Researching the grapes beforehand pays off when you purchase champagne. You can learn about the style of any champagne by tasting it according to your preference. You can choose fresh and floral wines, bready wines, or wines that use oak in the making process.
With the holiday season approaching, there is no shortage of champagnes for celebrating good times and making moments memorable. Here is an exotic collection of five of the best champagnes you can give as Christmas presents.
1. The Dom Perignon Vintage 2008
Dom Perignon does not require any introduction. Its heritage of elegant craftsmanship in making champagne makes it a top choice for champagne lovers. If you prefer to purchase vintage champagne, Dom Perignon is the ideal choice.
After a three-decade legacy, Richard Geoffrey steps down as chef de cave at Dom Perignon. His final vintage release, 2008, is getting exceptional reviews. The wine is unique because it requires a longer time to open than other releases.
The champagne blends white flowers, stone fruit, and citrus in the opening, giving way to spicy, roasted, and woody notes. The freshness of crushed mint and aniseed accentuates the flavour and keeps it crisp. The champagne exudes an intricate balance of aroma and flavour.
Champagne's duality of spiciness and freshness makes it suitable for accompanying various foods. Its overall taste is creamy and decadent, with notes of berries, white flowers, and toasted pastry.
2. Roger Barnier L'oubliée Solera Champagne, Wanderlust Wines.
The Roger Barnier comes from an independent family house, and it is grower champagne dating back five generations. They have a long history of aged vines with their earliest fruit, making wine stretching back to before the First World War.
Wanderlust wines use an extremely traditional champagne production technique: wooden presses and the absence of cellar work. Although the brioche notes are less prominent, the wine can undergo plenty of ageing.
Roger Barnier champagne is a solera that combines the sophisticated tones of older wines with the vibrant, fresh flavours of the newer generation. The overall flavours of the Champagne are exciting and sophisticated.
3. Krug Grande Cuvee Brut, 167th edition.
Krug Grande Cuvee is one of history's most iconic and outstanding champagnes, and it ages majestically. The Grande Cuvee from Brut is technically a bottle of non-vintage Champagne, and it is perfect for those who prefer rounder flavours in their Champagne. The bottle is rich with the essence of citrus and stone fruit, with a hint of chocolate and spice.
The production of Krug Grande Cuvee utilizes the fusion of 140 wines from 13 different years, with the oldest dating back to 1998. The wine offers several flavours, with peaches, honey, mango, and ginger. It has a salty finish, terrific verve, and a smoky overlay.
Krug Grande Cuvee is a blend of 36 per cent Chardonnay, 47 per cent Pinot Noir, and 17 per cent Meunier. The bottle has a Krug ID on its long neck, which allows the user to scan on a Krug app to access information regarding the history of the bottle.
4. Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, 2011
Champagne Bollinger has an appealing golden colour and an exquisite profusion of tiny bubbles, which create a bubbly fizz. The champagne offers notes of fresh apple, a creamy mouthfeel, and a lasting dry finish.
Bollinger is the official champagne brand of James Bond. It is a perfect accompaniment to cheese plates of seafood. The bottle has notes of creme brulee, subtle baking spice, and red currant. The champagne has a unique style that fuses vigour, freshness, and toasty richness.
5. Champagne Henriot Blanc De Blancs
The Champagne Henriot is a regal blanc de blanc style and the official royal supplier of the Austrian Imperial and royal courts. The champagne bottle consists entirely of Chardonnay, and its zippy, bright fruit flavours are cut short by just enough crisp minerality. The sparkling wine is ideal for pairing with oysters and fresh shellfish, as it has a tinge of honey and pastry flavours.
The selection process can be tricky if you want to buy a nice supermarket variety in your wallet or splurge on luxurious, expensive bottles. Suppose you do not want to invest an exorbitant amount in gifting Champagne. In that case, you can consider the Totts champagne Brut California, which provides incredible value at a fraction of the cost.
Conclusion
Champagne is a liquid luxury, and the fastest way to find a bottle of world-class Champagne is to avoid flashy marketing and instead focus on the quality of the product. Along with the effect of serving Champagne in elegant flutes or coupes, Champagne has the unique ability to emphasize everything from turkey and caviar to truffles and cakes.
Champagne is a fabulous gift, and whether your contribution is to an office colleague or your dear friend, the selection process makes all the difference in getting the perfect champagne. Champagnes are also the ideal accompaniment for a romantic dinner or sipping to celebrate a special occasion.
Ensure you serve the champagne at a temperature between 8 and 10 degrees Celsius to release the best flavours. Serving in a champagne flute is also preferable, as it helps relish the taste and aroma of the drink. A champagne bottle stopper helps prevent bubbles from escaping if you plan to consume the champagne over a few days.
0 Comments