As the year draws to a close, and the base wines have finished their alcoholic fermentation the people of Champagne are excited about the 2013 vintage. Many had been worried by the late harvest dates; it has been 25 years since the harvest dates lingered into October. The development of
This is a Champagne for New Year’s Eve. Pair it with caviar or with dinner. A reserved, pale gold-tan color in the glass belies this champagne’s prominent multi-fruit components. Raspberry and strawberry dominate in the aroma and on the palate at first, then orange and orange peel emerge on the
This floral delight is made entirely from Frapin's Grande Champagne vineyard, from a blend of 40-50 year old reserves. White flowers and loads of caramel waft up from the glass. Opening with caramel, vanilla, coffee, and a touch of heat, it explodes on the palate with a remarkable blend of
The Champenois have long struggled with the notion of terroir. Unlike nearby Burgundy where just about every vineyard has had its terroir defined, in Champagne one will often speak about the generic Champagne terroir: that which makes Champagne’s wines unique. Common elements of this generic terroir are the region’s poor,
This is an impressive Champagne, especially as it’s the entry-level non-vintage for this Champagne House. Medium-light straw-gold in color. A nice, strong yeast and toasted aroma, almost like Marmite but in a good way (if you can imagine that). On the palate, more toast, fruit and lemon integrate into a
This tale isn't yet 1000 years old. But it has kings, crusades, the cult of the Virgin, poverty, drunk clerics, extinct grapes, the Devil and the world's biggest wine bottle. And the irony is, the winery it's about is one of the most forward-thinking in France. You might think the
Sparkling wine is serious business, but it’s also serious science. The process of making methode champenoise sparklers sparkle, from secondary fermentation in the bottle to the time you take a sip, is governed by the physical laws of how gases behave. Scientists who care about fluid dynamics have written a
Ten months ago I decided to move to Champagne. Immersing myself in Champagne has been a slow process; it has taken time to scratch beyond the surface to find my way amongst the myriad traditions, rules and regulations that are the backbone of this region. But living here has allowed