“Luxury is feeling comfortable in a T-shirt even while wearing a very expensive dress.”
― Karl Lagerfeld

Legendary fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld (1933–2019) defined the essence of luxury in this way. He believed that true beauty lies in silhouette and proportion, as well as in one’s inner attitude and identity, rather than in lavish appearances. The minimalist philosophy of ‘less is more’ is one of his legacies. It is a calm elegance that avoids ostentation and focuses on essence. This was what Lagerfeld defined as ‘real fashion.’

This philosophy is also deeply ingrained in the French Champagne house Paul Dangin & Fils. Owner Jean-Baptiste Dangin has said in several interviews, “I want to create a champagne that makes you smile after one glass and makes you want to drink another, rather than a champagne that makes you think after you’ve had it.” A champagne that is not overly complicated but has a delicate and elegant sensibility. That is the ‘invisible luxury’ pursued by Paul Dangin & Fils.

This winery also appears in the Japanese wine manga ‘God’s Drop.’ In the manga, the main character describes Paul Dangin’s ‘Dangin Pré Brut’ as “a champagne that is perfect for drinking in a quiet courtyard away from people’s eyes.” The manga character took out a red wine glass instead of a flute and said, “A flute glass is too delicate to enjoy the aroma of this champagne,” noting that “this producer understands well what elegance in champagne really is.”

Graphic=Son Min-Gyun

Paul Dangin & Fils is a winery established in 1947 by Paul Dangin, who had worked in vineyards since he was 14. It started with a determination to cultivate the best grapes and produce wine himself. Currently, it is run by the family across three generations. Just two years after its establishment, in 1949, Paul Dangin & Fils caught the eye of the British royal supplier J&B (Justerini & Brooks). The new winery stood shoulder to shoulder with large maisons that were known simply by their names, relying solely on quality. Paul Dangin & Fils supplied ‘Carte Noire’ to the royal family, which became a symbol of the champagne house's quality and reliability.

The winery is located in Côte des Bar, a region known for its Pinot Noir production in the southern part of Champagne, France. In 2015, this area was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site under the name ‘Champagne Hillsides, Houses and Cellars.’ The cultural landscape of vineyards, villages, and underground cellars, sustained over centuries of viticulture, has been recognized for its value. Paul Dangin & Fils possesses about 50 hectares of vineyards in this region, cultivating representative Champagne varietals like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Blanc.

The work that encapsulates the philosophy of this winery is ‘Cuvée `47 Gold.’ Released as a 70th anniversary special edition commemorating the moment when Paul Dangin first created a 100% Pinot Noir champagne in 1947, all grapes are harvested by hand. In particular, Cuvée `47 Gold selects only the finest grapes grown on vines over 60 years old. Following traditional methods, only the first pressing of the grapes is used, and after tasting, only the best barrels are labeled ‘Gold.’ The remainder is classified as ‘Silver.’

This champagne is made using the Solera method. It is a maturation method that extracts portions of wines from several vintages from barrels and refills them with new wine. This method is primarily used in making whiskey or sherry, while typical champagne undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle followed by aging on yeast. Applying this method to wine results in complex depth and flavor. Jacques Selosse, a legend in the champagne world, also uses this method.

Cuvée `47 Gold has a refreshing yet solid body. It has a bright yellow color, and the soft bubbles are accompanied by subtle vanilla notes. The freshness of white flowers and citrus harmonizes in the mouth. It pairs excellently with delicate dishes such as poultry, cooked fish, salad, sushi, and cheese. It received the award in the sparkling wine category at the 2025 Korea Wine & Spirits Awards. Ayoung FBC is responsible for its importation in Korea.

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