Wine By Nine

Vintage by Nicolas Feuillatte from Champagne, France - regions. The cuvees of Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte are blended from wines grown in more than 500 hectares of exclusively Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards located throughout Champagne. Each vineyard and each varietal Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier is vinified separately to allow absolute precision in the final blends of each Champagne. There is a minimum aging of 3 years. Respecting grape varieties, the Cuvee Speciale Brut Vintage 1999 emphasises the delicacy of the Chardonnay which accounts for 60% of the blend. The right proportion of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier give it balance and homogeneity. Pale gold color, generous effervescence. The first notes of citrus fruit (lemon and grapefruit) mixed with floral aromas of may blossom and physalis make the first nose tonic and fresh. Then, in turn, honey, gingerbread and Virginia tobacco reveal aromas which are more suave and gourmand. Vivaciousness and delicacy characterise the citrus fruit bouquet which develops harmoniously to give good balance on the palate.

Ros? by Veuve Clicquot from Champagne, France - regions. Our non-vintage rose is the end result of a desire to create a rose champagne with a delightfully luscious, fruit-based charm. Jacques Peters, the cellarmaster, and his team wanted a champagne that would be accessible and naturally engaging while conserving Veuve Clicquot's essential values in terms of style. Made using 50 to 60 different crus, the cuvee is based on Brut Yellow Label's traditional blend: 50 to 55% Pinot Noir, 15 to 20% Pinot Meunier, and 28 to 33% Chardonnay. The blend includes a particularly high percentage (25-35%, sometimes 40%) of reserve wines originating from several harvests (usually 5 or 6), which ensures the consistency of the house style. The reserve wines, some of which are 9 years old, are kept separately depending on the origin of the crus and the years in which the wines were produced. This blend is completed with 12% of red wines using red grapes especially raised and selected to give a marvellous balance to this rose.

Non-Vintage by Veuve Clicquot from Champagne, France - regions. Demi-Sec is blended largely from Pinot Noir with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier as well as reserve wines. The liqueur d'expedition (carefully prepared and dosed with 45 g per litre by our oenologists) gives it a sweeter yet still very fresh harmony. Demi-Sec is at its best when served with desserts. You could even serve it in a carafe, not to decant it but to admire the colour and the delicate bubbles of this elegant wine.

Non-Vintage by Pol Roger from Champagne, France - regions. Pol Roger, one of a few luxury Champagne firms still family-owned, was established in Epernay in 1849. Pol Roger owns 200 acres of vineyards, which provide about 45% of their needs. Pol Roger's cellars extend over four miles of winding chalk passageways on two levels. The second or deeper cellar maintains a constant 9.5? C (50? F), one degree lower than the first level and most others in the region. This lower temperature slows the second fermentation, encouraging a finer mousse or bubbles. Pol Roger Champagne also spends two to three times the allowable minimum in the cellar before disgorgement, or about three years for the non-vintage and up to seven for the luxury cuvees. The long, slow maturation contributes greatly to the complex aromas, which distinguish these superb Champagnes. The Brut Non Vintage blend is traditionally composed from about 30 to 35 still base wines, drawn from different vineyard sites, grape varieties and vintage years. It usually contains wines of at least two vintages, often three or four. Reserve wines compose between 20-30% of the traditional blend. The Brut NV is never sold until the youngest component is at least three years old, which gives it more character and body. Pale gold with a very fine bead; flowery, delicately toasty aroma with fruit and complexity; creamy, beautifully balanced with a dry, harmonious finish.

Non-Vintage by Taittinger from Champagne, France - regions. This Champagne is a blend of some 30 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyards, respectively 40% and 60% of the total, from several harvests of perfectly ripened grapes. Crisp aromas of green apple, wheat and minerals. Fresh, creamy flavors of apple and toasted bread with hints of red fruit. Classy finish. -Wine News

Ros? by Moet & Chandon from Champagne, France - regions. CHARACTERISTICS Brut Imperial Rose is a blend of the three wine varieties, with an emphasis on Pinot Noir, embodying a fruity and daring character. COMPONENTS Approximately 200 individual crus make up this cuvee. The traditional proportions for Brut Imperial Rose are: 50-60% Pinot Noir 20-30% Pinot Meunier 10-20% Chardonnay 20-30% vins de reserve COLOR Rose with shades of copper, good intensity AROMA Lively, expressive, dominated by the scent of wild strawberries STYLE Full bodied, zestful, assertive fruitiness

Non-Vintage by Gosset from Champagne, France - regions. Gosset Grande Reserve is a truly faithful expression of the Gosset style. To achieve a cuvee of this quality, the cellar-master has blended the best of the various champagne crus at the grape- harvest with wines specially chosen from our reserve stocks for their richness and maturity. Powerful and aromatic, this champagne is ideal for serving as an aperitif or to accompany a very special meal.

Non-Vintage by Mumm from Champagne, France - regions. The full character and personality of the Mumm vineyard are expressed in the Grand Cru. Located in the heart of the prestigious Champagne wine growing area, Mumm has used its ancestral expertise to select and blend the rarest and most famous crus. Of the 302 crus in this outstanding wine-growing area, 43 are Premier Crus, but only 17 are classified Grand Crus, indicating the very finest cuvees. Of these 17, Mumm has selected the best five, which have always been the basis of its blends. Robe: a clear, lively yellow, with rich, fine bubbles, evenly-spread effervescence and a generous, light foam. Bouquet: the first note is rich and harmonious, followed by a delicate hint of white flowers, vanilla, honey and white fruit. The subtle presence of toasted nuts testifies to its slow maturation. Flavor: when first tasted, the power and character of Mumm Grand Cru delight the palate. Then it develops freshness, roundness and suppleness, with lingering sweet, fine flavours. Mumm Grand Cru is a delicate blend of five major Grands Crus (100%), comprised of 58% Pinot Noir from Bouzy, Verzenay and Ay and 42% Chardonnay from Avize and Cramant.

Non-Vintage by Henriot from Champagne, France - regions. A beautiful gold colour. The bubbles are persistent, fine and regular. The nose is pleasant, made very elegant by the large amount of Chardonnay. The Brut Souverain is sharp, well balanced and harmonious on the palate. There is just a suggestion of color.... It's very sensuous, and the wine bursts immediately into a complex play of scents. Dusty pollen, fresh-cut flowers and sweet fruits mingle invitingly, leading you into flavors of pomegranate, cranberry and spice. Big and polished, this sensual feast of a wine delivers an extra dimension of flavor, power and length. ~ The Wine Enthusiast

Non-Vintage by Henriot from Champagne, France - regions. 100% Chardonnay, mostly from the vineyards of Mesnil sur Oger, Vertus, Chouilly and Trepail. 38% of the cuvee is from reserve wines. The blanc de blancs from Henriot has some fine, toasty, aged character. This is a rich, but still vibrantly fruity wine that shows some baked apple and pink grapefruit but also some maturity. A finely made wine, illustrating the benefits of some bottle age. Wine Enthusiast 92 Points Light gold. Smoky pear and peach on the nose, with subtle anise and grain qualities adding complexity. More plump than usual for this cuvee, offering ripe but focused orchard fruit and tangerine flavors of excellent depth. Finishes sappy and impressively long. Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 90 Points

Vintage by Laurent-Perrier from Champagne, France - regions. This is sumptuous and delicate, offering peach, beeswax and ginger notes. Firmly structured, with a chalklike sensation underneath that emerges on the finish. Drink now through 2015. Wine Spectator 90 Points

Non-Vintage by Perrier Jouet from Champagne, France - regions. Fresh and lively with spiraling bubbles, delicate bouquet, and a subtle complex flavors. Serve for all occasions, hors d'oeuvres, caviar, seafood dishes with light elegant sauces, or smoked salmon.