H G living
Glassware
TrythesePERRIER-JOUËTGRANDBRUT,$100Fineandrefreshingwitha lemonycore,fresh-creamaccentsandsubtlecomplexity.NVJMSÉLÈQUE
SOLESSENCEROSÉVILLAGES,$107Anextra-brutstylewithprominentred-fruittones.Generousflavourswitha long,drypalate.NVLARMANDIER-
BERNIERLONGITUDEBLANCDEBLANCS,$115Dry,deliciousandmulti-layered.Delicatetoastyaromaticsfollowedbya long,bright,salinepalate.
NV BOLLINGER ROSÉ, $130An utterly gorgeous rosé Champagne. Baked quince aromatics plus stylish notes of strawberries, cream and fresh brioche.Fineglasswarecanmakeallthe
differencetoyourenjoymentof
Champagneandtherearea few
thingstokeepinmindwhenserving.
+Volumeif youhaveanexpensive
bottle,small-volumeglassescan
makethebottlelastlonger.if you
arehostinga party,however,larger
glassesmightbebetterasyou
don’tneedtorefillasoften.
+DiameterSlenderfluteslook
elegantbutcanbedifficulttodrink
fromsochooseonewitha generous
diameteratthetop.Zaltoand
Riedelhavesomeexcellentoptions.
goblet-styleglassescanalsoaid
thefullexpressionofthearomatic
complexityofChampagne.Try
theRiedelveritasChampagne
glass,whichhasa finestem and
tulip-shaped bowl.thatcanwithstandthedistractionsof
musicandchatter.NV Henri Abelé Brut
isa goodoption.
IfI wasservingChampagneata small,
intimategathering,I wouldchoose
somethingdetailedandrefinedsuchas
NVAgrapart& FilsGrandCruTerroirs
BlancdeBlancswhichhasgorgeous
toastinessanda finelineofacidity.
VintageChampagneisproducedonly
whenthegrapesareofoutstanding
quality.Theygenerallyspendlonger
ageinginthepresenceofyeastlees,
whichresultsinfinerbubblesandmore
intricateflavours.Trythe 2012 Franck
BonvilleMillésimeGrandCruBlancde
BlancsNVAgrapart& FilsGrandCru
TerroirsBlancdeBlancswhichisfresh
and savoury with a long, fine palate.#Thefestiveseasonjustwouldn’tbethesamewithout
Champagne.Toni Patersonguidesyoutothe good stuff.LUXE FIZZ
M
anypeopleselecttheir
Champagnebasedonprice.
It’sdefinitelyanimportant
consideration,especiallyatChristmas,
butit isalsogoodtoconsiderstyle,so
thatyouendupwitha Champagnethat
youlike,andonethatsuitstheoccasion.
Non-vintage(NV)Champagnesare
blendedtomaintaina ‘housestyle’.For
example,BollingerSpecialCuvéewill
alwaysbericherinstylethanTaittinger.
Bothareexcellentexamplesoftheir type;
it justdependswhatyouprefer.
IfyouareservingChampagneas
anaperitif,blancdeblancsarea good
option.Thesearemadefrompure
chardonnayandhavedeliciousupfront
citrusandfreshapple flavours that
whettheappetite.
However,if youareservingChampagne
withfood,youmightpreferone
thatispinotnoirdominant,
suchasNVG.H.Mumm
GrandCordonBrut,asthese
stylesaregenerallyricher
inflavourwithmore
persistentflavours.
Ifyouareserving
Champagneata party,
youmightliketoopt
for an assertive styleDrinks
Styling by Sophie Wilson. Photograph by Nic Gossage. Elegance Optic Champagne coupes,$99.95/pair, Waterford. Australian House & Garden baubles,$20/24, Myer.