On January 1, 2019 Quill & Pad celebrates its five-year anniversary. And in honor of this milestone, we take a look at some of the great stories and photos from the last 1,825 days that have helped make this publication a fun, informative, and visually interesting one.
While Quill & Pad focuses on high-quality wristwatches, right from the start we have also reported on experiences with other – at times quite related – luxury items such as automobiles and pens.
For many watch enthusiasts, it is probably not a stretch to say that fine timepieces are often enjoyed with a fine glass of bubbly. And since Quill & Pad acquired an expert writer in this field in 2017 – Ken Gargett from Australia – we can happily recommend some of the best tipples in existence.
Without further ado, here are five bubblicious champagne stories from the last five years that stand out for their extraordinary “taste.” Just in time for you to toast the new year with!
Louis Roederer Cristal 2008: Supreme Elegance And Ethereal Grace
One of the few champagnes in 2018 that created significant pre-release buzz, the 2008 Roederer Cristal took advantage of its exceptional vintage resulting from a dry, cool summer by imparting a dense, powerful, and very concentrated saline freshness.
Louis Roederer Cristal 2008
Ken calls it, “a complete champagne, beautifully structured with great length and certain to age magnificently.” A most Cristal of Cristals according to Roederer’s chef de cave Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. Don’t miss Louis Roederer Cristal 2008: Supreme Elegance And Ethereal Grace.
Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006: From A Long And Complex History
The Sir Winston Churchill is the flagship champagne of Pol Roger, and there is a reason for that: Sir Winston Churchill drank well and drank widely, but nothing more so than champagne. And there was no doubt that he had a favorite house: Pol Roger. He is quoted as saying, “Champagne imparts a feeling of exhilaration. The nerves are braced, the imagination is stirred, the wits become nimbler.”
Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006
Find out more about Churchill’s intimate history with Pol Roger and the sixteenth release of the Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill – which Ken scores with 97 – in Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006: From A Long And Complex History.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs: One Of The Finest Champagnes I Have Ever Enjoyed
Ethereal, gossamer in a glass. . . this is how Ken described his first taste of the 2002 Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs, which he also admitted was one of the finest champagnes he has ever enjoyed. “It is elegance with a steel backbone, possessing a wonderfully creamy texture, peaches and cream with notes of honey, stone fruit, florals, grapefruit, and hazelnuts.”
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs
Raise a tulip-shaped glass to Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Blanc de Blancs: One Of The Finest Champagnes I Have Ever Enjoyed and cheers.
Bollinger RD 2004: When It Came To Champagne (And Much Else), Madame Bollinger Had Excellent Taste
The 2004 Bollinger RD is undoubtedly a limited-production champagne: Bollinger represents around one percent of the entire production of champagne, and the RD line is less than one percent of Bollinger’s production. There have been 24 previous releases of RD (which stands for “recently disgorged”); the 2004 marks the twenty-fifth edition.
The 2004 Bollinger RD
“And what a wonderful champagne it is,” Ken wrote. “With 2004 giving the wine a glorious level of richness. It is complex with dark fruits, mushrooms, nuts and florals, and notably lemon blossoms. It has impressive length and a wonderfully seductive texture. There is more fruit here than one might have expected, notably stone fruits such as apricots. There is even the slightest hint of pineapple.”
Additionally, he tells the wonderful story of Madame Elisabeth Lauriston Bollinger, who led the elite producer from 1941 until 1971, in Bollinger RD 2004: When It Came To Champagne (And Much Else), Madame Bollinger Had Excellent Taste.
Louis Roederer Rosé 2012: A Gloriously Ethereal And Elegant Champagne
Ken suspects that Roderer could not make a poor champagne if it tried, and he says that the 2012 Rosé is “a brilliant wine” – a most gloriously ethereal and elegant champagne in no way lacking in power, line, and length. “If Roederer has ever made a better vintage rosé, I can’t recall it,” he wrote.
Louis Roederer Rosé 2012 vintage champagne
“The hype is in and it looks more than justified.” Check out more of Ken’s thoughts on the fine champagne at Louis Roederer Rosé 2012: A Gloriously Ethereal And Elegant Champagne.
You may also enjoy:
- The World’s Best Wine? No Contest: Romanée-Conti By Domaine De La Romanée-Conti
- Charles Heidsieck Blanc Des Millenaires 2004: Long Live The King Of Chardonnay Cuvées
- Charles Clavem Champagne: The Bottle Deserves As Much (Or More) Attention As The Wine
- Château d’Yquem: Paired Years Elevate The World’s Best White Wine For A Simply Magical Experience
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!
Thanks, Elizabeth, and happy new year to you, Ian, all at Q&P and all your readers.
I’m just glad I do not have to rank these in order!
Best,
kbg