So here it is. The sixth annual blind Champagne tasting video. It was, as usual, really interesting to see the results. Lots of surprises here.
- Justerini & Brooks Champagne 250th Year Anniversary NV
- Almeida Garrett Brut 2008 Beira Interior, Portugal
- Champagne Bruno Paillard Blanc de Blancs NV
- Champagne Drappier Quattuor NV
- Champagne de Saint Gall Blanc de Blancs NV
- Champagne Charles Heidsieck NV
- Champagne Marc Chauvet Vintage 2008
- Biondielli Saten NV Franciacortia, Italy
- Champagne Veuve Clicquot NV (2011 disgorgement)
- Champagne Larmandier Bernier Premier Cru Tradition
- Codorniu Jaume Cordorniu Gran Reserva 2008 Cava, Spain
If you can’t spare the time to watch, and want to see my tasting notes as written blind, these are here.
Here is last year’s version: 5th blind new year Champagne tasting
14 Comments on The Sixth New Year Blind Champagne/Sparkling Wine Tasting Video
Great tasting! But a bit weird to call it a ‘champagne tasting’ when 3 of them were not.
I think it’s called that because champagne is the theme of the tasting. Like having some Marlowe at a Shakespeare festival.
Great as always, very stimulating I`d say. So now the book please.
Heidsieck one of my faves but the Saint Gall looks interesting.
Hmmm, Slimes. The title was not a Champagne Theme Blind Tasting. It said just ‘Champagne’, but some were not. Marlowe at a Shakespeare festival would need to be plainly highlighted to make some critical points for analysis and educational sake. It’s presence would need to be prominently justified. Even then, some would argue such a festival would be better called ‘Elizabethan Drama’. Here, the non-champagnes were blind and presented without any critical foregrounding or comparison bar a note / score. To all intents and purposes, it is implied, they were the same product in all but name and the name for these purposes is irrelevant it is implied. In fact, champagne is a registered geographical brand under PDO European law. It is inaccurate and possibly misleading to call such a thing a ‘Champagne Tasting’ therefore when some of it was not champagne. If you announced a public trial of Nike trainers and 3 of the 13 products turned out not to be Nike, something would be wrong. Just as this tasting might be better called International Sparkling Wine Blind, that event would be better called a Trainer Trial.
Equally, the non-champagne owners here might be rueful they were anointed as ‘champagnes’ when they are not. But as you know, it is common for non-champagnes to cosy into the champagne category and be content, because it makes them look good by borrowing some of the brand halo and equity from Champagne and champagne. I’ve heard it many times and it is deceit: oh, you know, Cava is made just like champagne, so is English fizz and Prosecco is at least sparkling. Let’s just imply they are more or less the same thing and everyone’s happy. Well,….no.
I’m absolutely supportive of and love comparative international blind tastings of wines. This was a great write up to read. But just as no one would call a comparison of Syrahs from various countries a Northern Rhone Tasting or a tasting of wines called Shiraz from around the world an Australian Shiraz Tasting, I think it’s best not to call a tasting of international sparklers a Champagne Tasting when 23% of them are not champagne. It’s common sense, as well as legal respect and wine respect for those who make wines with very specific terroir. In general, wine people go overboard and bang on about the importance of terroir and the specificity of origin blah, blah. It’s only too easy, when Champagne the region and champagne the drink has such massive prestige, almost a brand-fetished generic quality, to forget it is a specific terroir and is legally protected along with many others.
ZzzZzZZzzzz…
By the way, I really enjoyed the video. I love your annual sparkling wine tasting and have been looking forward to this 6th edition. I think it is very brave of you to taste blind and be so honest in front of the camera. Have a great New Year!
You and the bro-in-law sponsored by White Stuff or Fat Face this year? It’s the annual Brokeback Mountain Sparkling taste off in Denver Colorado!
Disappointed there were no English sparkling wines in the line-up, as you have reviewed some very well recently. I think they would have performed well. Any reason why you didn’t have any?
Tim, your point is taken, but boy do you labour it a bit. Are you working for the CIVC? Damien, no FatFace or white stuff sponsoring! Ha! Hugh, it was a selection of bottles we had lying around – no particular great thought went into it, other than picking things we thought might be interesting in the line-up. I agree: English fizz is the one non-Champagne style that can really blend in in this sort of tasting.
Great to see that little Portuguese – wine No 2 – doing so well. Disclaimer – we are the UK agent. Portugal’s sparkling wine industry is quite sizeable and based around the coastal areas near Coimbra, in roughly the same area as Bairrada. Atlantic weather & fresh climate all contribute.
But this wine is from the high mountains of the Serra de Estrela, home to Portugal’s only ski resort (did you know they had one?).
The wine is available through the Real Wine Company here…
http://www.therealwineco.co.uk/almeida-garrett-super-reserva-sparkling.html
Great vid, always fun to watch when we know the answer. Beavington is definitely getting better at the blind tasting lark!
“If you announced a public trial of Nike trainers and 3 of the 13 products turned out not to be Nike, something would be wrong”
Wrong I’m afraid. If you trial a product it makes sense to have competing products present.
Majestic Wine sell beer and the whisky exchange sells cognac. I’m sorry if you’re the only one who’s bothered by that.
By the way, I’m currently reading “Uncorked: The Science of Champagne” by Gérard Liger-Belair – but there’s definitely room in the market for another.
Always love watching u guys blind taste! Jamie, I’m waiting for that book on champagne~~~~~~~~!!!!!!!