The 2014 vintage in Champagne is one that all Champagne lovers should take note of. For me, it is only the second time since 1988 (the other harvest being 2004) that the region has produced wines of such streamlined and relaxed elegance…
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Gary doesn’t often buy a wine before tasting it, but he knew he couldn’t go wrong with Bollinger. So when he opened up Bollinger’s newly released PNVZ15 for the first time, his instincts were pleasantly validated by the sumptuous deliciousness of this wine. We just received a tiny amount of this tiny-production wine, so it is not a purchase to ruminate on… it’s one to buy while we have it!
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You may have noticed that our Champagne Buyer Gary Westby drinks a lot of really good Champagne. So when one makes him stop and take notice, you can bet it’s exceptional. He had just such a moment over a bottle of Gosset’s NV Blanc de Noir. Paired with salmon mousse, the experience was nothing short of profound.
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Our Champagne Buyer, Gary Westby, had the good fortune to taste the 2010 vintage of Dom Pérignon Brut. “How was it,” you ask? In a word, amazing. Simply put, this is Champagne at its very best. Read on for Gary’s first impressions on this singular bottle of Champagne.
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Summertime, and the livin’ is…well, decidedly different than we all had expected. But the wines are excellent, and there’s no shortage of options, both tried-and-true and off-the-beaten path. In this week’s newsletter, our Buyers have joined forces to bring you a guide to beating the heat with the coolest of the cool summer wines on our shelves.
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Our master of fizz, Gary Westby, tracks down another spectacular bottle of Bubbly. And it’s under $30!
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Gary looks back fondly on his visit to Bollinger in the Aÿ region of Champagne. He met with Cyril Delarue, the sixth generation of the Bollinger family and Denis Bunner, the second-in-command of winemaking, and it was one of the best visits he’s ever had to a big Champagne house.
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Though it seems like a lifetime ago, only a few weeks have passed since Team Champagne was passing idyllic days meeting winemakers and evenings drinking and eating divinely. Scott Beckerley looks back at his favorite part of the trip: dinner with the folks at Laurent Perrier.
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Gary and Scott visited Alexandre Le Brun, a do-it-yourself winemaker. The entire winemaking process from start to finish is his, and his alone. They were greeted at his winery by his cat, Ninja.
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The Champagne Adventure continues in Charly-sur-Marne with Paul Fallet of Fallet-Dart.
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While drinking their way through Champagne, Gary and Scott have been eating their way, too. Scott Beckerley reports on some of the joys of eating while on the trail—from Michelin-starred restaurants to cheese and apples under a tree. Ah, le belle vie.
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Continuing our Champagne coverage, Gary brings you a report from his visit with cult producer Thierry Thibault.
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