Monday Night Wines: The slight fizz of Champagne

I have stated before that the one style of wine I cannot live without is Champagne. Not sparkling wine, but Champagne...the real stuff from that small region 90 miles northeast of Paris. Champagne is ethereal, exciting, sexy, fun, and when it is good it is really good. This week's wine was introduced to me by Rajat Paar, the wine director of the Michael Mina Group. Shauna, my pal Jesse and I dined at RN74 and Raj started us off with a few glasses of Champagne, which quickly evolved into the entire bottle. The moment I put the glass to my nose I had a giant grin plastered on my face. As Jesse and Raj caught up, I just let the wine take me over. For those of you who still don't think Champagne is the "bee's knees" get a few bottles of good Champagne from your local fine wine shop and don't stop until you get it.

Winery: André Clouet

Wine: Grand Réserve, Brut

Vintage: Non-vintage

Grape: 100% Pinot Noir

Region: Bouzy, Montagne de Reims, Champagne

            France

Website: N/A

Retail: $40

Fun Fact: Both father and son work together to hand-craft these beautiful wines.

Tasting Notes: This is a very rich Champagne. If you are found of the Bollinger style then you will love this wine. A percentage of the wine is barrel fermented, giving it a headiness and concentration that many non-vintage Champagnes lack. Though the wine is full in body it is not blowzy. It is the epitome of balance, having both intensity and concentration while possessing restraint and beauty. The Pinot Noir gives the wine a bright fruity note on the nose, while the extended time on the lees makes it seem like there is a cherry pie in the room. The minerality shines on the middle and back palate. The wine is anchored by its acidity,  drawn from the Grand Cru soil these vines live in. Though we pounded through the wine before any food hit our table, this wine would show well with a variety of foods. I would love to try this with anything fried...two of my favorite things: Fried food and Champagne. I could also see this with a slow roast chicken or even gamier foul, roast halibut or a fondue. This may be a tough wine to find, as I have never seen it anywhere before but I will be bringing it in to my shop for the holidays.

                                                             

Comments

[David C]

Soooo... when are you gonna redesign this site, already? ;)