Tasting notes ....................................................................

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tasting Champagne wines An introduction to

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www.champagne.fr

L’ABUS D’ALCOOL EST DANGEREUX POUR LA SANTÉ, CONSOMMEZ AVEC MODÉRATION

Champagne notebooks

This notebook is an introduction to the pleasure of tasting Champagne wines. Why pleasure ? Because what you are about to learn is the language of the senses. How to use your imagination to describe the characteristics of particular wines. How to let your emotions express what you discover.

You Before you start, keep in mind a few basic rules : Choose glasses that are tall enough and large enough to allow the bubbles and the aromas to develop and rise to the surface.

m Champagne n°1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . r Champagne n°2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . m Champagne n°3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

and Champagne wines…

The glasses should be spotlessly clean and free of any traces of detergent or rinsing agent that might flatten the Champagne. Avoid all forms of perfume (whether room perfume or personal eau-detoilette) and any odours that are likely to interfere with the appreciation of the aromas.

Use this notebook to record your sensations whether you taste one, two, three or four wines.

To ensure that the Champagne is at the ideal drinking temperature (8-10ºC), chill the bottle for 20 minutes in an ice bucket filled with ice cubes. Fill the glass no more than two-thirds full allowing space for the aromas to circulate.

To bring out the colour of the wine, place a sheet of white paper behind the glass. Allow the Champagne time to open up and reveal the richness of its bouquet.

Try and identify the shade of the Champagne you are tasting. Name it and ask yourself whether the wine is limpid, silky or sparkling. How would you describe the bubbles?

grey gold salmon pink coral pink green gold

straw yellow

yellow gold antique gold

What can you What colour is it? m rm r pale gold m rm r green gold m rm r grey gold m rm r straw yellow m rm r yellow gold m rm r antique gold m rm r coral pink m rm r salmon pink m rm r deep pink m r m r

How does it look? m rm r limpid m rm r sparkling m rm r silky m r m r

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see? What are the bubbles like? m rm r light m rm r fine m rm r lively m rmr plentiful m rm r slow

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m r m r

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Do they form a ring? m rm r discreet m rm r intense m r m r

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Prises de vues : Civc / Éric Cuvillier, Alain Cornu, Philippe Exbrayat, Jacques de Marcillac, Gérard Rondeau. Illustrations: Patrice Caumon, Gilles Cenazandotti. Page et : extrait de ®Vocabulaire des Champagnes “Les mots pour les dire”.

Direction artistique : atelier Fabrizi. Imprimé en Belgique, en décembre par Graphing. ISSN n° . Directeur de la publication : André Enders.

Epicurean bouquet

Once the initial effervescence has subsided, bring the glass to your nose. Inhale slowly, at length and then inhale again.

Would you describe the aromas as floral or fruity? Do they remind you of vegetables, dried fruits or perhaps some indulgent delicacy?

Floral bouquet

What can you Floral : m rm r wild rose m rm r lime blossom m rm r orange blossom m rm r violet m r m r

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Fruity : m rm r citrus m rm r apples, pears, quince etc. m rm r peaches, apricots nectarines etc. m rm r exotic fruit (mango, banana, lychee, coconut etc.) m rm r red fruit (berries, cherries, currants etc.) m r m r

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smell? Vegetal : m rm r fresh almond m rm r fresh cut grass m rm r fern m rm r underwood m rm r truffle

m r m r

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Bouquet of fresh fruit

Epicurean : m rm r fresh butter m rm r brioche m rm r toast m rm r honey m rm r candied fruit m rm r vanilla m rm r spices

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Dried fruit : m rm r hazelnut m rm r raisin m rm r dried fig

m r m r

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m r m r Bouquet of dried fruit

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Vegetal bouquet

How does the wine feel ? m rm r powerful m rm r solid m rm r comforting m rm r smooth m rm r sprightly m rm r light m rm r mature m rm r opulent m r m r

A Champagne reveals its personality best on the palate. Dare to roll the wine around your mouth for a few moments. There is bound to be a dominant impression as with any wine. Study these four images to see if you can define it.

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What can you How would you describe the impression that you are left with after drinking the wine? m rm r fleshy m rm r creamy m rm r delicate m rm r complex

taste? m r m r

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Try to define the nature of the Champagne you are drinking. Is it convivial or refined? Does it inspire visions of an elegant dinner for two or a New Year’s Eve party? Using the examples given below, see if you can match this Champagne to the occasion.

What would be the

perfect oc casion to drink this Cha mpagne? When and where would be the ideal circumstances to drink this Champagne? m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r

m r m r

picnic business lunch family celebrations cocktail gourmet lunch special occasion important dinner party

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What atmosphere or state of mind would you associate with this Champagne? m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m rm r m r m r

convivial epicurean welcoming sentimental refined whimsical sumptuous magical

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What foods do you think would go best with this Champagne? Should it be served as an apéritif, with the main course or with the dessert? Use your imagination and listen to what your senses tell you.

dish es

Which would go best with this Champagne? Finding the right combinations with the apéritif? m rm r chicken terrine m rm r foie gras canapé m rm r miniature quiche m rm r crab brioche m rm r marinated salmon m rm r slivers of dried meat m rm r warm oysters

with the main course? m rm r veal stew m rm r venison m rm r duck confit m rm r trout with almonds m rm r beef carpaccio with parmesan m rm r roasted sea bass m rm r braised capon

m r m r

m r m r

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with the dessert? m rm r red fruit tart m rm r grapefruit mousse m rm r apricot and peach Charlotte m rm r raspberry soufflé m rm r apple pie and cinnamon ice-cream m rm r butterscotch ice-cream with whipped cream m rm r rice pudding and crème fraîche sorbet m rm r pear & liquorice tart

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What is your overall of this Champa gne?

im pression

Depending on your dominant impression of this Champagne, to which of these four major categories would you say it belonged?

What specific emotion does this Champagne inspire? (which of these sensations would you associate it with?)

charm

Body

Spirit

intelligence sensuality romanticism passion enthusiasm rapture

Soul

union mysticism

tenderness

Heart