This is my favourite Champagne quote ever! By Napoleon Bonaparte. (Deceased)
Champagne In victory one deserves it. In defeat one needs it.”
Well, today is one of those days I have not had a win, however haven’t had a loss, either I just feel a little deflated. You know same shit different day. So what better way to put a little sparkle in the day, Is to open the Champers.
Not just any 15-year-old bottle of bubbles. A bottle of Champagne Lenoble Gentilhomme Grand Cru Blanc d Blanc Brut 2006. (Please note this wine has been kept in temperature-controlled wine storage.)
Much to my surprise, the cork came out with one hell of a pop, not the gentle sigh I was trying to achieve.
So I was rather happy, as I took this as an indication that all was well. And once again to my joy everything was in perfect harmony.
The wine had the golden glow of age. The bubbles were small but lively with long beading running up from the middle of the glass, a wide rim vintage Champagne flute to be precise.
The point of the wide rim vintage flute, is they have a slightly bigger bowl giving you a better chance to smell and taste the wine.
And when you get soft armours like black vanilla bean and warm apricots (dried maybe).
Apricots, something I don’t remember finding in a Champagne before. There were other fruits and spices mixed in the blend, that I can only describe as different, from what I was expecting. I found everything except the usual suspects such as brioche & toast etc, I guess they were there. I was just blinded by the solid condition of the wine and the fact I thought it was a very interesting wine. Filled with floral and citrus fruit notes and of course the bubbles.
I found the wine to be both bold and elegant, with a long and lingering finish, a style I found to be a bloody good value for money.
When yesterday walked into a Thirsty Camel retail chain and in the fridge was Verve Clique for $99.98. (Give me a break)
The Food
I did enjoy this wine with the best wood-fired mushroom Pizza with a small amount of blue cheese, onion and a hint of garlic.
Truly keep it simple the mushroom Pizza worked unbelievably well.
Michael Lillis
The Rot has set in.
