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…
Memories
A little *CLINK!* from above
I think I had a little *CLINK!* from above on Bastille Day. I really do! I know I’ve been a little stressed lately, and some of you will now use this as proof that I have really lost the plot, but something very strange happened, and I can only think of one explanation. This year,…
The night a little piece of France came to town
Last night a little piece of France popped up in the inner west of Brisbane. And it was quite lovely. A ‘pop-up’ French Restaurant called Bistro Éphémère, to be precise. The concept intrigued me from the start. When I heard that there was going to be a French restaurant opening for two nights only at a mystery…
Turning the tables
When I was a little girl all I wanted to do was play cricket (or any form of sport) with the neighbourhood boys. This was partly due to the fact that there were only neighbourhood boys. No girls. Not one Barbie tea party. Which is a good thing, because I wasn’t that much into playing Barbies. The…
Champagne, Valentino and the Little Black Dress
I have, in my memory bank, an unforgettable day in Paris that involved champagne (naturally), Valentino and a little black dress. It’s a memory that I conjure up when I am feeling slightly inadequate, or want to remind myself that fairytales do exist, you just sometimes have to move the goal posts. At the time, I was living…
There is a little bit of magic in those bubbles
There is magic in bubbles. I am convinced. Look at this photo. It shows two women having a great time. You can almost hear the sound of happiness. Five hours before this photo was taken I did not feel like being seen in public. The world was coming to an end as far as I was…
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…
