This wine is a reflection of the year's weather and climate. 2008 ended wonderfully with the grapes maturing in ideal conditions. New to Vintage 2008 is that 5% of the wines were produced and aged in large wooden casks (foudres) from forests in Central France, and this addition increases the champagne’s strength and aromatic richness. The cask-aged wines act as spices to the blend, bringing very lightly woody, vanilla and toasted aromas.