shocks—the new Formula 1 x Kith collaboration might be the coolest yet.
Here’s the lowdown: overnight, TAG Heuer, together with Kith, took to socials to unveil a special, limited-edition collection of Formula 1 timepieces, inspired by the original collection from the 1980s. There are 10 new watches, all limited, with some designed on a stainless steel bracelet and some on an upgraded rubber strap; both options nod to the originals.
Seven are exclusive to Kith and its global stores (New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Hawaii, Tokyo, Toronto, and Paris, to be specific), and are made in an abundance of colours. Two are exclusive to TAG Heuer; and one is “shared” between TAG Heuer and Kith—this is a highlight of the collection, in our opinion. A faithful play on the original composite quartz watch from 1986, this model, limited to just 1,350 pieces globally, features the classic black bezel with red accents, a stainless steel bracelet, and that creamy eggshell dial, in all of its vintage-inspired glory. There’s no doubt that this particular model will present as pure nostalgia for those old enough to remember when the original TAG Heuer Formula 1 made its debut.
Of course, throughout the collection, Fieg’s design cues are punctuated: the “TAG” is replaced with “Kith,” forming a contentious new brand name for this specific release, as well as Kith’s slogan, “Just Us.”
Collectors and purists alike will appreciate the dedication to the original Formula 1 collection: features like the 35mm Arnite cases—sourced from the original 80s-era supplier—the form hour hand, a triangle with a dot inside at 12 o’clock, indices that alternate every quarter between shields and dots, and a contrasting minuterie, are all welcomed design specs that make this collaboration so great.
Every TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith timepiece will be presented in an eye-catching box that complements the fun and colour theme of Formula 1 but drives home the premium status of this collaboration. On that note, at $2,200 a piece, this isn’t exactly an approachable quartz watch but reflects the exclusive nature of Fieg’s Kith brand and the pieces he designs (largely limited-edition).
So, what do we think? It’s important not to understate the significance of the arrival of the TAG Heuer Formula 1 in 1986, in what would prove integral in setting up the brand for success throughout the 90’s—it was the very first watch collection to have “TAG Heuer” branding, after all—but also in helping to establish a new generation of watch consumer. Like Fieg, many millennial enthusiasts will recall their sentimental ties with the Formula 1, often their first timepiece in their horological journey.
This is as faithful of a reissue as we’ll get from TAG Heuer right now, and budding watch fans should be pleased with the result. To TAG Heuer’s credit, a great deal of research has gone into perfecting and replicating this iconic collection’s proportions, materials, and aesthetic for the modern-day consumer. Sure, it would have been nice to see a full lume dial, a distinguishing feature on some of the original pieces—why this wasn’t done is lost on me—and perhaps a more approachable price point, but there’s no doubt these will become an instant hit in the days to come.
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The TAG Heuer Formula 1 | Kith collection will be available on Friday, May 3rd, exclusively in-store at select TAG Heuer and Kith locations in Miami, and available starting Monday, May 6th, at select TAG Heuer boutiques, all Kith shops, and online at Kith.com. To see the full collection, visit tagheuer.com
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8 Fascinating Facts You Didn’t Know About Aston Martin
The British sports car company is most famous as the vehicle of choice for James Bond, but Aston Martin has an interesting history beyond 007.
Aston Martin will forever be associated with James Bond, ever since everyone’s favourite spy took delivery of his signature silver DB5 in the 1964 film Goldfinger. But there’s a lot more to the history of this famed British sports car brand beyond its association with the fictional British Secret Service agent.
Let’s dive into the long and colourful history of Aston Martin.
The origin of the Aston Martin name
The company that would become Aston Martin started out as a car dealership. In 1912, Englishmen Robert Bamford and Lionel Martin partnered to sell cars, but soon after they decided to build their own models. Their first prototype debuted in 1915, named in honour of Martin, a racing driver, and his favourite racing venue, Aston Hills. Thus, the name Aston Martin was born.
A speed-demon co-founder banned from driving
Aston Martin co-founder Lionel Martin wasn’t just a keen racing driver—he was an all-out speed demon. As a student, Martin won numerous gruelling bicycle racing records, including riding nearly the full width of England in one 22-hour stretch. He competed in motorcycle and sidecar races and automotive hillclimb competitions. It seems he also brought that need for speed to the public roadways: In 1909, having neglected to pay a previous speeding fine, Martin was caught driving 41.5 km/ph in London and was banned from driving for two years—during which he set yet another cross-country bicycle record.
A tractor company takes over
The years after World War I were tumultuous for Aston Martin, with financial difficulties and numerous takeovers. In 1947, Aston Martin went up for sale and was purchased by David Brown Limited, a company that specialised in farm tractors and industrial gears. Sir David Brown, grandson of the company’s founder, was a lifelong car enthusiast and racer, having built his own competition cars while working as an engineer at the family company. The first car built by Aston Martin after this takeover was called the DB1, named after the tractor company (and the man) that had saved the carmaker.
An indirect connection to Bentley
Around the same time that Sir David Brown took over Aston Martin, he purchased another struggling British carmaker, Lagonda. The company was developing a revolutionary twin-cam six-cylinder engine called the LB6, and Sir David wanted the engine for his new line of Aston Martin sports cars. The Lagonda engine had been designed by none other than W.O. Bentley—the man who co-founded Bentley Motors, who had long since been pushed out of the company bearing his name.
The history of the DB Series
Aston Martin built seven vehicles named in honour of owner Sir David Brown: The DB1, DB2, DB3, DB4, DB5, DB6, and the combo-breaker DBS all bore Sir David’s initials. In 1972, Sir David sold the car company, and the new owners ended the DB series of vehicles, but the name was revived in 1993 with the DB7 in honour of Sir David—who himself was given an honorary position at the company that same year.
Bond, James Bond
Of course, the most famous Aston Martin of them all is the DB5. Just over 1,000 examples were built between 1963 and 1965, but millions worldwide know this as the James Bond car. In the books, author Ian Fleming had specified an earlier Aston Martin DB Mark III as Bond’s car. Still, the DB5 was introduced in the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger, equipped with gadgets including machine guns, smoke screens, oil slicks, an ejector seat, and rotating license plates. Bond has driven several Aston Martin models over the years, including a V8 Vantage, a V12 Vanquish, and two DBS models, but the original DB5 will always be considered the quintessential Bond car.
The angular years
Today, the Aston Martin badge is most closely associated with swooping, evocatively curvy car designs, but in the 1970s the company was obsessed with angular, wedge-shaped designs. The trend began in 1976 with the Aston Martin Lagonda, a shockingly unconventional four-door luxury sedan with “folded-paper” body styling and the world’s first all-digital instrument panel. The Lagonda’s styling was further evolved in 1979 with the Bulldog, a radical concept car with gullwing doors and a sharply pointed nose. The Bulldog was meant to become the fastest road car on earth, but the project was abandoned before production could begin.
For Bond’s eyes only
While most of James Bond’s Aston Martins have been commercially available to anyone who could afford one, the DB10 seen in the 2015 film Spectre was exclusive to 007. As Aston Martin executive Marek Reichman explained to Variety, director Sam Mendes, producer Barbara Broccoli, and Bond star Daniel Craig were touring Aston Martin’s design studios when they saw a concept sketch on the wall. The Bond team insisted that this should be 007’s next car, and Aston Martin spent the next six months furiously working to turn the drawing into a real-world car. The DB10 was unveiled during the launch of the film Spectre, and eight of the 10 examples built were featured in the movie, with the remaining two used for promotional appearances.
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What Venice’s New Tourist Tax Means for Your Next Trip
The Italian city will now charge visitors an entry fee during peak season.
Visiting the Floating City just got a bit more expensive.
Venice is officially the first metropolis in the world to start implementing a day-trip fee in an effort to help the Italian hot spot combat overtourism during peak season, The Associated Press reported. The new program, which went into effect, requires travellers to cough up roughly €5 (about $AUD8.50) per person before they can explore the city’s canals and historic sites. Back in January, Venice also announced that starting in June, it would cap the size of tourist groups to 25 people and prohibit loudspeakers in the city centre and the islands of Murano, Burano, and Torcello.
“We need to find a new balance between the tourists and residents,’ Simone Venturini, the city’s top tourism official, told AP News. “We need to safeguard the spaces of the residents, of course, and we need to discourage the arrival of day-trippers on some particular days.”
During this trial phase, the fee only applies to the 29 days deemed the busiest—between April 25 and July 14—and tickets will remain valid from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Visitors under 14 years of age will be allowed in free of charge in addition to guests with hotel reservations. However, the latter must apply online beforehand to request an exemption. Day-trippers can also pre-pay for tickets online via the city’s official tourism site or snap them up in person at the Santa Lucia train station.
“With courage and great humility, we are introducing this system because we want to give a future to Venice and leave this heritage of humanity to future generations,” Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro said in a statement on X (formerly known as Twitter) regarding the city’s much-talked-about entry fee.
Despite the mayor’s backing, it’s apparent that residents weren’t totally pleased with the program. The regulation led to protests and riots outside of the train station, The Independent reported. “We are against this measure because it will do nothing to stop overtourism,” resident Cristina Romieri told the outlet. “Moreover, it is such a complex regulation with so many exceptions that it will also be difficult to enforce it.”
While Venice is the first city to carry out the new day-tripper fee, several other European locales have introduced or raised tourist taxes to fend off large crowds and boost the local economy. Most recently, Barcelona increased its city-wide tourist tax. Similarly, you’ll have to pay an extra “climate crisis resilience” tax if you plan on visiting Greece that will fund the country’s disaster recovery projects.
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Omega Reveals a New Speedmaster Ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics
Your first look at the new Speedmaster Chronoscope, designed in the colour theme of the Paris Olympics.
The starters are on the blocks, and with less than 100 days to go until the Paris 2024 Olympics, luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega was bound to release something spectacular to mark its bragging rights as the official timekeeper for the Summer Games. Enter the new 43mm Speedmaster Chronoscope, available in new colourways—gold, black, and white—in line with the colour theme of the Olympic Games in Paris this July.
So, what do we get in this nicely-wrapped, Olympics-inspired package? Technically, there are four new podium-worthy iterations of the iconic Speedmaster.
The new versions present handsomely in stainless steel or 18K Moonshine Gold—the brand’s proprietary yellow gold known for its enduring shine. The steel version has an anodised aluminium bezel and a stainless steel bracelet or vintage-inspired perforated leather strap. The Moonshine Gold iteration boasts a ceramic bezel; it will most likely appease Speedy collectors, particularly those with an affinity for Omega’s long-standing role as stewards of the Olympic Games.
Notably, each watch bears an attractive white opaline dial; the background to three dark grey timing scales in a 1940s “snail” design. Of course, this Speedmaster Chronoscope is special in its own right. For the most part, the overall look of the Speedmaster has remained true to its 1957 origins. This Speedmaster, however, adopts Omega’s Chronoscope design from 2021, including the storied tachymeter scale, along with a telemeter, and pulsometer scale—essentially, three different measurements on the wrist.
While the technical nature of this timepiece won’t interest some, others will revel in its theatrics. Turn over each timepiece, and instead of a transparent crystal caseback, there is a stamped medallion featuring a mirror-polished Paris 2024 logo, along with “Paris 2024” and the Olympic Rings—a subtle nod to this year’s games.
Powering this Olympiad offering—and ensuring the greatest level of accuracy—is the Co-Axial Master Chronometer Calibre 9908 and 9909, certified by METAS.
A Speedmaster to commemorate the Olympic Games was as sure a bet as Mondo Deplantis winning gold in the men’s pole vault—especially after Omega revealed its Olympic-edition Seamaster Diver 300m “Paris 2024” last year—but they delivered a great addition to the legacy collection, without gimmickry.
However, the all-gold Speedmaster is 85K at the top end of the scale, which is a lot of money for a watch of this stature. By comparison, the immaculate Speedmaster Moonshine gold with a sun-brushed green PVD “step” dial is 15K cheaper, albeit without the Chronoscope complications.
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The Omega Speedmaster Chronoscope in stainless steel with a leather strap is priced at $15,725; stainless steel with steel bracelet at $16,275; 18k Moonshine Gold on leather strap $54,325; and 18k Moonshine Gold with matching gold bracelet $85,350, available at Omega boutiques now.
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Here’s What Goes Into Making Jay-Z’s $1,800 Champagne
We put Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4 under the microsope.
In our quest to locate the most exclusive and exciting wines for our readers, we usually ask the question, “How many bottles of this were made?” Often, we get a general response based on an annual average, although many Champagne houses simply respond, “We do not wish to communicate our quantities.” As far as we’re concerned, that’s pretty much like pleading the Fifth on the witness stand; yes, you’re not incriminating yourself, but anyone paying attention knows you’re probably guilty of something. In the case of some Champagne houses, that something is making a whole lot of bottles—millions of them—while creating an illusion of rarity.
We received the exact opposite reply regarding Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4. Yasmin Allen, the company’s president and CEO, told us only 7,328 bottles would be released of this Pinot Noir offering. It’s good to know that with a sticker price of around $1,800, it’s highly limited, but it still makes one wonder what’s so exceptional about it.
Known by its nickname, Ace of Spades, for its distinctive and decorative metallic packaging, Armand de Brignac is owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy and Jay-Z and is produced by Champagne Cattier. Each bottle of Assemblage No. 4 is numbered; a small plate on the back reads “Assemblage Four, [X,XXX]/7,328, Disgorged: 20 April, 2023.” Prior to disgorgement, it spent seven years in the bottle on lees after primary fermentation mostly in stainless steel with a small amount in concrete. That’s the longest of the house’s Champagnes spent on the lees, but Allen says the winemaking team tasted along the way and would have disgorged earlier than planned if they’d felt the time was right.
Chef de cave, Alexandre Cattier, says the wine is sourced from some of the best Premier and Grand Cru Pinot Noir–producing villages in the Champagne region, including Chigny-les-Roses, Verzenay, Rilly-la-Montagne, Verzy, Ludes, Mailly-Champagne, and Ville-sur-Arce in the Aube département. This is considered a multi-vintage expression, using wine from a consecutive trio of vintages—2013, 2014, and 2015—to create an “intense and rich” blend. Seventy percent of the offering is from 2015 (hailed as one of the finest vintages in recent memory), with 15 percent each from the other two years.
This precisely crafted Champagne uses only the tête de cuvée juice, a highly selective extraction process. As Allen points out, “the winemakers solely take the first and freshest portion of the gentle cuvée grape press,” which assures that the finished wine will be the highest quality. Armand de Brignac used grapes from various sites and three different vintages so the final product would reflect the house signature style. This is the fourth release in a series that began with Assemblage No. 1. “Testing different levels of intensity of aromas with the balance of red and dark fruits has been a guiding principle between the Blanc de Noirs that followed,” Allen explains.
The CEO recommends allowing the Assemblage No. 4 to linger in your glass for a while, telling us, “Your palette will go on a journey, evolving from one incredible aroma to the next as the wine warms in your glass where it will open up to an extraordinary length.” We found it to have a gorgeous bouquet of raspberry and Mission fig with hints of river rock; as it opened, notes of toasted almond and just-baked brioche became noticeable. With striking acidity and a vein of minerality, it has luscious nectarine, passion fruit, candied orange peel, and red plum flavors with touches of beeswax and a whiff of baking spices on the enduring finish. We enjoyed our bottle with a roast chicken rubbed with butter and herbes de Provence and savored the final, extremely rare sip with a bit of Stilton. Unfortunately, the pairing possibilities are not infinite with this release; there are only 7,327 more ways to enjoy yours.
