There’s a bewildering array of Champagnes available, and then there’s an extra complication of the price discounts and offers that make it difficult to work out what price you should be paying. Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top is often in those offers. I was rather put off this wine because it had a weird wetsuit on… Read More »
Everyone has heard of Moet & Chandon, it’s like the Hoover (or maybe Dyson) of Champagnes, it’s a Champagne brand that has secretly spent years working its way into your brain, firing the celebration and luxury synapses as it goes. You’ll have seen it carefully product-placed in films, sponsoring events, and being sprayed by glamorous,… Read More »
There’s something of a party going on in Washington today. Plenty of hope is resting on Obama’s plan for change, all over the world. ere in the UK I’m glad there’s a man in the White House who will have a glass of wine with dinner, although that’s been kept pretty quiet to avoid upsetting… Read More »
Mark Cavendish isn’t quite English, he rides for the Isle of Man, but he is British so he gets a big hurrah for winning a stage of the Giro. I don’t know of any vineyards in the Isle of Man so we settled for an English wine in Giro pink. Wissett Pink 2006 is from… Read More »
It’s a big day today for Non-Iron It’s the first day of the new power sharing assembly in Northern Ireland, or ‘non-iron’ as it tends to be pronounced by natives. It’s early to be overwhelmed with optimism, but it’s a big step, and one I didn’t think I’d see. Strange though, I wouldn’t exist if… Read More »
Happy St George’s day everyone. Time to celebrate with a glass of Nyetimber, England’s finest wine. Nyetimber comes from a vineyard in West Sussex. It was planted with Champagne varieties and obsessively cared for, and has gone from strength to strength. So what’s it like. I had a Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2000, a classic Champagne… Read More »
The big hit this Christmas was Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve NV Champagne. It’s lemon gold with a fine mousse of exuberant bubbles. It smells of fresh lemons with marzipan and a touch of toast. The creamy bubbles feel rich in the mouth. It’s off dry with a medium body and well balanced acidity. The lemon… Read More »
‘Tis the season to sparkle and as I was given a bottle of Bollinger Special Cuvee NV Champagne we gave it a go. It was a pale lemon colour with a smooth creamy mousse. It smelled lemony, with marmite meatiness and some nuts. It’s off dry with good acidity. The bubbles feel soft and creamy… Read More »
Now and again I have bad day, and on a bad day Champagne tends to make me feel better. We had a bottle of Laurent Perrier Brut L-P to perk me up. Laurent Perrier is the Champagne of choice of Prince Charles, and are happy to be his official supplier, giving me every excuse to… Read More »
Tonight one of the major wine nations will be leaving the World Cup. It’s a tough choice but as I’d like to see Spain win, I’ll go with a French wine and maybe say goodbye to Zidane with a glass of Champagne. Nicolas Feuillatte is a relatively modern brand, having been around for less than… Read More »