Club — Champagne Review

This month we look at one of the most important aspects of champagne production and its affect on the palate - ageing on lees. Champagne lovers are aware that after secondary fermentation, the yeast; after doing a stellar job of eating all the sugar and producing CO2, form a layer along the base of the bottle. From here something very interesting happens in a process known as Autolysis (Greek word for ‘self-splitting’) in which enzymes break down the yeast cells and release a range of compounds (in the protein department) that creates some of the most desirable palate features in...

This month we look at ‘Sister Houses’, which is when one house is related to another through the sharing of resources, notably offices, winemaking, vineyards and of course people. The Champagne region has a long and illustrious history that spans hundreds of years. Through that time, families have united forces, separated and remarried, joining their vineyards and creating many fascinating stories. We hope you enjoy our theme and learn about how these families came about and what they represent today. As always, feel free to write in your comments, suggestions and perhaps wine themes you would like to see in the future...

This month we look at the theme of Bio-dynamics and showcase two producers that are producing great wines and incorporate Bio-dynamics as a holistic method of viticulture. We love the wines being produced by the dynamic husband and wife team at Larmandier-Bernier in Vertus and a similarly energetic duo in the lesser known region of Connigis (in the Marne Valley) of a relatively new producer called Chevreux-Bournazel creating a 100% Pinot Meunier. The results are excellent. Watch this episode to see the review on these wines.

In this episode our Club Manager Kyri makes his debut and comes from behind the production department and in front of the camera. He chose two intriguing wines from Christophe Mignon ‘Pur Meunier’ Brut Nature, based in Festigny and a gorgeous magenta pink Rosé Champagne from the young talented producer at Laherte Freres called Rosé de Meunier made Extra Brut from the region of Chavot, close to Epernay. Watch this episode to see the review on these wines.