C comme Champagne

 Yesterday I went to the French Comité Champagne's Grand Tasting.

 53 Champagne maisons/houses were represented.

http://parisbreakfasts.blogspot.fr/2009/08/champagne-daze.html

 A plethora of fine brands, many not available in the US yet. It's a grand fete/soiree of gouter/tasting.

 Yet tasting is a serious business. This is for trade and press only. You're given a notebook + pen to make salient notes on each gulp.

 Last year's tasting was held at the Plaza.

 So many houses. How to choose? But one must taste Bolly, Sweetie darling mustn't one...

 About a tablespoon of sparkling wine is poured into your glass.
Swish, twirl, sniff, observe and taste.
Le mousse - look for abundant bubbles. Le nez or nose may have notes of brioche, red berries, butter and toast or honey, polish and peasches for example. Never swirl Champagne inside the mouth. The carbon dioxide dulls the tastebuds. On the palate look for balance, smoothness, acidity, refinement.

 

The rep from the maison will inform you of the percentage of grapes in his maison's blend - Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay. Three wines were on offer at each house. A Brut, Rose, vintage or Reserve.

 After tasting (in the mouth only) spit and empty your glass. British wine expert Serena Suttcliff practiced spitting geysers in the bathtub by the way.

 

Between tasting and spitting fromage et fruit is available to cleanse the palate and keep you upright.

 

What to wear to a Champagne tasting? This woman left her horse at the door.

 

You can never go wrong wearing black.

 

Do you love the Perriet Jouet Belle-Epoch flower bottles too?

 For Christmas PJ has a pretty embroidered gift wrap tied with a pink satin ribbon. To-die-for.

After an hour of tasting (I have the capacity of a gnat) I twirled out the door in my ballerinas.

BOTTOMS UP!

Comite Champagne

Red Fruits with Rose Champagne, 9" x 11"
 Yesterday I learned I can drink rose champagne with red fruity, chocolatie desserts.

Do you LOVE ❤️ French Champagne 🍾 

You would have adored yesterday's French Comite Champagne tasting in Hotel Plaza's ballroom.

You got a chance to speak directly to 30 champagne makers from Rheims and Epernay.

They were happy to explain to you with passion the whys and wherefores of their brand's characteristics.

You got just a slug to taste, but after many slugs...hmmm

Of course you can 'nose' champagne to enhale the aromas, floral or fruity - as long as you have a tall glass and wait for the bubbles to quiet...

Don't forget to SPIT and do not drink up to the last drop or you'll never make it around the room in one piece (like some people)

Cleanse your palate with a plain cracker occasionally...

Pommery guides me in tasting a 'flight' of three - their most recent, one a few years older and their vintage Champagne from 2004 - simply divine. But I forgot to spit. Too divine to waste...

I paid later for my enthusiasm when I sit down momentarily, then got up leaving my purse and CAMERA on the chaise! I looked for my lipstick but my bag and camera were missing. I raced back and hotel security cames up to me, "Are you missing something Miss?" MON DIEU! Thank Gawd women wear lipstick.

Isn't this Belle Epoque bottle of Rose beautiful?

Isn't this red fruit and chocolate tarte perfect to go with the Rose. But it was not served at the tasting.

Excellent French fromage et fruits were...

What's YOUR favorite Champagne? Some people drink it every night. Why not? There are so many to choose from. \
Do try a different brand next time.

BONJOUR FRENCH CHAMPAGNE!