tasting report

French Bloom La Cuvée - The most expensive non-alcoholic sparkling wine in the world in the test

In the world of fine sparkling wines, French Bloom has established itself as a brand that combines luxury and enjoyment without alcohol. French Bloom was founded by Maggie Frerejean-Taittinger and her long-time friend Constance. Maggie, director of the Michelin Guide and pregnant with twins at the time, and Constance, a model who traveled a lot, recognized the need for elegant, alcohol-free alternatives at social events in Paris in 2019. Both were looking for a more conscious lifestyle amidst their hectic professional activities and thus laid the foundation for French Bloom.

Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, CEO of Champagne Frerejean Freres, brings his extensive know-how from the world of champagne to the development of the French Bloom vintages. Together with Carl Héline, the former head of Krug Champagne, and a team of experts, a brand was created that relies equally on innovation and tradition.

French Bloom places great emphasis on natural and organic ingredients. All cuvées are made from dealcoholized Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines and natural ingredients such as lemon. The wines are free from colorants, preservatives, sulfites and added sugar, making them a healthy and low-calorie alternative.

After more than two years of intensive research and development as well as several technical innovations, the perfect balance and aromatic complexity of the non-alcoholic wines Le Blanc and Le Rosé were achieved. Dealcoholization is done manually and results in an alcohol content of 0.0%, with the finest carbon dioxide being gently added to round off the wines.

Now French Bloom has launched a new product: La Cuvée 2022. It is probably the most expensive non-alcoholic wine in the world. In this article, we take a close look at French Bloom La Cuvée 2022 and check whether it lives up to its reputation.

Everything important at a glance

Brand : French Bloom
Product : La Cuvée Vintage 2022 Blanc de Blancs
Alcohol content : 0.0%
Grapes : Organic Chardonnay from the Languedoc
Harvest time : Two weeks earlier for optimal acidity
Maturation : Six months in new French oak barrels
Aromas : Caramelized hazelnuts, dried apricots, toast, biscuit, dry spices, vanilla, honey
Taste : Creamy mousse, crisp acidity, apricots, fresh fruits, biscuit, beeswax, hazelnut
Special feature : Delivered in a wooden box
Price : 109 euros
Availability : Officially available at SOBERCIETY
Rating : High complexity and depth, praised by world-class sommelier Raimonds Tomsons

La Cuvée 2022 - Alcohol-free luxury

French Bloom La Cuvée Vintage 2022 Blanc de Blancs is a truly exclusive French vintage that is completely alcohol-free and reminiscent of the taste experience of well-known, aged sparkling wines. This exquisite creation reveals a captivating complexity with each tasting that is otherwise only found in the finest wines. La Cuvée is even available in an elegant wooden box.

Like all other French Bloom products, La Cuvée is made from organically grown Chardonnay grapes from France.

French savoir-faire

The journey of La Cuvée 2022 begins with the selection of the best organically grown Chardonnay grapes grown on partner vineyards in the Languedoc. Preference is given to plots on hillsides where the concentration and complexity of the aromas are particularly evident. The grapes are harvested about two weeks earlier than usual to ensure optimal acidity. The 2022 vintage was selected for its exceptional quality and abundant sunshine, which is reflected in the outstanding quality of the wine.

maturation and perfection

After the harvest, the grapes are pressed to extract only the best "vin clair". Much of the wine is then aged in 225-litre barrels made of new French oak, while the rest is aged in stainless steel tanks. This combination of wood aging and stainless steel tank storage gives La Cuvée 2022 its harmonious blend of aromas and flavours that combine to create a unique complexity.

The tasting

The Tasting: This is what French Bloom La Cuvée tastes like

French Bloom La Cuvée 2022 unfolds its full potential when served at 2-4 degrees Celsius in a champagne flute.

Color

La Cuvée 2022 presents itself in a bright gold tone, interspersed with subtle copper-colored reflections that shimmer in the glass and underline the elegance of this wine.

Odor

The bouquet is intense and complex, with a seductive scent of caramelized hazelnuts and dried apricots. There are also notes of freshly toasted toast and biscuit, accompanied by a hint of vanilla, honey and spicy accents. This complex aroma is strongly reminiscent of mature champagne and makes you curious about the first sip.

palate

On the palate, La Cuvée 2022 is surprisingly full-bodied for a non-alcoholic wine. The finely sparkling mousse and the crisp acidity harmonize perfectly and give the wine a lively freshness. The taste is dominated by dried apricots and juicy, ripe fruit, embedded in a fine creaminess reminiscent of biscuit and beeswax. Subtle notes of hazelnut round off the taste experience and leave a long-lasting, fresh aftertaste.

Raimonds Tomsons, the World's Best Sommelier 2023, also describes this wine aptly: "An excellent example of a non-alcoholic sparkling wine with great complexity and depth".

French Bloom La Cuvée 2022 impressively shows that non-alcoholic sparkling wines can also offer a remarkable variety of flavors and sophistication. A must for anyone who does not want to miss out on luxurious enjoyment even without alcohol.