We Always Need Bubbles

"En Champagne victoire d'un mérite! Dans la défaite on en a besoin."
- Napoléon Bonaparte (1769-1821)


I love this quote. Yes, everybody needs Champagne for any occasion. :)

Probably many of you already knew, but Champagne is a name of a northeastern region in France. And only the sparkling wines from the region can be called "Champagne", although many people use "Champagne" as a generic name for any sparkling wines.

Anyway... Champagne is made with special procedures known as traditional method or méthode traditionnelle. The traditional method gives Champagne a distinctive yeasty flavor, and most of high quality Champagnes, where wine makers often age a part of wine in oak barrel, have more interesting yeasty flavor that reminds you of brioche or some buttery pastry. Champagne is a kind of serious wine --- especially, Blanc de Blancs which is made with 100% Chardonnay is fine and delicate yet has very complex flavors. If you like a light, crisp and easy to drink sparkling wine, I would recommend Italian Prosecco rather than Champagne.

Here are two Champagnes that I'd like to recommend - one is around $150 in retail price, and the other is around $50.


Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne 1999

- Grape type: 100% Chardonnay
- Region: France > Champagne
- Alcohol: 12%
- Retail Price: around $150

Taittinger is one of top Champagne producer founded in 1734. It produced several lines of Champagne, and Comtes de Champagne is the flagship(tête de cuvée) made with 100% Chardonnay (Blanc de Blancs). The wine has very complex flavor, with ripe pear and apple but also with coffee, caramel and smokiness. 1996 vintage is one of the best vintage for recent Comtes de Champagne. In my perspective, deep yet fresh 1999 vintage was interesting enough given its lower price (1996 vintage is selling at over $250).

Food pairing idea: Pair this great Champagne with anything with mushroom and cream - quiche, cream of mushroom, or a steak with mushroom and cream sauce. Roasted root vegetable (e.g. parsnip) is another interesting pair. The food I thought with my first sip of this Champagne was roasted duck breast with madeira sauce and lentil & baby turnip. Yumm!


Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve N.V.

- Grape type: 33% Pinot Noir, 33% Pinot Munier, 33% Chardonnay
- Region: France > Champagne
- Alcohol: 12%
- Retail Price: around $50

Although the wine is Brut (= dry sparkling wine), it has sweet smell with many fruits, such as raspberry, strawberry, yellow cherry, apple, and citrus. Also, this wine has small white flower note, as well as smoky, toasty, and yeasty note. Quite interesting flavors!

Food pairing idea: With the fruity and smoky flavor, the wine can be a good pair with smoked trout or gravlax appetizer. The high acidity can handle even heavier dish such as partridge or pork rillettes served with toast.