Champagne Lanson is a Champagne house in Reims, known particularly for its fruity, refreshing Black Label cuvée. It was founded in 1760 by Francis Delamotte, and in 1798 passed on to his son Nicolas-Louis. He was a Knight of the Order of Malta, and introduced the Maltese Cross as an emblem on the label. The Black Label Brut is often a strong performer in blind tastings against the other major marques. This is often attributed to the combination of extra sweetness in the dosage compared with some competitors, combined with crisp acidity levels – malolactic fermentation is blocked. The gold-label vintage wine attracts acclaim for its longevity and value for money, and is also zesty and crisp in style. Many of Lanson's wines are Pinot Noir-dominant, with smaller amounts of Chardonnay and sometimes Pinot Meunier. In addition, Lanson also produces a Brut, Blanc de Blancs and a Rosé in the Extra Age series, based on a combination of older vintages. The range is topped by a similar trio of Noble Cuvée wines, made from selected Grand Cru vineyards. The Clos Lanson is the house's prestige release, made from oak-aged base wines with grapes from a walled hectare (2.5-acre) plot opposite the Notre Dame de Reims Cathedral and nearby the Lanson cellars. The first vintage was the 2006.