- NV Ernest Rapeneau Champagne Brut, Epernay, France ($9.99@Dealer Joe’s, California)
We celebrated the solstice yesterday by popping the cap on this bottle. We’re within the house stretch of 2022 folks, and this bottle (or bottles!) can be good to have in your fridge for a number of causes. For those who’re like us, there are vacation Mimosas in your future. To not point out midnight toasts on New Years’ eve. However maybe most of all, this can be a 375ml half bottle, excellent for sharing with a associate. Or two. Ooh, la la!
In case you are a very long time reader of those posts, you recognize that we prefer to hold them mild and enjoyable, and to additionally present some wine training within the course of.
A brief historical past of champagne:
The story of champagne begins over 300 years in the past with Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk who lived within the Champagne area of France from 1638 to 1715. Dom Pérignon spent 47 years of his life within the Abbey of Saint Pierre, the place, amongst different duties, he labored on bettering among the oldest elements of champagne-making. The Abbey is situated overlooking the attractive rolling hills of the Marne Valley, an space which is famed for rising champagne grapes. Dom Pérignon devoted his time to creating among the earliest champagne, and it’s from this starting that champagne turned a beloved drink in nations all around the world.
He was recognized for his talent at mixing totally different wine vintages to convey out the perfect of their flavours, Dom Pérignon is accredited with perfecting the artform of mixing cuvée champagne. Cuvée champagnes are these which have been specifically blended, or the place the champagne has been chosen from a vat which is of superior high quality. He additionally developed methods that are important within the champagne-making course of, together with a technique for maintaining grapes pores and skin separate from the juices they produced throughout urgent, so as to hold the colors from darkish pink grapes skins out of the liquid in order that the top product has a stupendous mild straw color.
One other contribution to champagne made by Dom Pérignon was the creation of the primary champagne cork. Beforehand, champagne bottles had been closed with wooden, which didn’t all the time match completely. Dom Pérignon’s use of cork as a closure ensured a greater match, in order that the tiny bubbles within the champagne can be preserved. Dom Pérignon additionally made modifications to the form of champagne bottles, utilizing thicker glass to forestall pricey and harmful explosions brought on by a build-up of gases throughout the bottles throughout transportation. The basic form and elegance of right this moment’s champagne bottles are due to Dom Pérignon.
The story goes that when Dom Pérignon first created his scrumptious bubbly champagne, he known as out to his fellow monks “Come rapidly, I’m tasting the celebrities!” This quote has been related to champagne ever since.
Quick ahead to 1901, Ernest Rapeneau based his champagne and wine enterprise within the village of Hautvillers, France. Identical primary space as Dom Pérignon farmed centuries earlier.
This specific wine is constructed from the grapes varieties: 45% Pinot Noir (45%), Pinot Meunier (35%) and Chardonnay 20%. This mix is identical because the Kirkland Signature champagne we featured final week from Costco.
See that wire cage within the photograph above. Impress your mates by referring to it by its French identify: muselet, pronounced “miz-lay”. A muselet is a wire cage that matches over the cork of a bottle of champagne, glowing wine or beer to forestall the cork from rising beneath the stress of the carbonated contents. It derives its identify from the French museler, to muzzle. The muselet usually has a steel cap integrated within the design which can present the drink maker’s emblem. They’re usually coated by a steel foil envelope.
Muselets are also referred to as wirehoods or Champagne wires.
Pours a transparent pale yellow color with a pleasant foam. A crisp nostril of mineral with hints of brioche,almond and pear. Contemporary on the palate, a sublime effervescence and a harmonious melange of citrus, apple and yeasty bread. Dry however with a contact of sweetness. A winner!
We can be again subsequent Thirsty Thursday to offer you one final featured wine for 2022. Within the interim, Merry Christmas to those that observe. Keep sane, and keep protected.
For those who’re headed to Costco quickly, you’ll find our most up-to-date evaluations of Costco wines right here in our Fortunate 13 checklist.
And in case your purchasing finds you at Dealer Joe’s, you’ll find our Fortunate 13 checklist of TJ’s wine right here.
Cheers!
