Armand de Brignac, nicknamed Ace of Spades, is a champagne made by the Cattier family in the Montagne de Reims and launched in 2006. Its metallic bottles carry hand-applied pewter labels. Drinks House 247 finds the wine well made and rich, but much of its price reflects presentation and celebrity, so it suits celebrations more than quiet tastings.
Few champagnes are as instantly recognisable. The metallic gold bottle with a pewter spade on the front has become a symbol of celebration in clubs, music videos and milestone parties. Behind the image is a real champagne house with a long family history, and it is worth separating what is in the glass from what is on the bottle.
The champagne is produced by the Cattier family, who have grown vines in the village of Chigny-les-Roses, in the Montagne de Reims, since the 18th century. Armand de Brignac was launched as a separate prestige brand in 2006. It became famous after appearing in a Jay-Z music video; the artist later bought the brand in 2014. In 2021, Moët Hennessy, part of the LVMH group, acquired a 50% stake.
Each bottle is coated in an opaque metallic finish, and the pewter labels are made in France and applied by hand. The front label shows the spade emblem that gave the champagne its Ace of Spades nickname. The opaque coating has a practical benefit too: it protects the wine from light, which can damage champagne.
| Cuvée | Bottle finish | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Brut Gold | Gold | The flagship blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from several years; rich, round, with fruit and brioche |
| Rosé | Pink | Red fruit and a fuller body from Pinot Noir |
| Blanc de Blancs | Silver | 100% Chardonnay; finer, more mineral and citrus |
| Blanc de Noirs | Black and green | Made only from black grapes; deep and powerful, released in small batches |
| Demi-Sec | Green | Sweeter, for desserts and those who prefer a softer style |
The Brut Gold is generous and full-bodied rather than lean. Expect ripe yellow fruit, white flowers, brioche and a creamy texture, with a rounder, slightly richer finish than many brut champagnes. It is a crowd-pleasing style that works well as an aperitif and at parties, where its fullness stands up to a lively room.
Like all champagne, it is made by the traditional method, with a second fermentation in each bottle and a period of ageing on the lees before release. The Brut Gold is a multi-vintage blend, drawing on wines from several harvests to build depth and a consistent house style. The house also emphasises careful pressing, using the first and finest juice from the grapes. Production volumes are small compared with the large champagne houses, which is part of the brand's appeal to collectors.
Armand de Brignac is well known for very large bottles, from magnums up to sizes that hold the equivalent of dozens of standard bottles. In nightlife and at big celebrations, these bottles are as much a centrepiece as a drink. For a party at home, a magnum gives the same sense of occasion in a practical size.
An honest answer has two parts. The champagne is well made by an experienced family house, and it tastes rich and polished. But a significant part of the price reflects the bottle, the hand-finished labels, the limited production and the brand's fame. If you are judging purely on what is in the glass, there are prestige cuvées and top vintage champagnes that offer more complexity for the money.
That is not the only measure, though. For a celebration where the moment matters, a birthday, a business win or a wedding table, the visual impact is part of what you are paying for, and Armand de Brignac delivers it like nothing else.
For a quieter wine lover who values subtlety over spectacle, a grower champagne or a classic prestige cuvée may be the more thoughtful choice.
Chill to around 8 to 10°C, open it gently with the cork held under a cloth, and pour into white wine glasses or tulip-shaped flutes to let the aromas show. Because the bottle is opaque, you cannot see how much is left, so pour carefully when serving a group.
The Cattier family, champagne growers in Chigny-les-Roses in the Montagne de Reims. Moët Hennessy bought a 50% stake in the brand in 2021.
Because of the pewter spade emblem on the front of its metallic bottle.
The champagne is rich and well made, but much of the price reflects the bottle, the hand-applied labels and the brand. It is best value as a celebration centrepiece.
Rich and full-bodied, with ripe yellow fruit, white flowers, brioche and a creamy texture.
Browse our Armand de Brignac champagne, champagne gifts and the full champagne collection, or see how champagne delivery works across London. For comparisons, read prestige cuvée champagne explained and whether expensive champagne is better.
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