At this time of year I think a lot about my father-in-law and all the wonderful stories he told me during the times we spent together. He told me about his youth trying to get chewing gum from American soldiers during World War II when war was like a game to a kid, to stories…
Tasting the Stars
Tasting Notes 3 – Rosés
We thought for the 3rd Episode of The Flute Enthusiast, we would talk about some Rosé champagnes and explain a little bit about how they are made. With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seemed like it would be perfect timing. I chose 3 smaller producers to demonstrate some of the variations in style…
Cap Collectability Rating
Champagne tasting, while pleasurable, can be really hard work and quite overwhelming – especially if you do it seriously and take notes along the way. There are years and weather conditions to take into consideration. There are percentages of different grapes, the date of disgorgement, the eye, the bubbles, the nose, the mouth…..the list goes…
I sabered alone
I did it, and I didn’t even feel guilty. I felt empowered! I sabered a bottle of champagne alone. No crowd, no occasion, no fanfare and no witnesses except the slightly surprised kookaburra in the tree to my left. Sabering a bottle of champagne, like drinking one, is usually done in company. You do it with…
The Original Champagne Sisters
Champagne has a lot to thank its women for. In a field mostly dominated by men, historically a select few woman have been influencing the way champagne as we know it is enjoyed. Louise Pommery (d. 1890), Barbe-Nicole Clicquot Ponsardin (d. 1866), Camille Olry-Roederer (d. 1972), and Lily Bollinger (d. 1977) have all been huge influencers in a country that didn’t even allow…
Have yourselves a bubbly little Christmas
On the 12th Day of Christmas my True Love gave to me: 12 Bollis Bubbling (Grande Année, of course!) 11 Pipers Piping (Heidsicks, of course) 10 Grande’ Krug’ 9 Taitts a Chillin’ 8 Belle Epoques 7 Veuve ‘Grande Dame’ 6 Coeur du Cuvee (Vilmart) 5 Jaques Selosses 4 Pol Rogers 3 ice-cold Moëts 2…
White Truffle Dreaming – the perfect Champagne Match
I am sure I was dreaming over the weekend. I have a memory of such a fantastic meal that I am not really sure if it actually happened. It was a perfect synergy of food and champagne. There was a glow in the dark label from Dom Perignon, a magnum of Laurent Perrier with a…
Bitten by a bottle of Bollinger
This is very hard to admit, but a few days ago I was bitten by a bottle of Bollinger. Bitten. By an old friend. That’s right, after a perfectly admirable sabering attempt. You see, after you decapitate a bottle, the rim is very sharp. I know that. I am usually very careful. But this time,…
