I've been back here for about 2 weeks now and I'm lucky to be here for all sorts of reasons. First the vineyards are about 100 yards from where I live and I popped out to take this picture one lunchtime when I had a few minutes spare.
Then of course the weather is wonderful. Not that warm yet, but beautiful blue skies and crisp air.
I've also been lucky enough to taste quite a few interesting champagnes already and to have a private visit to Krug - not bad for just 2 weeks.
To catch up with my full newsletter follow this link
http://bit.ly/MABNewsletterMarch2010
and to read about Krug you'll need this link
http://halling.typepad.com/ChampagneLibrary/Krug.pdf
I've also been re-acquainting myself with some of the local champagne makers in Verzy where I live.
I started with Etienne Lefèvre, a maker that I already know well, but since I was last here they've launched a new champagne which I wanted to try.
I've always enjoyed Etienne Lefèvre's champagnes. As you'd expect from a Grand Cru village in the Montagne de Reims, they're big on flavour and big on Pinot Noir. My favourite has always been the Réserve a classic Brut non-vintage which has the kind of rich, biscuity aromas that you'd expect from a much more expensive champagne.
The new arrival is a Blanc de Noirs, and I opened it to drink as an aperitif before dinner with 2 Bed & Breakfast guests. I wouldn't normally have chosen a Blanc de Noirs as an aperitif, but since I'd only been back in Champagne 24 hours, this was the only bottle I had in the house (a mistake that has subsequently been put right).
Anyway, it was very good. Fruity, with a touch of acidity and a fairly long finish to round it off. Perhaps not a champagne to shout about from the rooftops, but a great example of the solid quality the smaller champagne makers can produce.
With dinner we opened a bottle of Louis de Sacy Grand Soir Vintage 2001
Louis de Sacy is the largest producer in Verzy and the huge sign on the side of their premises can be seen from the main Châlons-Reims road a couple of miles away. The bottle my guests has kindly and unexpectedly provided promised to be a treat.
In fact I was a little disappointed. There was something a little too much on the sharp side for my taste and I felt it didn't really deliver the flavour and body I had hoped for from a vintage.
Having said this, 2001 wasn't a good year in Champagne and perhaps it wasn't the right choice with Fillet of Pork, Prunes and Parsnip Purée, so I'll reserve judgement and try another bottle soon - we should have had the Blanc de Noirs with dinner and the Grand Soir as aperitif, but I hadn't planned on my guests suddenly producing the Louis de Sacy, so all in all I'll put this one down to my poor organisation and to my having only just arrived back in Champagne.
On the other hand I did enjoy a bottle of Lanson Ivory Label with dessert.
I'd never tried Lanson's demi-sec before but it was a nice surprise. It didn't seem as sweet as many demi-sec champagnes I've tasted and I put this down to the fact that there is no malolactic fermentation done at Lanson.
Still there was enough richness in taste and texture to go well with a dessert of Meringue, Mascarpone Ice Cream and Raspberries.
For anyone who thinks they don't like sweet wines and couldn't possibly contemplate drinking demi-sec champagne, Ivory Label could be just the right introduction to the demi-sec style.
In the weeks to come I'll be going round visiting several local producers for a very exciting project I'm working on, so they'll be plenty more to tell you about.
Meanwhile
Stay Bubbly
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