He goes by @champagnepapi on Instagram so it makes total sense that Drake would follow his whiskey launch with the release of a Champagne, now available in Australia through Bevmart.
Called Mod Sélection, the bottle of bubbles was a collaboration between Drake and spirits industry mogul Brent Hocking, who also founded DeLeón Tequila, as well as Drake’s whiskey, Virginia Black American Whiskey.
The Champagne first launched in the US and UK in 2018, and quickly gathered worldwide attention winning Robb Report’s ‘Best of the Best’ Award in both 2019 and 2020, as well as the Wine Spectator Food & Wine Festival ‘Best of the Best’ title.
Recognised as one of the finest houses in Champagne, Mod Sélection began in 1892 in an exclusive enclave of the Vallée de la Marne. Today, five generations later, its tradition and heritage are paramount to its making, with its legacy celebrated with every bottle the house produces.
While Drake is by no means the first celebrity to release a wine or spirit, the rapper’s venture does stand out for its focus on the grand traditions of French winemaking. Mod Sélection practises minimal intervention of grapes throughout harvest, carefully choosing only those with optimal levels of sugar and acidity to move on to the pressing stage.
On the nose, expect floral and grassy notes — think honeysuckle and acacia — along with classic Champagne notes of ripe apple and pear, as well as a subtle, fresh, buttery pie crust in the background.
Meanwhile, on the palate, taste flavour green apple and pear, a bit of melon and a slight hint of citrus and apricot jam. You’ll also find that the fruit notes persist through the mid-palate, a feature found only in the better-quality Champagnes. The finish is long and smooth, with lingering notes of the apple and pear. Overall, the Champagne is powerful, but satiny smooth, with a distinct, but well-integrated acidity.
Available at Bevmart, Mod Sélection Réserve Champagne 750mL will set you back $499. While Mod Sélection Rosé Champagne 750mL, which uses the rare Saignée method to maximise freshness and vitality, is $599.
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