Why do we celebrate special moments with champagne? This dates back to the start of the Champagne region. Champagne is known as “the wine of kings and the king of wines.” In 496 AD Clovis the King of the Francs converted to Christianity and was baptized in Reims by Saint Rémi he unified present day France. The ceremonial wine was from champagne and 26 other French Kings were crowned in Champagne . Champagne has been used to celebrate royal and political treaties, weddings, ships are christened with champagne, and motor race winners spray bottles of champagne upon winning. The best champagnes for celebrations are definitely the tête de cuvées or the prestige bottles. These are definitely going to be more expensive than an average bottle of champagne because they are anything but average. Here are my favorites that I had the pleasure of tasting in 2020. Louis Roederer’s Cristal 2012
Cristal has always been a go to celebration champagne for me beginning with my college graduation. The Cristal 2012 is a blend of 60 Pinot Noir and 40 Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards. I actually thought when tasting there was more Chardonnay as it was so crisp, fresh and the acidity shined through. I realized after tasting that there is no MLF used which adds to the finesse of the champagne. The dosage is 7.5 g/l which is the lowest that has been used. My aromas candied almond, vanilla, tropical notes with a rich, round structure and complexity.
This Article was originally published on Travel and Champagne
