Wines News & People
Champagne Renaissance 新生香檳酒
Xin Chinese Cuisine, Holiday Inn, Singapore
星期一2008年7月14日.
Text by 丹尼尔林. Additional Photos by 林卓强.
Above: Clinton Ang, Managing Director and owner of Hong Tong Bee group of wine-related companies.
Wine lovers can look forward to another bubbly as Hong Tong Bee’s Champagne Renaissance (新生香檳酒), frizzes into the scene.
From a well-attended launch held recently in Singapore, Clinton describes Renaissance as about balance, with light biscuit and creamy flavor with 12.5% alcohol to match the fine cuisine we have in Asia, especially Cantonese.
酒 met with Clinton Ang, 35, to understand the smile behind one of Singapore’s successful wine player and importer with their latest label. Champagne Renaissance.
酒: How did Champagne Renaissance start? Where did the name come from?
Since Cornerstone began in 1997, we have wanted to make wine suited for Asian cuisine and I had always wanted to do Champagne, as they are the happiest drink in the world. We caught up with the old house of Cattier (whom has been producing Champagne since the late 17th century) and coincidentally we hit if off with the technical plans and the amount of investment we wanted to put in.
Most of all was the name. We started off with proposing the name as Champagne Cornerstone, Genesis when we submitted to CIVC, which is the region’s governing and approval authority. Cornerstone sounded too new world, while Genesis was already taken. As Renaissance is a trademark registered by the Cattier family, and with an existing label ‘Cuvee Renaissance’, which we decided to buy into the brand and the worldwide rights to market and distribute.
酒: Who are your targeted drinkers? Are they mostly wine experts or complete novices?
When we did a study of the Champagne market, we recognized there were 2 types of Champagne buyers, the S$95 to S$100 mark, and the S$60 to S$70 mark. Being a Premier Cru and grapes from Chigny-les-Roses, we could have always priced it up, but we wanted to be at the middle so we priced it at S$75.00.
It is targeted at primarily at any Asian restaurant, while relying much on spicy cuisine like Thai, Malay, and Indian but more towards Chinese Cantonese, Japanese, Korean and cultural older cuisine styles of Asia.
From our pilot test, we found out ladies also like our Champagne as it is light, it doesn’t get them too high quickly. We believe our Champagne will remain appealing through its elegance and sophistication.
酒: What is the difference of Renaissance as compared to Champagne and sparkling alternatives in the market, and how would you approach the competition?
Our unique Champagne as you are aware, goes through the méthode champenoise. With good internal cash flow, we are able to keep our Champagne aged for 24 months in the cellar before release. As for competition, we believe firmly in Renaissance as one with balance, sophistication, with good sugar and acid, with an overall appeal to Asians.
酒: If you have a favorite Champagne wine, which and what would be your choice like?
Well, if I were given one choice to drink one Champagne in the world, for the rest of my life, it would be Pol Roger Non Vintage Champagne White Foil. As Sire Winston Churchill (a famed historial political leader from 1940s Great Britain) said, In Victory I deserve it, in defeat, I need it.
酒: What else should we know about Champagne Renaissance?
Well, in our opinion, Champagne Renaissance is the happiest drink in the world, and we like to say in celebration, we want it, and in remorse we need it. The Champagne is the perfect accompaniment and great match to good food, good wine, and good cuisine, especially when our Champagne is made to match Asian cuisine.
From the pleasant looks and relaxed faces, a lady certainly thinks it’s a good drink. Ms. Janice Wong, 25, of 2am DessertBar added, “It is sweet, showing intensity which met expectation. It has floral smell, with elegant bubbles and aged well enough to pair with Dim Sum”.
Champagne Renaissance (新生香檳酒) retails for S$75.00 (or RM$179.00, HK$430.00, 377 元) (Price is excluding sales tax/ 不包括銷售稅).
For further queries, please call +65 6732 0555 or email sales.sg@cornerstonewines.com.
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N.V. Champagne Renaissance Premier Cru Brut
France, Champagne
The grapes and bottling of this wine comes from Champagne Cattier, which is located in the Montagne de Reims part of Champagne, France.
12.5%. 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, and 25% Chardonnay. Medium-bodied, while its frizz provided a quick impression, Renaissance possesses a pleasant bouquet of sweetened yeast, and citrus. The palate is clean with medium acidity, and ends with a tingling bitter like but enjoyable short finish. Serve ice-bucket chilled.
葡萄和裝瓶原产是來自法國香檳酒家 Cattier. 酒厂地区是从法國香槟之路第一条兰斯山.
星期一2008年7月14日. 法國香檳酒. 12.5% 酒精度. 40% 黑比诺, 30% 莫尼耶品乐, 和 25% 霞多丽. 中等的酒体. 在酒杯中呈现出令人愉悦的汽泡相当多；不少, 但是在短时间就消失了. 入口擁有愉快的变甜酵母和柑属的香味. 口中的味觉佷清潔和獨特的中等酸度. 回口感觉小型的苦味. 余味短. 從2008年起. 