TAM AIRLINES INTRODUCES NEW WINE LIST — includes Champagne Drappier La Grande Sendrée

TAM Airlines is offering its passengers a new wine list for long and short haul international flights. Passengers can sample wines that have been selected by Arthur Azevedo, Sommelier, Executive Director of The Brazilian Association of Sommeliers in São Paulo.

“We have selected top-quality wines from famous wine makers such as Jean-Luc Thunevin, Michel Rolland and Denis Dubordieu. With more than 500 options, 16 were selected to pair with dishes offered on the new menu ‘Sabor que faz Bem’ (Flavours That Make You Feel Good), prepared exclusively for TAM’s international flights by Brazilian chef, Bel Coelho,” explains Arthur Azevedo.

For First Class passengers, one of the highlights is Champagne Drappier La Grande Sendrée. This Champagne comes from vineyards that are over 70 years old. With 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay this perfectly balanced prestige Champagne certifies power and high expression. The Grande Sendrée is remuée (agitated) entirely by hand and is a reproduction of a 13th century bottle discovered in their Urville cellars.

In a training program developed by Azevedo, the crew members learn the origin and histories of all the wines and Champagnes served on board TAM flights, and also receive a guide to pair the wines.

Japan Airlines (JAL) Launches New First Class Wine List Champagnes include: Salon and Dom Perignon

JAL has been renowned for serving up some of its home nation’s best sake, but now the Tokyo Narita-based airline is taking inflight drinking to a whole new level thanks to a new wine list that includes Champagne Salon.

JAL will be the only airline serving Champagne Salon Vintage 1999 in First Class, which will be on the wine list alongside Champagne Dom Perignon’s Vintage 2003, and 17 other fine wines that span the globe from New Zealand’s Martinborough to California.

Fellow expat countryman and winemaker Kenzo Tsujimoto’s Kenzo Estate Rindo, from California, will also be available in First Class on selected flights.

It’s not just First Class passengers that get the best wines, commencing February Executive Class will also find a new list that includes nine new wines and Champagne Joseph Perrier Cuvee Royale Brut.

First Global Wine Auction of 2012: January 14 – Sotheby’s Hong Kong

This global wine auction will start 2012 off with some of the finest and rarest wines assembled including the Bordeaux Winebank Collection. Some other highlights include over 200 cases of investment-grade Bordeaux from the Bordeaux Winebank Collection, Super Second Bordeaux of exceptional quality and value, great Burgundy from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, historic Champagne direct from the cellars of Veuve Clicquot, as well as a selection of rare California Cult Wines.

The most valuable lot is a case of Romanée-Conti 1990 estimated at HK$1 – 1.5 million / US$130,000 – $190,000*. Overall 982 lots are estimated to fetch HK$50 – 70 million / US$6.2 – 8.7 million.

Serena Sutcliffe, MW, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine Department said: “We are excited to begin 2012 with another fabulous selection from Bordeaux Winebank. It goes without saying that these classic classed growths from this Collection are in superlative condition. Every time we have shown bottles from this source, the reaction of tasters has been nothing short of ecstatic, as the wines have shown so beautifully and so youthfully – the last occasion was with the 2000s, which were bursting with health and flavour. I could certainly envisage a 50th anniversary tasting for these 2000s and, perhaps even more, the 2005s, but unfortunately I know that I shall only be there in spirit!

Champagne connoisseurs will be impressed by the offering of three rare lots of historic vintage Veuve Clicquot, all direct from the cellars in Reims. The extraordinary vintages of: 1921, 1929 and 1947 are wines of enormous intensity and length of flavour, with all the black grape vinosity for which Veuve Clicquot is renowned. These are true rarities.

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Top Classified Bordeaux from the Bordeaux Winebank Collection:
Following the success of the previous offerings from the Bordeaux Winebank Collection, this sale will offer over 200 cases shipped direct from Bordeaux. An impressive selection of the First Growths, along with their equivalents on the Right Bank like Pétrus, Ausone and Cheval Blanc plus Yquem will be featured, showcasing the best vintages such as 1996, 2000, 2003 and 2005. As ever from this source all the wines come with the guarantee of “Five Star Provenance” – a patented system that ensures the authenticity and perfect condition of all the wines.

Highlights from Bordeaux Winebank Collection include:
Château Margaux 2005 Est. HK$70,000 – $100,000 / US$9,000 – $13,000 per case
Château Haut-Brion 2005 Est. HK$65,000 – $85,000 / US$8,500 – $11,000 per case
Château Mouton Rothschild 2005 Est. HK$60,000 – $80,000 / US$7,500 – $10,000 per case
Château Pétrus 2005 Est. HK$340,000 – $480,000 / US$42,500 – $60,000 per case
Château d’Yquem 2001 Est. HK$44,000 – $65,000 / US$5,500 – $8,000 per case

“Super Second” Bordeaux:
Together with First Growth Bordeaux, there is also a wonderful selection of “Super Seconds” that are comparable to the Premier Crus in terms of quality and consistency, thereby offering a built-in advantage of exceptional value.
Château Montrose 2003 Est. HK$14,000 – $19,000 / US$1,800 – $2,500 per case
Château Cos d’Estournel 2005 Est. HK$14,000 – $19,000 / US$1,800 – $2,500 per case
Château Pichon Longueville, Lalande 2000 Est. HK$9,000 – $12,000 / US$1,200 – $1,600 per case
Château Pichon Longueville, Baron 1995 Est. HK$6,000 – $9,000 / US$750- $1,200 per case

Blue-Chip Red Burgundy From Domaine De La Romanée-Conti:
Romanée Conti 1990, Domaine de la Romanée Conti Est. HK$1 – 1.5 million / US$130,000 – 190,000 per case
Romanée Conti 1988, Domaine de la Romanée Conti Est. HK$750,000 – 1 million / US$95,000 – 130,000 per case

Historic Vintage Veuve Clicquot Direct ) From The Cellars:
Leading the Champagne section are three magnums of 1921, 1929 and 1947, direct from Veuve Clicquot’s cellars in Reims. It is extremely rare to find these old vintages at auction making this an historic offering.

Veuve Clicquot, Brut 1921 (Magnum) Est. HK$36,000 – $60,000 / US$5,000 – $7,500
Veuve Clicquot, Brut 1929 (Magnum) Est. HK$36,000 – $60,000 / US$5,000 – $7,500
Veuve Clicquot, Brut 1947 (Magnum) Est. HK$36,000 – $60,000 / US$5,000 – $7,500

The Largest Selection of US Cult Wines Offered At Sotheby’s Hong Kong:

Sotheby’s will bring to market an impressive range of California cult wines – wines that are highly sought after by wine connoisseurs because of their extraordinary rarity, prestige and exceptional quality, to cater to the diversifying tastes of wine collectors in Asia.
Harlan Estate 1996 Est. HK$40,000 – $55,000 / US$5,000 – $7,000 per case
Harlan Estate 2002 Est. HK$55,000 – $70,000 / US$7,000 – $9,000 per case
Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 Est. HK$15,000 – $19,000 / US$1,900 – $2,500 per bottle
Screaming Eagle, Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 Est. HK$24,000 – $34,000 / US $3,000 -$4,500 per 3 bottles

Grand Vintage 2002 Moet & Chandon is the pour for The 69th Annual Golden Globes January 15, 2012

MOET & CHANDON (L-R) Sofia Vergara, Gerard Butler, Rashida Jones, and Ludovic du Plessis, Vice President of Moet & Chandon

For over 260 years, Moet & Chandon has been the symbol of glamorous celebrations, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary with the pop of a cork. Moet has been the champagne of cinema since the early days of Hollywood, supporting several hundred films since the 1930s, ranging from small productions to international blockbusters including iconic films such as Love in the Afternoon, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie, Pretty Woman, Titanic, Ocean’s 12, Nine, Up in the Air, and more recently Sex and the City 2 and Wall Street 2. In the same way legendary film directors preserve timeless moments on film, Moet & Chandon continues to showcase its legendary love affair with the magic of movies.

Celebrities including George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Meryl Streep are expected to be among the 1500 guests celebrating the big event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 15.

“More than 1,000 mini bottles and 500 magnums of Grand Vintage 2002 Moet & Chandon Champagne, with more than 9,000 glasses will be served on the red carpet, and inside the ballroom,” said the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the non-profit organization behind the awards.

The Grand Vintage 2002 sells at $83 a bottle in the United States, has been praised by Moet & Chandon Chef de Cave Benoit Gouez: “Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2002 comes from an exceptional year, certainly the best vintage in Champagne since 95-96. The climate has been perfect.”

Clicquot in the Sky: Chicago House Champagne Benefit January 26th 2012

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is both a Champagne house in Reims, France, and a brand of premium Champagne. Founded in 1772 by Philippe Clicquot-Muiron, Veuve Clicquot played an important role in establishing Champagne as a favored drink of haute bourgeoisie and nobility throughout Europe.

Notorious for its history of innovation Veuve Clicquot has become known as the Champagne House with cutting edge ideas.

Each year Chicago House hosts a Veuve Clicquot benefit at a different venue. This year the event reaches new heights. On the 99th floor of the SkyDeck, Willis Tower bubbly drinks await you!

Artists from around the city present their various interpretations of Clicquot and a fantastic silent auction keeps everyone bidding throughout the evening as the Veuve flows.

Date: Thursday, January 26, 2012

Time: 6:00 pm

Where: The SkyDeck, Willis Tower
233 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL

Contact: Michael Herman
mherman@chicagohouse.org
Phone – 773.248.5200 x 303