Churchill could not live without champagne, saying "In victory I deserve it. In defeat I need it". Churchill’s words have a particular resonance today.
In the first ‘virtual’ tasting held by the Solicitors’ Wine Society, we return to champagne as our theme, and a glass of chilled champagne seems an appropriate way to shake off some of the ‘lockdown’ blues and get into the holiday spirit. Nancy Gilchrist MW returns to the Society to present three distinctive champagnes that she has personally selected. The three Champagnes will show a range of vinification techniques and styles, including a 100% Chardonnay cuvee from a long-established Champagne house, a 100% Pinot Noir cuvee made with no sulphur and no dosage, and a ‘grower Champagne’ made from 100% Pinot Noir. The Champagnes are:
Gosset, Grand Blanc de Blancs - 100% Chardonnay. Oldest 'wine house' in Champagne. Top Cotes de Blancs vineyards. Stainless Steel. Blocked malo. Dosage 7g/l
Drappier, Brut Nature Sans Soufre Zero Dosage - 100% Pinot Noir all winemaking achieved without sulphur. Stainless steel. Full malo Dosage: 0g/l
Lacourte-Godbillon, Mi-Pentes 1er Cru -100% Pinot Noir. Vinified in oak. Full malo. Dosage 3g/l Organic/Biodynamic
The tasting will be held by way of a Zoom meeting, and will be free to attend. We expect the tasting to run for approximately one hour. We hope that members will pass along the tasting details to friends and colleagues. There is no need to reply to this flyer or reserve a place at the tasting. To join the tasting, please click on the Zoom link below a few minutes before the tasting is due to start.
The presentation itself will not be fully interactive, but the ‘chat’ and Q&A’ functions of Zoom will be available, and we encourage members to post messages on the ‘chat’ (using ‘All panellists and attendees’) and raise questions for the speaker as you enjoy the wines.
The Champagnes to be presented will be available to purchase for £140 for the three 75cl bottles, including duty and VAT (but excluding delivery) from The Champagne Company, which has put together a special offer for SWS members which can be accessed using the following link:
https://thechampagnecompany.com/sws-champagne-tasting-3-bottle-case
Members and guests that attend the tasting do not have to purchase the Champagnes in order to participate, and can choose to open something similar (or not) while attending. The Champagnes are in limited supply and are available on a first come, first served basis. The Champagne Company has requested that all orders be placed no later than 4 December to ensure the wines are delivered in time for the tasting. Orders placed before 4 December can take advantage of The Champagne Company’s 3-5 working day delivery fee of £6.50 for the three bottles. Orders placed after 4 December may incur higher delivery charges to ensure delivery by the day of the tasting.
We are very much looking forward to members and guests joining our virtual tasting, and as this is the first virtual tasting the Society has hosted we ask in advance that you forgive any technical ‘mishaps’. With rather more wine involved than would be drunk, sorry, tasted, by two people at a ‘normal’ SWS event, we hope the tasting adds some fizz/sparkle to your bubble…