Region/Appellation: Champagne, France
Varietal/Blend: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir
Vintage: 2006
Tasting note: This prestige cuvée celebrates a subtle, creamy style backed by wonderfully nuanced aromas, in perfect unison. 2006 Palmes d’Or Brut offers endless notes of fine honey, bee’s wax, dried fruits and tropical fruits, together with a subtle, nuanced touch of toast.
Varietal/Blend: 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Meunier
Tasting note: Striking a perfect balance between youthfulness and maturity, freshness and vinousity, Brut Premier is harmonious and structured, elegant and lively, with a unique exuberance. Its structured texture, richness, and length are distinctly winey. It is a full, complex wine that is both rich and powerful, whilst remaining a great classic.
Mimosa
Ingredients
1 Part Absolut Vodka
2 Parts Orange Juice
Champagne
How to mix
Add Absolut Vodka and orange juice into a chilled champagne glass. Top up with champagne.
French 75
Ingredients
1 Part Gin
½ Part Lemon Juice
½ Part Simple Syrup
Champagne
1 Twist Lemon
How to mix
Fill a shaker with ice cubes. Add gin, lemon juice and simple syrup. Shake and strain into a chilled champagne glass. Top up with champagne. Garnish with lemon
Bellini
Ingredients
1 Part Absolut Vodka
1 Part Peach Puree
Champagne
How to mix
Start by adding Absolut Vodka and peach puree into a chilled champagne glass. Top up with champagne.
Prosecco experts claim that shortage is upon us and this lovely summer bubbly may not flow quite as freely this year. High demand and unexpected weather conditions have resulted in limited production of Italy’s most popular sparkling wine, a brand in itself.
Last year’s harvest was very poor, and down by up to 50% in some parts, so there is a very real possibility of a global shortage,” Robert Cremonese, export manager of Bisol, said in an interview with the trade publication The Drinks Business.
“We’ll find out how big the problem is in August when the brokers release their stock. At the moment we don’t know how much Prosecco they’re holding on to.” Cremonese added.
Another reason for this shortage is that global demand for Prosecco has risen sharply over the last several years while supply is still limited. In 2014, Prosecco DOC sales increased by 27%, according to the Italian news organization Italy24. Wine. Wine consumers over the world consider Prosecco as a less expensive, easier to drink alternative to Champagne. It has whizzed past its French rival as the best – selling sparkling in 2014.
Moet & Chandon hosted a Grand Vintage Dinner a few days ago to introduce their 2004, 1992 and 1975 vintages. Before I set off on the evening I should mention that it truly is great to see Moet Hennessy celebrate both their newly launched Indian made sparkling wine Chandon and their Champagne portfolio simultaneously.
I’ve always said that I’m happiest at dinnertime. This dinner in particular certainly made me very very happy and the copious amounts of Champagne I drank shamelessly had nothing to do with it.
We started with their Non Vintage before getting into the three vintages 04, 92 and 75 with dinner. Each fantastic, each with their own individual characteristics and I found it very interesting to compare all four of them together.
The Champagnes got more complex as the vintages got older, my personal favourite of the evening would probably be the 1992 which was somewhat mid way between the comparatively youthful 2004 and the more complex, nuttier 1975.
What caught me by surprise was the fantastic menu for the evening and the almost perfection with which the three vintages were paired with each of the courses. The 1975 also went really well with dessert; a great example of just how versatile Champagne can be when it comes to food pairing.
A thunderous round of applause to the teams at Moet & the Chefs at the Four Seasons for creating an extraordinary wine and food driven pleasure experience. All we need now is for them to do this with Veuve Clicquot !
The three vintages will be available in India in tiny quantities so you may just never get your hands on them but if you do, feel free to invite me to share that bottle of 92.
Nikhil Agarwal
Sommelier & Director, All Things Nice
Tasting notes:
Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection 2004
A graceful palate with a light airy structure: straightforward yet complex, with a sleek, pure savour leading into a long, langourously rich finish. A light, lively, supple structure with mineral overtones.
Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection 1992
In the mouth the flavour is rich, warm and creamy, underlain by a delicately astringent structure. The impression of fullness and harmony linger. The finish is vivid and fresh with a subtle spiciness along with lingering notes of vanilla and candied citrus.
Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Collection 1975 Format Magnum
On the tongue the taste is vinous yet distinguished and, in the end, has a classical elegance with a certain uprightness. The warm, fleshy richness is underlain by a well-integrated, polished structure with rich notes of roasted nuts. The finish is firm and remarkably refined.
