Writing about the wines of Piemonte, Italy and France
The wines of Champagne
The UK is the biggest export market for Champagne, second only to, if much smaller than, the big home market. Of course, the big brands will make up much of the export numbers. Champagne is an expensive purchase and most people are going to buy something they have heard of before. But in many ways,
Growers’ champagne in the UK Read More »
I am delighted and rather surprised to be awarded the WSET/Champagne Board’s 2013 Champagne scholarship as part of my WSET Diploma studies. Part of the surprise was that I did not know that the Wine and Spirit Education Trust gave scholarships, so I was a long way back when the scholarship secretary rang me to
Champagne scholarship 2013 Read More »
2003 – the season Everyone knows that 2003 was an exceptionally hot year in Europe. Janet and I spent a small part of that summer working in the large garden of friends and found ourselves having to adopt habits more typical of Mediterranean countries – get up early and work outside until late morning, have
The four colours of 2003 Dom Perignon Read More »
The story of Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne does not need to be retold here. It is a text book case of excellent marketing (the Feuillatte name) allied to a huge union of cooperatives who are are the number 1 producer by volume of Champagne both in France and the UK. Under expert guidance they produce a
Champagne Feuillatte: big numbers, quality bottles Read More »
Veuve Clicquot launched their two 2004 vintages wines – white and rosé – with an interesting comparison. What is the effect of bottling these wines in a normal bottle size, a magnum and a jeroboam? Apart from making a very pretty picture, the answer in a wine of this quality is that there is a
The ‘Bring a Bottle Club’ on the theme of Champagne – chosen to honour Janet’s birthday – proved quite a challenge. As the wines are tasted blind, there are only a small number of possible factors to consider: colour – all the wines were all white, not a single rosé! there are a small number
Champagne challenge Read More »
Two Champagne events on a Tuesday – the unveiling of L’Académie de Lanson, an internet-based resource to promote a better understanding of their product and then Moët & Chandon launching a new product, Ice Imperial. The sun joined in too with a glorious bright day, if windy. The highlight of the Lanson event was the
Tuesday is Champagne day Read More »
Champagne is the quintessential wine of love, celebration and hedonism. It matches (and fuels) the soaring spirits associated with romantic encounters, business or sporting success and more. In these circumstances, the wine writer can be forgiven for a small indulgence and simply praising a few outstanding bottles. Not that Champagne is uniformly good or enjoyable,
Sheer Champagne indulgence Read More »
Champagne is normally made from a blend of three grapes, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Michael Edwards in The Finest Wines of Champagne, (Aurum, London 2009) tells us that the proportions planted are 38, 33 and 29 per cent respectively, which means that one-third of the total area of the Champagne vineyard is planted
Unsung Pinot Meunier Read More »
Many trade tastings are rather orderly affairs with a bit of elbow room, an atmosphere in which you can talk to producers or suppliers and often rather good catering thrown in. Some are in very fine settings with a lot of attention being paid to the whole environment. After all – let’s be straightforward about