Tag: Champagne

Pressoir Summer Champagne Apero

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Presssoir is a wine club in New York City founded by Daniel Johnnes that promises “unique wine experiences”.

They host mega tastings such as La Paulée, La Tablée, La Fête du Champagne and Convivio del Vino.

They also host eclectic smaller wine tastings and wine dinners for club members and non-club members.

On July 8, I attended their Summer Champagne Apero tasting. According to Google, Apero, short for apéritif, “is the French tradition that refers to a social gathering before dinner where people unwind over cocktails and snacks”, more or less a French happy hour.

The event was held at Popina restaurant at 127 Columbia Street in Brooklyn.

This was not a Champagne 101 tasting. With the exception of a bottle of Veuve Cliquot and a bottle of Ruinart, none of the big corporate Champagne houses were on hand, instead they poured from small, low production producers and wineries. About half were poured from a magnum with always makes a tasting feel special, and half from well-aged vintage bottles.

What was poured:

NV Delamotte Brut en magnumNV Ruinart Blanc de Blanc Brut en magnum

NV Larmandier Bernier Rose de Saignee Extra Brut en magnum
NV Frederic Savart L’Accomplie Vielles Vignes 1er Cru Extra Brut en magnum
NV Pierre Paillard Les Terres Roses Bouzy Grand Cru BrutNV Philipponnat Royal Reserve Brut
NV Henriot Brut SouverainNV Christophe Mignon Pur Meunier Extra Brut en magnum

NV Larmandier Bernier Rose de Saigmee Extra Brut en magnum
2016 Henriot L’Inattendue Blanc de Blanc Gran Cru
2002 Jacquesson Avize Champ Cain Degorgement Tardiff Blanc de
Blanc Extra Brut en magnum		2012 Pierre Paillard Bouzy Grand Cru La Grande Recolte Brut en magnum
2018 Christophe Baron Les Alouette Brut Nature en magnum2014 Delamotte Blanc de Blanc
2018 Christophe Baron Les Closeaux Extra Brut en magnum2018 Christophe Baron Les Hautes Blanches Vignes Extra Brut en magnum
2015 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rose Brut 2014 Robert Moncuit Blanc de Blanc Grand Cru Extra Brut
2013 Henriot Cuvee Hemera Brut2014 Philipponnat Cuvee 1522 Extra Brut

Zachys Winter Champagne Soirée 2023

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Zachys has been a wine and spirit retailer and auction house since 1944. They had a store in Scarsdale for many years but ended up moving their operations to Port Chester in 2022.

Like many fine wine shops, they often host wine tastings. Some are complimentary and some are more extensive tastings that you have to buy a ticket to.

I attended one of those extensive tastings last May which featured a wide selection of wines of the world. On December 2nd they held their Winter Champagne Soirée tasting for the upcoming Christmas and New Years Eve holidays.

Many of the large Champagne houses were on hand to pour several of their wines from their “regular” bottles to their uber luxury label.

I have to say, this tasting had an excellent price to quality ratio. For the modest cost of the ticket, you had the opportunity to sample some really high-end wines.

Some of the wines I sampled:

Bollinger: Le Grande Annee 2014, PN Brut AYC 2018, Special Cuvee Brut NV.

Laurent Perrier: Grand Siecle Iteration 26, Brut Cuvee Rose NV, La Cuvee Brut NV.

Ruinart: Blanc de Blancs NV, Brut Rose Second Skin NV.

Tatttinger: Comtes de Champagne Rose 2008, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2012, Brut La Francaise NV

Charles Heidsieck: Rare 2018, Rose 2008, Brut Rose Reserve NV

Deutz: Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs 2011, Brut Rose NV, Classic Brut NV

Veuve Clicquot: La Grande Dame 2012, Rose NV, Brut NV

Gosset: 12 Ans de Cave a Minima Brut, Grande Reserve Brut NV

Krug: Grande Cuvee 171st Echoes Limited Edition NV

Dom Perignon: Blanc de Blancs 2013

They also had a selection from a few small, mom & pop grower champagne producers such as Laherte Freres, Larmander Bernier and Pierre Moncult.

Chefs & Champagne 2016

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This past Saturday, July 23th I attended the 26th annual James Beard Foundation’s Chefs and Champagne Summer tasting party. The event which raises funds for the philanthropic work of the Foundation, featured over 40 Chefs serving food many from JBF awarding winning restaurants. This years honoree was New Orleans Chef and restaurateur John Besh.

This event was held under the big tents at Wöllfer Estate Vineyards on 183 Sagg Road in Sagaponick, Long Island, just East of the town of Bridgehampton.

This year the free-flowing Champagne was sponsored by Baron de Rothschild which poured a NV Rosé, a NV Brut and a NV Blanc de Blanc. The wines were provided by Wöllfer Vineyards, beer from Goose Island and the Long Island Beer Co., and spirits by Tito’s Vodka.

It was a brutally hot day that cooled off nicely when the sun set, and my Kudos to the cooks that were manning the grills in all that heat. It was also a day of competing social events with several parties being held on this Saturday afternoon including Dan’s Taste of Two Forks which I felt took a little of the thunder out of this event. Still, it was an enjoyable afternoon of Champagne and tasty bites.

 

Some of what I sampled:

Roxanne Spruance: Fossil Farms Pork Belly with Nasturtium, Black Sesame and Cocoa Nibs

Christopher Cipollone: Madai Snapper Crudo with Avocado, Flowers and Farro

Angie Mar: Tomahawk Rib-Eye with Cherry-Garlic Compote

Cédric Vongerichten: Chilled Peekytoe Crab with Sesame Emulsion, Dukkah Spice, Avocado and Basil

Jonah Miller: Basque Dog, Chistorra Sausage with Piquillo Mostardo and Aioli

Dean Jones Max: Nantucket Oysters with Uni Vinaigrette

Julian Medina: Tacos de Pato; Fossil Farms Duck Carnitos with Charred Habanero-Tamarind Salsa and Micro Greens

Alex Bois: Smoke and Wood Bread; Local Flours with Whole Grains, Applewood Smoke Barley Malt, Roasted Shagbark Hickory

Tim Cushman: Kanpachi Sashimi with Vietnamese Mignonette, Fried Shallots, Thai Basil

Paul Kahan, Perry Hendrix: Grilled Octopus with Sumac

Damien O’Donnell: Montauk Fluke Crudo with Tomatillo Relish, Blue Corn Chips and Avocado Crema

Glenn Olsson, Marcus Widell: Shrimp Skagen 2.0

Anthony Lamas: Tuna “Old Fashioned” with Bluegrass Soy Bourbon Broth, Ginger, Pineapple and Orange

Eric Gabrynowicz: Bristol Bay Sockeye Salmon with Gold Bar Squash. Tarragon, Tomato Confit and Corn

Brian Cheewing: Local Spicy Octopus and Corn Salad with Calabrian Chiles and Micro Cilantro

Maille Mustard: Watermelon-Feta Salad with Maille Mustard

Jiho Kim: “Ants On A Log”, Pumpernickel Cake with Rum-Raison Reduction and Peanut Butter Custard

Pichet Ong: Valrhona Chocolate with Cherry, Honey and Saffron

Alina Martell: Profiteroles with Strawberries and Cream