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January 16, 2016

Champagne de Vigneron is alive and well – searching for vinous Champagnes that speak loudly of the terroir and the wine maker. Arriving in March are some terroir focused wines for Melbourne clients. Stunning wines from Philippe Glavier, Hélène Beaugrand, Patrick Voirin, Jérôme Bourgeois-Diaz and Marie-Noëlle Ledru. Subscribe now here to get onto the newsletter.

My interest is to find vinous Champagnes that speak loudly of the terroir and the wine maker. Sure there are many nice correct easy drinking Champagnes out there. And most of the 4,000 growers make that genre of Champagne. That is not my interest. For me Champagne needs to be a ‘fine wine’ and sit alongside the great wines of the world. Texture, weight, finesse, length, elegance, minerality, complexity, balance, profound, subtle are just some of the adjectives I use to describe any fine wine. Champagne is no different and my quest is to find these for loyal Melbourne clients.

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Newsletter – April in France 2016

July 8, 2016

Hello Champagne aficionados,

April is a busy time in Champagne region – with growers launching new tasting salon exhibitions left right and centre.  There was only one Salon eight years ago “Terres et Vins” – now there are 21 !  Most are now based in Reims with only  a few  based in some of the villages. This week has been named ‘Le Printemps des Champagnes’. It is a busy week – spitoons are the order of the day – and a firm resolve with copious note taking. Most growers speak enough English to be well understood. Also there are a number of events at local wine bars – show casing growers’ champagne.

more “Newsletter – April in France 2016” …

Prize Winning Photos

March 15, 2016

Two of my photos have won some nice awards during the year. This one of Emmanuel Lassaigne disgorging Champagne has captured him at just the right moment.lassaigne-1-21-Jan-15

This image is of Anselme Selosse – one of gurus of Champagne – discussing his methodology.

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Champagne week – “Printemps des Champagnes”

January 25, 2016

April is a busy time in Reims and Epernay with a number of grower groups running exhibition salons. Most tastings are now in Reims.

Confirmed:
Origines de Champagne – 16th and 17th April – Pierry
Le Cercle des Créateurs de Champagnes Confidentiels –  16th April in Epernay and 17th April in Reims
Bulles Bio – 17th April Reims
Les Mains du Terroir de Champagne – 17th April Reims
Des pieds et des vins – 18th April Reims
Terres et Vins – 18th April Reims
Generation Champagne -le lundi 18 avril de 9h30 à 18h30 at le mardi 19 avril de 9h30 à 14h30 au Cellier à Reims
Degustation Bouzy Rouge et Champagne Rose  – 19th April Reims
Passion Chardonnay – 19th April Reims
Les Artisans du Champagne – 19th April Reims
Club Tresors – 20th April Reims
Les Pepites des Independants – April 20th Reims

Not yet confirmed are:
Verzenay Grand Cru de Champagne – 18th April ??
Les Riceys tasting in Aube – 21st April ??
Champagnes et Terroirs group ??
Trait d’Union ??

Masterclass 1996 Champagne Melbourne

December 10, 2015

A nice masterclass run by David Donald – using my stock of 1996 Champagnes. My notes are my personal view.

  1. 1996 Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs.
    This is the regular bottling. Pure and mineral but still showing quite a bit of acid. Maybe a tad hard at the moment but appears to have the ability to age for a few years more for sure. Lovely mousse.
  2. 1996 Bonnaire Prestige Blanc de Blancs.
    Creamy and quite open. Quite approachable now and a very nice drink. Opened up a bit stinky but after 20 mins we saw some nice purity and elegance.
  3. 1996 Fleur du Passion Dibolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs.
    This cuvee uses oak maturation and blocking of malo to add some real complexity and precision. Nose shows honey vanillan oak – more like a white burgundy. Palate is tight and long. A joy and drinks well now. One of my favourites of the night. Superb.
  4. 1996 Claude Cazals Blanc de Blancs.
    Open and straight forward. Slightly heavy handed oxidised style of the grower is the hall mark of the wine. A nice drink and in excellent condition.
  5. 1996 Pierre Moncuit Blanc de Blancs.
    Bold style, on the riper end of the spectrum and maybe shows a certain lack of elegance compared to other blanc de blancs in the bracket. In perfect condition and very enjoyable.
  6. 1996 Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale Blanc de Blancs.
    Very tight and very savoury in style. Nose opened up very sulfide and took 20 minutes to clean up. Very fine mousse and great length. More like a young white burgundy in style. Great potential to improve yet.
  7. 1996 Jacquesson Avize Blanc de Blancs.
    Hints of coconut and chocolate on the nose. Massive weight and intensity all held in check by great acid. Very fine mousse. Superb.
  8. 1996 Agrapart l’Avizoise Blanc de Blancs.
    Quite lean and tight, fine mousse and great complexity. Appears a little hard and angular which suggests it needs more time still. Crazy stuff. Yes it needs more time!
  9. 1996 Vilmart Cuvee Creation.
    Now the terroir changes from the Cote des Blancs, to the Montagne. The different profile is immediately obvious. This bottle revealed the intensity of the Vilmart sweet oak in spades. Sweet oak is not my favourite sorry.
  10. 1996 Renee Geoffroy Cuvee Prestige.
    The honeyed richness of Cumieres fruit is immediately obvious. Ripeness and richness with gentle acid keeping the balance in check. Nice drink but maybe a little simple.
  11. 1996 Paul Bara.
    The standard bottling. A lovely classically dosaged old Champagne. Toasty and in great balance.
  12. 1996 Paul Bara ‘Comtesse de Marie de France’ Blanc de Noirs.
    Pure and precise with great perfume. The red fruits are subtle but penetrate the taste buds. Perfect balance and great length. Superb.