| ext">To be honest, buying a bottle of champagne | | | | aromas and flavours and it commonly has a |
| is usually going to cost you more than buying a | | | | slightly minerally, acidic edge to it ( nothing too |
| normal bottle of wine and if you don't even like | | | | agressive mind you, just enough to awaken those |
| the bottle after splashing out at least £20/$30 | | | | taste buds and that's why a champagne with |
| and probably quite a lot more, that's hard to take | | | | plenty of chardonnay in it makes a superb aperitif |
| - to put it mildly. | | | | before a meal). |
| No one likes to waste their money, so how great | | | | As a pointer, think of Chablis wine - it too is made |
| would it be if you could find out how to distinguish | | | | with chardonnay and it's very similar to |
| between different champagne brands and be sure | | | | chardonnay in Champagne |
| you're going to like them before you part with | | | | Wine gurus may speak of words feminine, |
| your money? | | | | elegant, and fresh to describe chardonnay-based |
| That way you wouldn't have to keep going back | | | | champagne. |
| to the same old brands whose names you know | | | | The ultimate chardonnay-based champagne is |
| and which you may have tried many times | | | | made with no black grapes at all - just |
| before: the Moët & Chandons or the Veuve | | | | chardonnay. This type of champagne is called |
| Clicquots of this world. Don't get me wrong, | | | | Blancs de Blancs, so if this is your preferred style, |
| they're fine quality, but not exactly that exciting | | | | watch out for these 3 words on the label. |
| either, particularly if you secretly want to try | | | | Ruinart is a champagne that relies largely on |
| something new. | | | | Chardonnay so that gives you a good idea as to |
| So here's an easy explanation of one of the key | | | | its style from that brand. |
| things that makes all champagne brands different. | | | | Pinot Noir grapes bring more power and body to |
| If you can accurately guess what the champagne | | | | a champagne. |
| will be like and whether or not it will suit your | | | | Invariably the flavours and aromas will be |
| taste, you'll find that you can try all sorts of new | | | | raspberies, strawberries and other red fruits, but |
| possibilities. | | | | what Pinot Noir adds is a bit more oomph to the |
| At a champagne tasting the first thing I always | | | | champagne and a fuller, bolder style. Champagnes |
| ask people is | | | | with lots of Pinot Noir are fine before a meal, but |
| " How do you choose a bottle of wine?" | | | | are even better with many foods too. |
| "When you're standing in front of a display of | | | | Again, as a a reference, Veuve Clicquot and |
| wines - how do you choose which one to buy?" | | | | Bollinger are heavy on black grapes, particularly |
| 8 times out of 10 people start by looking at the | | | | Pinot Noir, so if that's your preference, then look |
| grape varieties used to make the wine. This is an | | | | for champagnes with a large proportion of PN in |
| easy and really helpful tool to tell us approximately | | | | them. |
| what the wine is going to taste like. And luckily on | | | | Pinot Meunier is the third varietal. |
| many, many wines these days, the grape variety | | | | It brings real fruitiness, typically of white fruit like |
| is prominently printed on the label. | | | | apples and pears. This makes champagnes that |
| But what do you do when it comes to | | | | are easy-to-drink and you'll find them very |
| champagne? | | | | more-ish at any time. |
| Many of you may already have heard that in | | | | A champagne made only with black grapes - |
| Champagne they use three grape varieties | | | | either Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier or some of each - |
| (actually you can use others, but people rarely do | | | | is called a Blanc de Noirs and now when you see |
| these days). | | | | this on the label you'll know what it means. |
| The 3 most common varieties today are | | | | The majority of champagnes are a blend of all |
| Chardonnay (White grape) | | | | three grape varieties, often around 1/3 of each |
| Pinot Noir (Black) | | | | variety. This is what I call a 'classic blend'. If |
| Pinot Meunier (Black) | | | | they're well made this style of champagne appeals |
| When champagne makers make champagne they | | | | to just about everyone. Champagne brands with |
| can mix together wines made from these three | | | | this profile will offend very few and suit most |
| different grapes and they can do this in whatever | | | | occasions - sort of 'can't go wrong' champagnes. |
| proportions they see fit accordging to the grapes | | | | To take just two examples, Moët & Chandon |
| they can get hold of. | | | | and Mumm are blends like this. |
| That means an almost infinite number of possible | | | | Except for the words Blanc de Blancs and Blancs |
| combinations and the "recipe" that the champagne | | | | de Noirs there's often not much more on a |
| maker choses has a major influence on the profile | | | | champagne label that's very helpful when it comes |
| and taste of the champagne when it's completed. | | | | to telling what the blend of grapes is. |
| So, as you can understand it's pretty important to | | | | You may find some blurb on the back label but |
| have this information. | | | | that's all too often so vague as to be pretty |
| Each varietal brings different attributes: | | | | useless. |
| Chardonnay makes a champagne more crisp and | | | | So you may have to ask the retailer or waiter |
| light in style. It usually has citrussy and floral | | | | for more precise information. |