Jay-Z’s Ace of Spades features a collection of limited edition champagnes co-owned with luxury conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH).
One standout in this collection is the Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage No. 4, priced at $1,200 per bottle and known for its premier pinot noir. This release comprises just 7,328 exclusive bottles. The high cost of Ace of Spades has intrigued fans and drinking aficionados, who eagerly seek to understand the rationale behind its premium pricing.
Big-Budget Bottles
So why are the Brooklyn mogul’s wines so costly?
An obvious attribution to the high price is that Ace of Spades is meant to be a limited run production, with its exclusivity and scarcity making it an alluring catch.
Another reason Ace of Spades is worth $1,200 per bottle is that the Champagne spends an extended period of time aging — seven years in the bottle, in fact — which enhances its complexity and flavor profile. While not explicitly stated, its meticulous aging process undoubtedly adds to the production costs, Robb Report reported.
Ace of Spades is sourced from top premier and grand cru pinot noir-producing villages in the Champagne region, ensuring high-quality grapes are used in its production. The wine comes from venerable French vinyards such as Chigny-les-Roses, Verzenay, Rilly-la-Montagne, Verzy, Ludes, Mailly-Champagne, and Ville-sur-Arce in the Aube département.
Lastly, the brand’s association with Jay-Z adds to its prestige and desirability among consumers, potentially influencing its pricing strategy. Those wanting to be part of Jay-Z’s conspicuous success story will have to pay a hefty price.
In 2006, Jay-Z first got involved with the Armand de Brignac Champagne brand, mainly with Alexandre Arnault, the 28-year-old son of LVMH’s chairman, purchasing it and rebranding it as “Ace of Spades” after boycotting Cristal that same year over controversial comments made by a Cristal executive, according to The New York Times.
As an act of protest, Jay-Z promoted Ace of Spades, ensuring its popularity soared with the rapper featuring the champagne in his music videos such as his “Show Me What You Got” video, and interviews.
It wasn’t long until Jay-Z purchased a controlling stake, his initial 2006 introduction was a comparably small role, into the Armand de Brignac in 2014, as reported by Business Insider.
In 2021, LVMH, which also owns brands like Dom Pérignon, acquired a 50 percent stake in Armand de Brignac, with the deal giving Jay-Z access to LVMH’s global distribution network and marketing power, while LVMH gains cultural cachet and insight into attracting younger, more diverse luxury consumers from Jay-Z, NYT reported.
The financial terms were not disclosed, but Jay-Z had previously claimed his stake in Armand de Brignac was worth around $250 million.
As Finurah previously reported, the “Ace of Spades” nickname derives from its distinctive bottle shape and packaging, and once, during a charity event, two NYPD officers attempted to steal an Ace of Spades bottle but were caught and subsequently suspended from their duties.
