FINAL CORKING - SHAKING AND FINAL INSPECTION

The bottle is sent for corking immediately after dosage. Today’s corks have a base section made of reconstituted cork granules, topped by two slices of natural cork. The section that comes into contact with the wine is known as the mirror. The cork must display the name of the Champagne Appellation and state the vintage where relevant.

The cork is squeezed into the neck of the bottle, covered with a protective metal cap (capsule), then held in place with a wire cage (‘muselet’).

The bottle is then shaken vigorously (a process known as ‘poignettage’) so that the dosage liqueur marries perfectly with the wine. The last procedure prior to further cellaring in preparation for release is ‘mirage’: a final check on the limpidity of the wine.

The new cork, like the ‘tirage’ stopper, does allow for some exchange with the outside air, which is why the wine continues to age over the years.