Champagne Review: Comte de Senneval Champagne

Champagne Review: Comte de Senneval Champagne

Autolytic notes of biscuit and toast, with creamy lemon and apple with hints of tropical fruit on the palate; persistent bubbles.

Alcohol: 12.50%

Grapes: Chardonnay Pinot Meunier Pinot Noir

Score: 89

Excellent price 19 €

Food pairing suggestions 
Pork, rich fish (salmon, tuna ), shellfish, mild and soft cheese

Liz Palmer listed by Social Vignerons as one of 2018’s Top 40 Wine Influencers

Canadian award-winning author and wine journalist Liz Palmer has been named as one of 2018’s Top 40 Wine Influencers –Liz states:

“It’s such an honor to listed as one of the Top 40 Wine Influencers and to be amongst notable magazines, brands, worthy peers.” “I’m thrilled!”

Who are the 2018 “Top 40” Social Media Power Influencers around the topic of wine?

For the fourth year, Julien Miquel, founder of Social Vignerons has compiled a list of the top 40 top wine personalities on social platforms.

This list has also proven very useful to the wine community in search of wine & social media action and wondering who’s doing what.

Here is the full list with direct links to social media accounts:

http://socialvignerons.com/2018/02/13/2018-top-40-wine-influencers-who-to-follow-on-social-media/

Cognac XO classification to rise to 10 years

 

 

The BNIC (BNIC Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac) has recently announced that the classification for XO Cognac is set to change on April 1, 2018.

What does this mean?

This means that the youngest eau-de-vie included in a blended Cognac labelled XO* must be aged in barrels for at least 10 years, instead of the 6 years previously required.

 

A statement from BNIC recently explained that: “The new measure aims align the regulation and the market reality, and also to extend the quality positioning of XO (XO covering ‘Out of Age’, ‘Extra’, ‘Ancestral’, ‘Gold’ and ‘Imperial’ designations as well).”

The change was first raised back in 2011 and the interim has been to allow brands to adapt to the change, although the BNIC also noted that many were already using 10-year-old eaux-de-vie for their XOs.

If a producer has not sold through its stocks of younger XO, any spirits classified as XO bottled by 31 March (though not yet shipped) that contain spirit of six, seven, eight or nine years will be allowed to be sold until March 31, 2019. Producers wishing to take advantage of this however will have to make a declaration to the BNIC.

The designation of ‘Napoleon’ Cognac will remain unchanged with the minimum required age of the spirit used being six years.

 

 

The Golden Globes 2018 and Moët & Chandon

Moët & Chandon has been the champagne of choice for the Golden Globes for over twenty-five years. In celebration of the award show’s 75th anniversary, Moet has joined up with actress Jamie Chung to create “Moët 75”, the official cocktail for 2018.

Made with fresh blood orange juice, the Moët 75 is bright and fruity, and packs a small punch with a touch of Volcan de mi Tierra—LVMH’s first tequila which was launched in 2017.

If you plan to have your own little soiree the night of the Globes, here’s how you can make the cocktail at home.

The Moët 75

4 oz. Moët & Chandon Imperial Brut champagne

1 oz. Volcan de mi Tierra tequila

2 oz. fresh blood orange juice

1 oz. honey

Shake tequila, fresh blood orange juice, and honey into a cocktail shaker and mix until honey is dissolved. Pour mixture into a modern tulip glass. Gently pour chilled champagne. Serve straight up and garnish with a candied blood orange or fresh blood orange slice.

The Golden Globes 2018

Champagne By The Numbers

1,500 Moët minis

750 magnums

500 champagne cocktails

125 cases of 2006 Grand Vintage Brut

Moët & Chandon will be on the red carpet with their “Toast for a Cause” initiative, in which A-listers raise a toast with one of the brand’s miniature bottles in support of their favorite charities, which will receive a $1,000 donation.

 

Terroir and Origin Are the Heart of Cognac’s New Visual Identity

The words “Cognac France” in a timelessly elegant font, are written over a rich, earth-tone image in the exact shape of the Cognac region; these are the essential elements of the Cognac appellation’s new visual identity. This logo reminds us that this inimitable and world-famous beverage is a product of one, and only one, place. Unveiled worldwide on November 14, the new visual identity will be used in all markets and on all communication materials of the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC), the association that represents the interests of all the people who grow, distill and export Cognac, and protects the integrity of their product worldwide.

Following the creation of a brand DNA in collaboration with French communications agency Bayadères, the Cognac growers and shippers selected Paris and New York City design studio Be-Poles to create their custom visuals. Vincent Chappe, President of the BNIC’s communications committee, says:

“We have chosen an identity that is inspiring, like Cognac itself. The image of the region is both brilliant and down-to-earth at the same time. Tis new visual identity lets us tell consumers the wonderful story of this place and its people, who together, create the spirit in which we have such pride: cognac.”

An Inspiring Palette: Earth, Copper, Light Spanning the Charente, Charente-Maritime and parts of the Dordogne and Deux-Sèvres départements in southwestern France, the Cognac production area was officially delimited in 1909. Bordered by the ocean and traversed by the Charente River, Cognac’s open plains and rolling hills contains six Crus, characterized by clay and limestone soil. Clémentine Larroumet, director of Be-Poles Design Studio, drew inspiration from Cognac’s singular landscape and light. “I was also inspired by the traditions and craftsmanship of the people who create Cognac, by their vines and the tools of their trade, especially the copper stills.”

The studio took into account the high-end positioning that Cognac’s producers have established and translated their desire to place their terroir–a defining aspect of Cognac– and know-how at the heart of their identity. The choice of Garamond font for the words Cognac and France is a case in point: it was created by the famous typographer Claude Garamont in the sixteenth century, the same period in which distillation of Charente wine was begun for easy transportation to northern Europe.

“It will reinforce cognac’s image as product of guaranteed provenance and authenticity, and highlight its distinguished place in France’s age-old traditions of winemaking and gastronomy.”

A Worldwide Reach

Cognac is exported to 160 countries, representing 98% of the world’s markets. The new identity targets all market sectors but with an emphasis on influencers in the trade and consumer channels. According to Claire Caillaud, BNIC Communications Director, “It will reinforce cognac’s image as product of guaranteed provenance and authenticity, and highlight its distinguished place in France’s age-old traditions of winemaking and gastronomy.” Authenticity, terroir and a sense of place are what today’s consumers seeks, and the new identity aims to address those key messages for the long-term.

About Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac

The BNIC, Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac, represents, develops and protects the Cognac Appellation of Controlled Origin in France and in the world. This appellation guarantees an exceptional quality eau-de-vie in the 160 countries where cognac is available. The BNIC is composed of an equal number of growers and merchants and serves as the appellation’s consultation and decision-making platform for more than 4,500 winegrowers and winemakers, 110 distillers, and 270 merchants. The BNIC acts on behalf of both the cognac producers and consumers, with a goal of responsibility communicating about all aspects of the appellation.

Source: The BNIC, Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac