Category: Champagne

The $100,000 Midas Champagne Bottle

The myth of King Midas, the man who was blessed (and cursed) with the ability to turn anything he touched to gold, has inspired many things but few as lavish as Midas bottle from Armand de Brignac. According to wine bottle naming code, Melchizedek is the term usually used to describe a 30-liter vessel equivalent to 40 regular-sized 750ml bottles but perhaps Midas makes more sense for this bottle which weighs in at 100 pounds.

We’ve written about Armand de Brignac before. The luxury Champagne from the award-winning Champagne Cattier chateau of Chigny-les-Roses, France is instantly identifiable by the dramatic Ace of Spades insignias on its bottle. In the last few years it has become a celebrity favorite. Armand de Brignac has three cuvees: Brut Gold, Rose and Blanc de Blancs.

The first Midas bottle of Armand de Brignac sold for $100,000 at the XS nightclub in Las Vegas’ Encore casino. Mixed martial arts and UFC heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez hosted his UFC 125 after-party joined by fighters Gilbert Melendez, Urijah Faber, Jake Shields, and UFC announcer Bruce Buffer. Two strongmen were needed to carry the bottle to the table of the anonymous high-roller who made the purchase. No word on what happened to the bottle afterward.
Luxist

Champagne Cuvée R. Lalou Vintage 1999 from The House of G.H. MUMM

One of the true Grand Marque Houses of Champagne, G.H. MUMM, has paid tribute to one of its great custodians with the New Zealand release of a remarkable Grand Cru Prestige Cuvée – Cuvée R. Lalou 1999.

René Lalou is a legendary figure in Champagne; a man of law, a man of letters, and an art lover. He led the Maison G.H. MUMM for over half a century, from 1920 until his death in 1973 and on two separate occasions he breathed new life into Maison G.H. MUMM: he is the man who rescued the Maison’s terroir, destroyed first by phylloxera and then later by WWII.

For almost half a century, travelling the length and breadth of each of his vineyard plots, René Lalou pulled up, regrafted, replanted and reorganised the entire G.H. MUMM vineyards that, under his supervision, grew from 50 hectares to almost 100 just before WWII.

After working so hard in each of the plots for almost half a century, it is little wonder that René Lalou developed such a special relationship with the land. He wanted everybody to feel, to touch, to taste the most perfect expression of this unique land, the DNA of the Champagne House so to speak, by means of a complex blend.

In 1966, in honour of its then President, René Lalou, G.H. MUMM released a legendary prestige cuvée called René Lalou, which in its 25 year history saw only nine vintages, culminating in the highly esteemed 1985 release.

René Lalou’s spirit remains very much alive through the current Chef de Cave, Didier Mariotti, who believes this new release eloquently and elegantly showcases the true spirit of the House, by utilising 12 of the most supreme parcels of fruit from the Mumm Vineyard to which René Lalou devoted his entire working life.

“With this wine, G.H. MUMM has created a cuvée which, more than any other that has come before it, expresses the very essence of an entire landscape and history. With Cuvée R. Lalou we can taste the spirit of G.H. MUMM.”

“To make wine is to bring forth tears from the earth so as to uncover its very essence,” was a favoured Lalou expression.

Entirely appropriately, at the end of his distinguished career René Lalou was awarded the highest honour in France, being named a Commander of the Legion d’Honneur, the famous red sash that of course has adorned the legendary G.H. MUMM Cordon Rouge since 1875.

The new prestige Champagne, Cuvée R. Lalou Vintage 1999 is extremely rare and will only be available from the most discerning restaurants and fine wine retailers.

Champagne Mumm – Cuvée R. Lalou Vintage 1999 – RRP $360

Royal Wedding Champagne Revealed

Amid feverish speculation about which Champagne will be served at the Royal Wedding next week has been revealed through authorities – Pol Roger NV will be served.

Apparently a non-vintage Pol Roger has been specifically been requested by The Palace.
It will be sipped before the dinner which will be prepared by Anton Mosimann and hosted by Prince Charles.

Pol Roger has had a long and honourable association with British aristocracy. It has been the favourite Champagne of Sir Winston Churchill (1984 Pol Roger created the Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill in his honour).

Traditionally, however, Pol Roger has not been on the table at royal weddings. Queen Victoria issued a royal warrant to Bollinger in 1884, and Prince Charles chose it both for his stag party and for his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

The Next Question Is – Who will do the first toast to the Bride and Groom? Any guesses?

LVMH Sales Beat Forecasts

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA, the world’s biggest luxury group, posted a 17-per-cent rise in first-quarter sales on Monday that beat analysts’ expectations despite the earthquake disaster in Japan, a key luxury market.

The owner of handbag maker Louis Vuitton, Hennessy cognac and Moët & Chandon champagne had sales of €5.25-billion ($7.2-billion) in the three months to March 31. The average estimate in a Reuters poll of nine analysts was €4.97-billion.

“All business groups recorded double-digit organic revenue growth in the quarter,” including Louis Vuitton, LVMH said in a statement that cited strong momentum in the United States, Europe and Asia.

The wines and spirits and watches and jewellery divisions “continued their strong recovery due to a confirmed return in client demand,” LVMH said.

At its annual general meeting on March 31, LVMH said it expected the impact of Japan’s woes on overall annual sales to be limited. Japan accounts for 9 per cent of group revenue.

The company did not give any further details in its statement on Monday. LVMH is due to hold a conference call on its sales on Tuesday.

British luxury competitor Burberry is due to give a second-half trading update on Tuesday, while L’Oreal, which competes with LVMH in perfumes and cosmetics, is expected to report first-quarter sales.

LVMH provided no forecasts, but said key priorities for the year will be brand development, cost controls and targeted investments.

In March, LVMH agreed to acquire Italian jeweller Bulgari for €3.7-billion in a deal analysts said sent a message to luxury peer Hermès SA that LVMH could make a friendly deal. LVMH owns more than 20 per cent of Hermès.

The Globe

Miami’s Beaudevin Wine Bar is Tres Magnifique!

Hues of green line the interior and exterior of Beaudevin while upbeat, popular music fills the air. You know the songs – they’re the ones you hum to. The atmosphere is so relaxing that you’ll forget you’re in an airport. Keep an eye on that time so you don’t miss your flight!

Beaudevin is my favorite spot in MIA and is a one-of-a-kind airport wine bar. Located in Terminal D right across from gate D24, I find myself here every single time I’m in Miami, no matter my departure gate (thanks to the Sky Train, which makes galavanting around Terminal D very easy). In fact, this morning I sat down at the bar for a pre-departure mimosa and breakfast. My adorable, attentive server, Andrea, actually recognized me from previous visits. It’s kindness like Andrea’s that really make the Beaudevin experience a gold medal one.

The stemware here is gorgeous. My champagne flute is very tall and luxurious. The wine glasses are so elegant and weighty that you automatically stick that pinky finger out when drinking from them. Love this attention-to-detail.

Speaking of wine glasses, three charming chandeliers dangle gracefully from the ceiling. What’s so special about that? They’re adorned with wine glasses! Clever and cute!

The menu is well rounded and perfectly suited to Beaudevin’s impressive wine menu. Following is just a teeny sampling of Beaudevin’s not-so-standard wine list. Since I’m a chardonnay & cabernet drinker, that’s what I’ll focus on here because that’s what I’m familiar with. As a side note, reds dominate the wine list. However, there are enough whites and bubblies to make everyone happy.

The Sky Team