Category Archives: wine

Hello,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram video with you:

play video

“Butter knife as Champagne sabre”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hi VinoVerver’s! It’s getting to be the end of the year and almost everyone starts thinking about champagne. Luckily, I got to go to a champagne tasting here in Chicago sponsored by the Comité Champagne and located at the beautiful Tree Studios where hundreds of champagnes were poured and I got to taste a bunch! Here are a couple of my favorite:

I tried the champagnes from Beaumont des Crayères.

The first of their sparklers that I tasted was the Grande Réserve.  This wine is 60% Pinot Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay and spent  2 to 3 years on lees. The champagne has  plum and bready overtones.

The Fleur de Prestige is 50% Chardonnay 40% Pinot Noir and 10% Pinot Noir with fresh tropical fruits  and a  creamier finish.

The Grand Nectar is off dry tasting of cookies and jam with tiny bubbles.  It was 60% Pinot Meunier, 25% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir.

Next up where the wines from Canard-Duchêne.  I love a good story about Champagne House and this one has one.  Victor Canard was tonnelier or barrel maker or cooper.  He married Léonie Duchêne a winemaker and founded the house in 1868.  Their house was granted the right by the Russian Imperial family to use their coat of arms on their bottles.  This reminds me that a. Russians love Champagne and b. women were often vital to the industry.  If you question that, just remember the Veuve Clicquot….

Canard-Duchêne Brut Authentic is a blend of 45% with the remaining grapes being Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay and expresses the essence of the house’s style.  The bubbles are small, the taste like brioche if a bit bland.

The Rosé Authentic is subtle and delicate with bright strawberry and raspberry flavors.  This was my favorite of the three

The Cuvée Charles VII is the premiere Blanc de Blanc from the winery.  It tastes of peach and lycee and is creamy.

I wonder what other bubbles I will encounter?!

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hello,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“Omg. I have never gotten so far #buchedenoel #xmas2013 ”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hello,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“So far, so good. #buchedenoel #xmas2013”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hello,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“My baby’s going to college!!!!! #senioryear”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hello,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“Chateauneuf tasting with dinner #chateauneufdupape”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hello,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“Should I be concerned that Sophie drinks gingerale out of a wine glass?”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hello,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“Champagne Only Comes From Champagne people! #ComitéChampagne #Champagne #Chicago”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hi there,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“Dinner: warm lobster salad. The rest of my crustacean friends will be going into chowder tomorrow”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Hi there,

Gretchen Neuman just shared an Instagram photo with you:

view full image

“Cooking tasty”

Thanks,
The Instagram Team

Powered by Bookmarkify™