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Champagne News
...with apologies due for the tardiness of news, as 'CHAMPAGNE, a tasting journey' has been a tyrant since its sell-out launch. And there is so much news! And...well, we are packing to move back into the city, so, all in all it has been crazy!
Industry support has been amazing, and strong. Except for within Australia, orders are posted from Champagne, where it’s available from special cellars doors (like Vilmart), L’Apostrophe book shop in Épernay, and Le Bois Joli on the highway between Reims and Épernay. At Le Bois Joli, have a lovely chat to the discerning Ludovic Pasté, who runs a terrific restaurant as well as a shop full of champagne paraphernalia. True champagne nerds must visit, cheer him on, buy a bottle or a device, or merely taste. Bravo, Ludovic!
This issue of my champagne news unusually includes some other Galaxy Guides news which we hope you enjoy.
Kaaren Palmer
Champagne Editor Galaxy Guides |
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CHAMPAGNE
A TASTING JOURNEY
Kaaren Palmer
Deluxe paperback 434p
$140 AUD + $15 postage within Australia
Meticulously researched, Champagne, a tasting journey appeals to the cognoscenti and beginners alike. The work comprehensively encompasses history, geography, the grapes, the regions, production, politics, the people, the flavours and aromas – each of the 44 chapters are accompanied by a tasting guide which, illuminates the topic discussed in the chapter.
www.galaxyguides.com/champagne
To find European bookshops and Champagne Houses selling Kaaren's book are also listed on the link above.
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from the left....Here comes the chopper to chop off your head - No escaping the pan...Ann Oliver
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The Other Side of Us
kitchen collaborators
an official SALA exhibition at Bar Torino
158 Hutt Street, Adelaide 5000
2 - 28 August 11.00 am til late...closed Mondays
Jessica Gates
Surya Gentilin
Ann Oliver
Stay tuned for an 'eat our art' lunch late August cooked by Galaxy Guides food editor Ann Oliver. Stay tunes for an 'EAT MY ART' lunch towards to end of August cooked by Galaxy Guides food editor and publisher Ann Oliver.
Ann Oliver's on-line catalogue.....click here
to contact Ann please call 0403 117 739
SALA, South Australian Living Artists is a very unique event showcasing the most accomplished artists with international gallery presence to emerging artists who may never have previously exhibited. You can plan a street...for instance Queen Street Croydon where drinks, lunch and coffee is easily found and four exhibitions in a small street span.
A great example, close to us in Franklin Street I met this gorgeous young man the other night when getting our SALA poster laminated so it survived another vile winter day in South Australia..add this to your SALA list http://www.thejoinery.org.au/events
His name Kaspar Schmidt Mumm...like Champagne...I liked his cheeky style no idea what his art is like...and he'd never heard of Bar Torino we are going to change that!
Utterly quirky our friend Harvey Collins,
FINE ARTS EXHIBITION 'AUG 2016
visit the studio and garden
42 Hardy Street, Millswood
Telephone 8272 7117...open August 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28..11.00am - 3.30pm.
This is an exhibition that surely sums up SALA's wonderful peculiar personality...an exhibition in an amazing home studio with one of South Australia's most stunning gardens as a special treat.
Best advice plan your day...and make sure you add lunch and dinner, drinks et al and have a lot of fun.
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100 best champagnes
of the moment
What other drinkers think are the 100 best champagnes of the moment, my personal picks are Bruno Paillard N.P.U. (Nec Plus Ultra) 1999 and the sublime Dom Ruinart 1998.
- The excellent note-keeper Tasting Book site, which anybody can join and add notes, puts the Dom Ruinart Rosé 2002 at the top, followed by:
- Laurent-Perrier Alexandra Rosé 2004
- Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2004 (in my Top Ten of 2014 and still there)
- Ruinart Dom Ruinart 2004 (a pup, but very beautiful)
- Charles Heidsieck Rosé 1999 (stunning mellow complexity, well endowed with toasted pistachios even as the cork is pulled)
- Dom Pérignon 2004
- Piper-Heidsieck Rare 2002 (power that will last for many, many years with wonderful flavour and balancing acidity)
- Krug Vintage 2000 (what a delicious mouth this has, and how underrated is this vintage, which was declared a ‘commercial vintage’ by many of the Houses, but stands brilliantly as well in Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne and others)
- Louis Roederer Cristal 2004 (ready to seduce you like its Rosé sibling, and much more ready to drink than the 2002)
- Henriot Millésime 2006 (a brand always totally underrated) - swim the distributor’s moat! Bang on their door! Buy every vintage released by the unassuming Laurent Fresnet, who composes wonders, regardless of family politics.
Want to see more?
http://tastingbook.com/p/100bestchampagnes
Since that list appeared, a re-sorted, best-of-the-decade list has appeared courtesy of Fine Champagne Magazine, with the palate of Essi Avellan MW in evidence.
We should point out, though, that there are no 2008s under consideration yet – and there will be some very good champagnes from that year. KP
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Great Report on
Champagne Week 2016
Guest contributors on Jancis Robinson's web site
Tim Hall with photos by Victor Pugatschew
please click here to read the article
It’s always instructive to taste the still wines of Champagne before secondary fermentation and the introduction of bubbles, yeast influences and ageing. Terroir guru, Geoffrey Orban, was on hand with soil samples and descriptions to enhance and inform the experience of tasting the effect of soil structure on the wine itself.
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September 16....Kaaren Palmer's champagne news
Recipes to go with specific champagnes...Kaaren selects the champagnes and Ann Oliver provides the recipes.
The argument for seasonal local food
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Nice British magazine
Glass of Bubbly
reports on the season, in particular, the state of the vines in this difficult season...click here to read more.
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Giro d'Italia at Chianti...Friuli
Tuesday August 23, 16
This has got me very excited...food that I am really confident about, and an Italian region like no other. Hangover [Katzenjammer] from the Hapsburg Empire, largest port for the spice and coffee trade Trieste, plenty of influence from the Baltic states..so much produce found seasonally here. Add to that a one off Queen Scallops from Kangaroo Island [thank you Paul]..for details and booking form please click here
Head chef and owner Tobias Gush generously lets these dinners be my babies. They are one of the many reasons, I so love working with Chianti and the too tall TG...AO
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