In a world where memories and moments intertwine with exceptional bottles of champagne, some experiences linger on the palate—and the heart—long after the final sip. Last night, I had the rare opportunity to enjoy a magnum of Gaston Chiquet Blancs de Blancs d’Aÿ 1997, a champagne whose age, story, and taste left an indelible mark…
Experiences
Discovering the Timeless Elegance of Meunier: A 1955 Champagne Revelation
Champagne connoisseurs and enthusiasts, prepare to have your perceptions transformed. Today, I share with you an enigmatic journey—a tasting that challenged the very foundations of champagne lore. My encounter with a 1955 Blanc de Meunier from the storied cellars of Champagne Demière unveiled a truth long veiled by the mists of tradition. The narrative has…
The magic under the stairs – or Mindfulness Part 2
I recently wrote about the joy and anticipation of being offered a bottle of 1986 Moet et Chandon that had been long forgotten under the stairs of a Queensland suburban home. Would magic emerge from under the stairs? Since this whole exercise was about appreciating what is actually in the glass we are drinking, I…
The Mindfulness of Champagne
Mindfulness. It’s a bit of a catchphrase at the moment. We need to be mindful. Mindful of what we do, what we say and how we act. And we could probably all benefit in being a little more mindful when we drink. And champagne mindfulness is a good place to start! Oh, yes! I know…
When Louis met Jacques
Let me tell you a little story about the night Louis met Jacques. That’s Louis Roederer and Jacques Bollinger, just to be clear. Louis Roederer (1809 – 1870) and Jacques (Jacob) Bollinger (1803 – 1884) were actually contemporaries, but this is not a story about them meeting for a sneaky drink on a Friday night…
The bubbles always rise!
The Bubbles always rise! At least that is the message I am taking from this year. I started the year in Champagne, loudly proclaiming that I was starting the year as meant to continue. And what a champagne year it has been. There were plenty of bubbles, a few occasions that the bubbles burst but…
The Champagne Countdown is on!
The Champagne Countdown is on! In only 10 days I will be back in beautiful Champagne with another group of enthusiastic champagne lovers excited to discover more about the magic of champagne! As the anticipation builds, I have put together my list of the Top 10 reasons to visit Champagne 10. To discover the history…
The day I actually tasted the stars
I have just come back from a whirlwind one week trip to Champagne. And while I was there, I actually tasted the stars! In fact, I tasted a whole lot of things during the course of the week. I was lucky enough to attend ‘Champagne Week’ or ‘Printemps de Champagne’. It is a yearly series…
