I found this on the list at La Maison du Columbier in Beaune the other night. It was beautiful. This place has the most amazing wine list: it’s so good…
Champagne Dom Pérignon 2009
This, the latest release of Champagne Dom Pérignon, was released out of sequence, before the 2008. It’s because of the ripeness of the year, which has produced a wine that…
Moët et Chandon Grand Vintage 2009 and Grand Vintage Rosé 2009
Tasted the latest vintage releases from Moët, the 2009s. This was a season that starred badly, with lots of rain. But this all cleared by mid-July, and the rest of…
Champagne Piper-Heidiseck’s new Cuvée Essentiel Extra Brut, and a review of their Vintage 2008
Last night I drank (with help, of course) two Champagnes. One was the impressive new Cuvée Essentiel, and the other the 2008 vintage, from Piper-Heidsieck. It’s a house I associate…
Grower Champagne: Vouette & Sorbée Brut Nature Fidèle NV
Champagne Vouette et Sorbée is one of the star growers in the Aube, in the south of the Champagne region. Bernard Gautherot was persuaded to begin making his own wines…
Video: bottling sparkling wine on a mobile disgorging line
When I was in Canada last month I had a chance to watch Viniserve’s mobile disgorging line in operation. Disgorging is a vital stage in the life of…
Grower Champagne: Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition Grand Cru NV
Back in the day, when I was just getting into wine, the first ‘grower’ Champagne I encountered was Egly-Ouriet. This was in the mid-1990s, when grower Champagne wasn’t much of…
Grower Champagne focus: Marguet Shaman 12
Champagne Marguet is run by fifth generation Benoit Marguet, and is a small house/grower based in Ambonnay. They farm their vineyards biodynamically, and have 8 hectares altogether, 7.3 in Ambonnay (Les…
Champagne Veuve Clicquot Extra Brut Extra Old
This is a new wine from Champagne Veuve Clicquot, called Extra Brut Extra Old. With a dosage of 3 g/l this is the first release of an extra brut from…