Every Celebration Starts With Champagne
As New Year's Eve approaches Champagne sales are hitting a high note. According to the Champagne Bureau's US office, Champagne exports have increased to the US for four years in a row, up 3.6% in 2016 over the previous year. In 2016, close to 22 million bottles of Champagne were sent to America. Have you ever wondered where the idea of celebrating with Champagne began?
December 31 is International Champagne Day. It is no surprise since popping a cork of bubbly to ring in the New Year is an integral part of any New Year's Eve celebration. According to Kollen M. Guy, author of the book When Champagne Became French, Champagne has been associated with luxury and parties of the French aristocracy dating back to the 16th century. It was seen as a status symbol, embraced by the belief it offered beauty benefits to women, while also increasing men's wit. However, after the French Revolution Champagne was at times seen as a substitution for religious symbolism at special events. It became increasing more common to serve Champagne at weddings, baptisms, or even use it to christen a ship. Today, Bourgeoisie and commoners alike embrace Champagne to toast special occasions and, thankfully, understand that simply opening a bottle of Champagne creates a special occasion any day of the week.
Throughout history the reputation of Champagne has never wavered. As Charles Dickens said, "Champagne is one of the elegant extras in life." Did you know Champagne has not always contained bubbles? It was not until the 17th century that the Méthode Champenoise was invented and Champagne, as we know it today, was born. Early on Champagne houses used famous artists and actors to promote their product. By the 20th century, Champagne was as much a part of France as the French language. Even Winston Churchill said at the end of the First World War, "Remember Gentlemen, it's not the French we are fighting for, its Champagne." Champagne survived two World Wars (with battles taking place literally in the vineyards), the Great Depression, and phylloxera. As you ring in the New Year grab a bottle of the wine synomous with celebration.
This fall Laurent-Perrier replaced their top selling Brut NV with the improved "La Cuvée" Brut. This Champagne is crafted of 55% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, and 10% Meniur sourced from 110 growers. In 2004, Laurent-Perrier acquired new Chardonnay vineyards and contracts in the Côtes de Blancs that put in place a plan to replace the Brut NV with a more upscale wine of increased quality. Increasing lees time to four years and lowering the dosage from 12.5g/l to 9 g/l delivers a complex wine with tension between the fresh notes of bright citrus, tart apples and fresh flowers with the complexity of the toasted almonds and bready notes. The bubbles are fine and persistent, lean acidity, and delicate mousse wraps the palate. $49.
Veuve Clicquot Rich + Rich Rosé is a fun new Champagne inviting you to be creative. This wine is designed for the cocktail lover and mixologist. Crafted of 45% Pinot Noir, 40% Meniur, and 15% Chardonnay, this wine is designed for you to customize your Champagne experience. Add some ice and fruit for a spritzer, or make a sparkling cocktail. Veuve Clicquot Rich is the perfect celebration Champagne. $60
Pol Rogers has been producing Champagne for over 160 years. This family owned and operated Champagne House was chosen as one of 8 Grandes Marques in a royal appointment of Buckingham Palace to be an official supplier to the Royal Family. Moreover, it was selected as the Champagne served at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Furthermore, it was the favorite Champagne of Sir Winston Churchill. Pol Rogers NV White Foil Brut Reserve Champagne also offers pleasant tension between refreshing notes of crisp orchard and refreshing citrus fruits with a delicate creaminess of a rich mouthfeel from a perfectly butter slice of brioche. Lively acidity dances harmoniously with fine perlage to coat the palate in an elegant zest. $60
Bruno Paillard is a sort of new kid on the block in a wine region dominated by long family histories. Owning 79 acres of vineyards across fifteen crus, 35 of which are either Grand Cru or Premiere Cru, Bruno Paillard is a name synonymous with quality. Each Champagne they produce is a reflection of what Bruno himself wants expects from a Champagne. He looks to the blend of the grapes and the vineyards to craft wines of superior quality and elegance. He crafts the NV Bruno Paillard Premiere Cuvee as an expression of the region of Champagne. Crafted of 45% Pinot Noir, 33% Chardonnay, and 22% Meunier, this is an extra dry brut with a dosage level less than 6g/l. Complex layers of orchard and citrus fruits mingle with raspberries and red currants. Notes of almonds and dry toast join the fruits, along with a firm minerality are added to create a wine of depth and linear focus. The perlage is fine and the acidity is racy and refreshing. $50
Jacques Bardelot is the outlier of the bunch. S.A Les Roches Blanches was founded in 1994, by a young local agronomic engineer. Operating from a new ultra-modern facility, their Champagne sales increase each year. The NV Jacques Bardelot Brut is crafted of 60% Pinot Noir, 30% Meuier, and 10% Chardonnay. Classic notes of apple and pear, raspberries, red currants, and citrus, are joined with toasted bread and marzipan. It is delicate and refreshing with a crisp acidity, fine mousse, and refreshing finish. $35