Tag: Liz Palmer

Taittinger is the Champagne of choice for SAG Awards

During the 18th Annual Screen Actor Guild Awards ceremony behind the scenes event at The Shrine Auditorium Champagne Taittinger is the Champagne of choice.

The results are in after months and weeks of voting, Hollywood’s actors finally name their picks for the best performances in the films and TV shows of 2011 at the annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

The SAG honors, which are closely watched in the race for Oscars, follow the Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice given by media watchers, as well as acknowledgements from the U.S. Producers Guild and Directors Guild, which represent their respective professional groups in industry matters.

The SAG Awards are a key barometer of which films and actors have a good chance at winning Oscars, the world’s top film honors given on February 26 by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, because performers make up the largest voting branch of the academy.

The SAG Awards air on U.S. TV on Sunday night from Los Angeles on cable networks TNT and TBS, and on Global Television in Canada.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

CELEBRATE WITH CHAMPAGNE – EASY TIPS ON CHOOSING CHAMPAGNE FOR YOUR WEDDING

Selecting the right effervescent is a must for your wedding as it is the first bottle to be opened ….but not all bubbly is the same! While there are many quality sparkling wines produced around the world, true Champagne only comes Champagne France!

CHAMPAGNE STYLES

• Not all Champagne is alike. There are a variety of Champagne styles available, from full to light-bodied, Vintage to Rosé, as well as various levels of sweetness. One fun way of finding out which Champagne is right for your wedding is to host a Champagne tasting party as a bridesmaids’ activity. Using half bottles is a great way to cut costs while exploring the diversity of Champagne.

• Levels of sweetness include: Brut Natural (driest of the dry);
brut (very dry); extra brut (extra dry, but sweeter than brut); sec (medium sweet); demi-sec (sweet, considered a dessert wine) and doux (very sweet, considered a dessert wine) – keep this as a guide when ordering.

• Types of Champagne include: blanc de blancs which is made entirely from the Chardonnay grape. These Champagnes are light, elegant, and refreshing. A richer style is blanc de noir which is made entirely from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. This Champagne will have a dark gold color with the slightest tinge of pink, and finally rosé Champagne. The winemaker adds a small amount of Pinot Noir to base the wine blend.

SHOPPING ADVICE

• Having an accurate and up-to-date guest list will assist you when ordering.

• You should plan for 2 glasses of Champagne per guest.

• A bottle of Champagne fills 6 glasses (8 if the flutes are narrow).

• You don’t have to break the bank to serve Champagne at your wedding. This one-of-a-kind wine is available at a wide range of price points.

SERVING

• Champagne should be well chilled – this can be done by placing the bottle in a bucket of ice and water for 30 minutes prior to serving.

• Champagne should be poured in front of guests – part of the pleasure is seeing the bubbles froth up in the glass as it’s poured, and at the same time capturing the aromas.

• Use tall, tulip or flute glasses, which capture and promote bubbles and concentrate its aromas, while improving the experience. Saucer-type glasses should not be used as they cause the bubbles to disappear rapidly and are awkward to hold.

T I P S

• Brut is considered the classic choice.

• If you plan to use Champagne for cocktails choose extra brut Champagne.

• Rosé Champagne with its pink hue not only contributes to the romantic twist of the celebration but also stands out as a unique and memorable alternative.

• In serving a glass of champagne with the wedding cake, I recommend sweeter demi-sec champagne.

• Suggest to the venue manager that you would like to taste the Champagnes before you decide – this is a perfectly reasonable request.

MY PICK

Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a perfect wine for toasts. The name literally means “white of white,” a perfect complement to the wedding gown.

No matter what Champagne you choose, it is certain to add an air of festivity to your special day. After all, Champagne is the quintessential wine of celebration!

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

The start of production for 23rd James Bond film “Skyfall” has been announced. Rumors are flying over which Bollinger Cuvée will be featured.


Following the recent announcement that the 23rd Bond Film will be called “Skyfall” with release date of October 2012, rumors have been flying thick and fast!

Who will be singing the theme song? Will this be Daniel Craig’s last Bond film? Will the budgets equal those lavished on Quantum of Solace?

Craig’s fellow cast members include: Dame Judi Dench, Albert Finney, Javier Bardem, Ralph Fiennes and Ben Whishaw.

Producers have confirmed is that Skyfall will take Bond on another action-packed mission to London, Shanghai, Istanbul and Scotland.

Champagne Bollinger has been Bond’s Champagne of choice since its first appearance on screen in ‘Live and Let Die’ in 1973.

It was Bollinger R.D. 1975 in View to a Kill, and Bollinger R.D. 1969 in Moonraker, both of which Bond recognized by vintage.

The question is which Bollinger Cuvée will be featured in Skyfall?

Liz Palmer
@champagnehouses

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

New Release: 2003 Dom Pérignon

The 2002 has been widely acclaimed as one of the best. A few weeks ago Chef de Cave Richard Geoffroy decided to release a wine from 2003, a year when Champagne was hit by frost, hail, and an August heat wave – it seems to be a bit of a risk.

“We shouldn’t be afraid of hot years,” says Mr. Geoffroy. “We have to react to the condition of the year; there were some slight technical challenges but I’m very proud of this vintage.”

The 2003 vintage was made from grapes grown in the hottest summer in Champagne in 53 years. The vintage has slightly more Pinot Noir (60%) in the blend, with 40% Chardonnay. Although a powerful wine with plenty of fruit, it retains Dom Pérignon’s trademark finesse.

This vintage has character, but remains quintessentially Dom Pérignon with a round, rhythmical finish that dances delicately between mineral and floral flavors. To the skilled Chef de Cave, the 2003 is an intense memory and Richard Geoffroy beautifully captures this by saying, “I wish every single vintage could be as strong as 2003.”

DOM PÉRIGNON
Moët & Chandon, Épernay, Champagne, France
Vintage: 2003
Alcohol: 12.5%
Price: £100 or €120 (est)