Champagne Henri Giraud: “The Greatest Champagne You’ve Never Heard Of”
Some years ago, the American wine critic, Robert Parker, dubbed Henri Giraud as “the greatest Champagne you’ve never heard of”. Ken Gargett takes a closer look.
Entries by Ken Gargett
Strange Laws in the World of Wine and Spirits: The Good, The Bad, and The Idiotic
As with every aspect of our lives, the world of wine and spirits is heavily regulated. Growing grapes, making the stuff, distilling, selling, even (perhaps especially) drinking it. Here Ken Gargett takes a light-hearted look at some of the newer and crazier laws and regulations around the world.
In Praise Of Anchovies: If You Don’t Already Love Them, You Just Haven’t Yet Discovered How Good They Can Be
For many people, anchovies are one of those foods to be avoided like the plague. But for Ken Gargett anchovies are not a love-it-or-hate it food. Rather, they are a love-it-or-you-have-not-discovered-how-good-they-can-be food. A lunch of a freshly baked loaf of hot, crusty bread smothered in good quality anchovies is just magic. Here he takes you on an aquatic journey through the culinary aspects of this small fish.
Taittinger Comtes 2013: a Champagne that Dances
Ken Gargett describes the Taittinger Comtes 2013 as a champagne that dances. Citrus and grapefruit pith, florals, brioche, stonefruits, a hint of ginger and mixed spices. A beautifully elegant champagne with immaculate balance and intensity, which lingers long after first impressions.
Non-Vintage Champagnes: They are Getting Better and Better!
Non-vintage champagnes were consider second tier to their vintage superstars, but that’s now changed. Ken Gargett takes a look at the history of non-vintage champages and shares some of his favorites.
The World’s Best Wine? No Contest: Romanée-Conti by Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
There is one wine producer that has taken on almost mythical status in recent years: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. And one of its wines, Romanée-Conti, stands out above all others. Many wine lovers, perhaps most, consider it to be the very best wine in the world. Ken Gargett is one of them.
Sato Wines from New Zealand: Japanese Bankers turned Serious Winemakers
The Sato winery in New Zealand has a collection of wines that both reflect their site and terroir while retaining finesse and elegance. Ken Gargett found them utterly entrancing.
Bollinger La Grande Annee 2015: The Excellence of a Great Vintage
Denis has said of the 2015, that it “expresses more of the soul of a Bollinger millésimé than any other year. More opulent, more powerful, it exalts Pinot Noir. Uplifted by maturation in wooden casks, this champagne reveals the characteristics of an exceptional year.”
Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 244 and History
The Louis Roederer Collection, current release being the 244 is one of the great buys in Champagne today, but it is also so much more. Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon is at the forefront of what can only be seen as a seismic change in the way champagne operates, especially regarding their non-vintage wines.
Champagne Taittinger Trio that are Great Value: Les Folies de La Marquetterie, Prelude, and Vintage 2015
None of these three champagnes are considered as prestige releases – for Taittinger, that would be their brilliant Comtes de Champagne – and consequently they are priced well below, each coming in at around one-third of the price of Comtes. You can’t go wrong. They are all beautiful champagnes and will reward drinking now or time in the cellar.