from Garagiste, evidently alleging that there is a secret in Champagne that almost all is made by some secret organization: “What if I told you that most (if not all) of your favorite high-end “branded” Champagne was the vinified majesty of a single cooperative with such over-reaching power and authority, they are akin to The Great and Powerful Oz behind the curtain of commercial Chardonnay-based Champagne marketers? Insert your favorite top-end label (yes, that one as well) and the chances are, the Grand Cru (and 1er) Blanc de Blancs base of the wine was grown and vinified by Champagne de Saint Gall (AKA Union Champagne de Saint Gall), not by the branded entity itself.
The only real exception to this?
Roederer.
Roederer has slowly gobbled up their own estate parcels and they now have over 600 acres to their credit (but it’s still not enough). Just about every other non-grower/bottler that you can think of is a client of De Saint Gall.
This is a rather large “secret” of Champagne that few consumers know about. Even LVMH and their massive reach are dependent on De Saint Gall for most of their top Chardonnay material but there may come a time when De Saint Gall decides to skim the best of what they have for their own bottled use (instead of trading it to the luxury houses).”
What’s the reality?