Yesterday was my birthday. Since it falls at the very end of 'The Year of Bubbles', as my gift this year, my husband very appropriately rented me a row of vines at a champagne vineyard through the company 3D Wines. It's a great programme, where my vineyard, Maison Lenique, produces a vintage, grand cru blanc de blancs exclusively for its members. They've sent me all kinds of background materials on the champagne, plus I have the option to visit the vineyard to see my vines, meet the winemaker, and purchase cases of the champagne (a 2004 vintage for me, supposedly a good year!) when it's ready for consumption.
As part of my gift, my husband bought a case of the 2003 vintage so that we could try it ahead of purchasing the 2004 early next year. We had a bottle last night to celebrate my birthday - it was a huge champagne, with a vibrant green apple (but not bitter) taste at the start, that mellowed into a smooth and long-lasting finish. It's not an incredibly bubbly champagne, but stayed very nicely effervescent throughout the evening.
It stood up very well to some runny and ripe French cheese, a testament to the outstanding flavour and body of the champagne. I'm very happy to own a case of this vintage, and even more excited to try the 2004 when it's ready!
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