August 2012

Charles Heidsieck is set to release revamped expressions of Brut Reserve & Rosé Reserve

Champagne Charles Heidsieck is set to release revamped expressions of its Brut Reserve and Rosé Reserve variants in the U.S. next month. The “newly refined” Charles Heidsieck Brut ($65) and Rosé ($80) are made from equal proportions Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Both are aged for more than three years and are packaged in newly designed bottles made in the shape of magnums. The new Brut and Rosé offerings’ labels are a recreation of a 1926 vintage label found on bottles in Charles Heidsieck’s cellars in Reims. Rémy Cointreau USA serves as Charles Heidsieck’s U.S. importer.

Source: Shanken

Fizz sector set for sparkling growth

TNS Global has recently announced that Champagne and sparkling wine could double their market share in the UK and the US, and quadruple growth in India and China within the next few years.

Having surveyed 39,000 people in 17 markets, TNS shows India and China as having the strongest growth.

The report showed that the combination of an increased spend among those already drinking sparkling wine with the many new drinkers in the developing world is presenting opportunities for sparkling wine producers.

Jan Hofmeyr, chief researcher into behaviour change at TNS, picked out a number of issues holding back more rapid growth in this category, saying: “While we can see a huge worldwide appetite to drink more sparkling wine and Champagne, most people are still held back by cost. These drinks are perceived as indulgences, enjoyed mainly on special occasions.”

However, he added: “The good news for winemakers is that people consider sparkling wines both taste better and offer greater enjoyment than other alcoholic drinks.”

As a result, Hofmeyr continued, “If affordable sparkling wines can be made more accessible, particularly in developing markets, and be positioned as a drink for celebrating life rather than only special occasions, the sector has a sparkling future.”

TNS also stated that consumers do not plan to increase their alcohol consumption overall, but rather that they want to drink sparkling wines more regularly.

Source: Drinks Business

Searcys Champagne Bar goes mobile

Searcys has taken its Champagne bar concept to the streets in London with the launch of a vintage style Champagne van.

The mobile Searcys Champagne Bar has popped up in front of 30 St Mary Axe (also known as the Gherkin) in a bid to capitalize on the Olympic crowds.

Searcys has been the contracted catering partner in the Gherkin since it opened in 2004 and the Champagne van will remain parked outside through September, accompanied by an outdoor seating area.

Christian Rose, managing director of Searcys Retail, said “the vintage Champagne van combines the traditional heritage of Searcys with a new, modern twist” and “By taking our Champagne bar concept outdoors, people can enjoy everything that is great about British summers. We hope that people will join us to toast our Olympic victories and soak up the fantastic atmosphere that is London right now” he added.

Searcys operates five Champagne bars across London, including St Pancras International, Westfield Stratford, Westfield London, Paddington and One New Change.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

2000 Dom Pérignon Rosé has been moved to a near-perfect 98 points

It’s always a big moment when a wine score is upgraded. Originally rated by Antonio Galloni at a highly respectable 96 points, the 2000 Dom Pérignon Rosé has been moved to a near-perfect 98 points in a recent publication of the ‘Hedonist’s Gazette’ by Parker himself.

Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave of Dom Pérignon says: “2000 is a major vintage of Dom Pérignon Rosé, which allowed me to push and refine Dom Pérignon’s ideal. The main paradox is of course the ardent expression of the Pinot Noir: lively, facetious, vibrant—combined with the devotion to the assemblage. Finally the audacity of the Pinot Noir stands in stark contrast with the extreme classicism of the 2000 vintage.”

Tasting Notes:

Dom Perignon Rose Vintage 2000 disrupts the classicism of the millennium and reveals its daring side. This pivotal vintage is an interpretation of the millennium in rosé.

The colour is deep and strong, glinting with amber and copper.

On the nose, the first floral notes immediately give way to black cherry and candied citrus peel, complemented by cocoa and smoky accents.

On the palate, the flawless construction achieves a perfect classicism on the palate, dominated by a sensation of balance, consistency and integration. The wine has a surprisingly brilliance and fleshy fruitiness. Its initial solidity becomes more tactile and finally sappy, with a subtly bittersweet note.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses

This Weekend: Open cellars in France’s Champagne Region

La Route du Champagne en Fête takes place this Saturday and Sunday in France’s Champagne region. The villages of Côte des Bar will offer special performances, exhibitions, dining and a chance to sample some exceptional bubbly!

You can expect the festivities to have a true local flavor and you have a chance to tour Champagne caves and sample Champagne with special-edition champagne flutes, which are available at tourist offices and welcome points along the route.

http://2012.routeduchampagne.com.

Liz Palmer
@Champagnehouses