One of the distinctive aspects of the London International Wine Fair, among major wine events in the world, is that it takes place in a country that is a great importer of wines, rather than a major producer like France or Italy, where Vinexpo and Vinitaly take place. For producers
In my experience, vins clairs tastings are a rare opportunity to catch a glimpse of the wine before the bubbles, and to imagine their development over time; they are a unique foray into the magical kingdom of champagne. Early in the life of a bottle of champagne, before bubbles have
In the world of marketing and sales, it's always good when you can keep things simple. Of course, this can be quite a challenge for an industry like the wine industry, where realities of place, grapes, vintages, styles, and terroir add up as so many variables to take into account—enough
Translucent magenta in color. The nose is shy and gives no hint of the candied fruit to come on the palate. The flavors started light, shy like the nose, with strawberries and cherries. On the mid-palate it opened up with loads of candied red fruits. Smoke from dosage with Pineau
Here in Champagne, one often says that champagne is first and foremost a wine. However the characteristics of this wine change significantly with the adding of the dosage (a mixture of base wine and cane sugar) at the time of disgorging. Today's most popular Champagne style is brut—which often contains 6 to 12
Very light, almost clear, copper color. The nose is interesting, a bouquet of white flowers and pencil shavings. On the palate it has huge flavors of pencil shavings with flint, rose water, pepper, and red currants. Smoke lingers on the finish. Pair with a fruit tart dessert. Recommended. DH WHO:
Interesting nose showing apples with a light background of wood smoke. Baked pear with a lemon background lead on the attack. The Pineau d’Aunis makes its presence known on the mid-palate, with pencil lead and wood smoke. It is full-bodied with a mid-length finish. Acids are quite bright. Drink with
Small, but not tiny, bubbles come off the glass in a relatively sparse mousse. Almond paste, hibiscus and lime peel make up the nose. On the palate, almonds and apples lead on the attack, followed by key lime emerging on the mid-palate. Apples linger on the finish, with a background