Category: Champagne

Toasting to Trailblazers: Madame Louise Pommery and Women in Wine This Holiday Season

During the holiday season, as we celebrate and toast to good times, it is important to remember the remarkable women who have paved the way in the wine industry. These trailblazers have influenced the world of wine and left an indelible mark on history. Let’s take a moment to honour and celebrate them.

One such extraordinary woman is Madame Louise Pommery. A true visionary of the 19th century, Madame Pommery was one of the iconic widows who revolutionized the Champagne industry. After her husband’s death, she took the helm of the Pommery estate and transformed it into one of the most renowned Champagne houses in the world.

Madame Pommery’s pioneering spirit and innovative approach played a crucial role in developing modern Champagne as we know it today. She came up with the invention of “brut” Champagne. At that time dosage was added to champagne which was varied and unregulated resulting in sweet wines; she wanted something more elegant and fresher. Madame Pommery also popularized the use of caves for aging Champagne and is credited with pioneering wine tourism. Her relentless pursuit of excellence and dedication to quality established Pommery as a symbol of elegance and sophistication.

As we enjoy this holiday season with a glass of champagne in hand, let us raise our glasses to Madame Louise Pommery and all the incredible women who have contributed to the wine industry. Their legacy continues to inspire and shape the future of winemaking.

I’m sharing Pommery Brut Rose with my family and friends over the holidays, and toasting to all Women in Wine – Past, Now and Future!

Champagne Pommery is available at LCBO  

NO HST (ONTARIO) THIS HOLIDAY SEASON !!

Champagne Pommery Brut Rose LCBO #38632

Champagne Pommery Grand Cru Royal Brut 2009  LCBO #40870

The BEST Hostess Gift: Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive [Brut] Champagne Gift Pack + Two Flutes

I found this exclusive Nicolas Feuillatte Gift Pack, complete with two elegant flutes, to be a perfect choice for holiday shoppers seeking a sophisticated yet accessible hostess gift it is a harmonious blend of history, quality, and elegance, making it an exceptional choice. Cheers to making every moment special with this exquisite Champagne!

Nicolas Feuillatte’s Réserve Exclusive Brut is a perfect balance between Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, and at the same time offers remarkable complexity and elegance. This exclusive brut goes perfectly with tasty dishes such as crispy smoked salmon, turkey and on its own as a holiday aperitif!

Champagne Review: Laurent-Perrier “Grand Siècle” Iteration No. 26 Brut Champagne

Laurent-Perrier’s “Grand Siècle” Iteration No. 26 is a meticulously crafted multi-vintage blend, incorporating 65% 2012, 25% 2008, and 10% 2007 vintages. This cuvée is also composed of 58% Chardonnay and 42% Pinot Noir, exclusively sourced from grand cru vineyards. The Chardonnay component is selected from Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant, Avize, and Oger, while the Pinot Noir is derived from the prestigious terroirs of Ambonnay, Bouzy, and Verzy.

Tasting Notes:
Aged for a decade sur lattes, this champagne offers an extraordinary aromatic profile, with complex layers of ripe apple, white peach, fresh-baked brioche, and mineral-rich chalkiness. Delicate undertones of caraway seed, dried florals, with a hint of smokiness which adds depth. On the palate, it demonstrates remarkable purity and structure, presenting a full-bodied profile with a refined mousse and finishes with length and complexity, showcasing impeccable balance and a vibrant core of fruit.

Although this wine is still youthful, it promises to evolve beautifully over the next five to ten years, rewarding patience with further layers of complexity.

Rating: 98+

Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2024 Medal Results

The medal winners of the 2024 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships (CSWWC) have been revealed, with a total of 167 gold and 229 silver medals awarded this year.

Now in its 11th edition, the CSWWC received close to 1,000 sparkling wines from 20 countries, that were judged over 11 days at Goodnestone Park in Kent, England.

Italy once again dominated the rankings, securing 70 gold and 123 silver medals. France followed closely with 55 golds and 36 silvers. Australia claimed third place, trailed by Spain, with the UK rounding out the top five.

“We were thrilled with the quality of the whole range of wines that we tasted this year,” said judge Essi Avellan MW. “This has been another great year for results, once again demonstrating how exciting the sparkling wine industry is. It is not only the CSWWC’s mission to promote world class wines, but also to discover and reward new and exciting wines from established and emerging regions across the world!”

The Best in Class and trophy winners will be revealed at this year’s CSWWC awards dinner on October 24th in London.

Medal winners are found here: https://www.champagnesparklingwwc.co.uk/results-2024/

Source: www.champagnesparklingwwc.co.uk/

Ruinart Unveils Blanc Singulier: A New Champagne Based on Climate Change

Frédéric Panaïotis, cellar master of Maison Ruinart, the oldest Champagne house founded in 1729, has introduced a new cuvée, Blanc Singulier. The label describes it as “A Singular Expression of Chardonnay, Revealed by a Changing Climate.”

Ruinart is renowned for its Chardonnay, and Blanc Singulier continues this tradition with a 100% Chardonnay composition. The Edition 19 comprises 80% fruit from the 2019 vintage and 20% reserve wine, with a portion aged in oak casks and zero dosage.

Edition 19
Edition 19 is the third release in this series, following Editions 17 and 18. Despite an early harvest in August, 2017 was not as challenging as recent years, making it an experimental prototype. Panaïotis chose zero dosage for this cuvée, he states “We decided to go for it, and this was our experimental cuvée, a prototype.” He recalls that he decided to go for Zero dosage, although in his words, “it probably needed one or two grams.”

The 2018 vintage set heat records in Champagne, with summer temperatures averaging two degrees above normal, necessitating greater selectivity in vineyard choice. Nonetheless, Panaïotis achieved a balanced wine without dosage.

Edition 19 underwent full malolactic fermentation, with 77% fruit from the 2019 vintage, some oak aging, 36 months on lees, and zero dosage. Panaïotis and other Champagne winemakers regard 2019 as an exceptional vintage. Panaïotis remarks, “I think everybody in Champagne agrees that 2019 is the greatest vintage we’ve had in a number of years. You talk to growers, to other houses, all winemakers are in love with 2019; it’s like a dream vintage.”

Sustainability
Ruinart’s new cuvée highlights adaptability to climate change and a commitment to sustainability. Panaïotis defines sustainability as a balance between environmental, social, and economic factors. Ruinart ceased airfreight shipping around 2013-2014 and prioritizes carbon footprint reduction, with a focus on packaging and transportation. In the vineyards, biodiversity protection is paramount in the face of climate change.

To sum up
Panaïotis reflects on future challenges posed by warmer temperatures, expressing confidence in Ruinart’s ability to craft quality Champagnes even under extreme conditions. He acknowledges uncertainty about potential future extremes but remains hopeful.

Source: The Drinks Business