- NV Ernest Rapeneau Champagne Brut Rosé, Epernay, France ($24.99@Trader Joe’s, California)
We are in the home stretch of 2023 people, and this bottle would be good to have in your fridge if you are preparing for some New Years’ eve merriment.
If you are a long time reader of these posts, you know that we like to keep them light and fun, and to also provide some wine education in the process. Sometimes all at the same time. Seems like a good way to end the year.
Our final Wine of the Week (WoW!) is this “real” Champagne. We say real because it comes from that part of France that can legitimately call its sparkling wine by that name.
A short history of champagne:
The story of champagne begins over 300 years ago with Dom Pérignon, a Benedictine monk who lived in the Champagne region of France from 1638 to 1715. Dom Pérignon spent 47 years of his life in the Abbey of Saint Pierre, where, among other duties, he worked on improving some of the oldest aspects of champagne-making. The Abbey is located overlooking the beautiful rolling hills of the Marne Valley, an area which is famed for growing the grapes that go into this elixir. Dom Pérignon dedicated his time to making some of the earliest champagne. It was a perk of the job apparently.
He was known for his skill at blending different wine vintages to bring out the best of their flavors. Note: our reference to NV above means non-vintage, which reflects the fact that this wine is indeed a blend of different vintages. Dom Pérignon is accredited with perfecting the artform of blending cuvée champagne. Cuvée champagnes are those which have been specially blended, or where the champagne has been chosen from a vat which is of superior quality.
Another contribution to champagne made by Dom Pérignon was the creation of the first champagne cork. Previously, champagne bottles had been closed with wood, which did not always fit perfectly. Dom Pérignon’s use of cork as a closure ensured a better fit, so that the tiny bubbles in the champagne would be preserved. Dom Pérignon also made changes to the shape of champagne bottles, using thicker glass to prevent costly and dangerous explosions caused by a build-up of gases within the bottles during transportation. The classic shape and style of today’s champagne bottles are thanks to Dom Pérignon.
The story goes that when Dom Pérignon first created his delicious bubbly champagne, he called out to his fellow monks “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!” This quote has been associated with champagne ever since.
Fast forward to 1901, Ernest Rapeneau founded his champagne and wine business in the village of Hautvillers, France in the same basic area that Dom Pérignon farmed centuries earlier.
You know that wire cage that holds the champagne cork? Impress your friends by referring to it by its French name: muselet, pronounced “miz-lay”. A muselet is a wire cage that fits over the cork of a bottle of champagne, sparkling wine or beer to prevent the cork from rocketing out under the pressure of the carbonated contents. It derives its name from the French museler, to muzzle. The muselet often has a metal cap incorporated in the design which may show the drink maker’s emblem. They are normally covered by a metal foil envelope.
Muselets are also known as wirehoods or Champagne wires.
Tasting Notes:Pours an elegant pink/salmon color with a delightful foam. A crisp, fruity nose of red fruits and yeasty brioche. Fresh on the palate, with an elegant effervescence and a harmonious melange of citrus, cranberry, pear and yeasty bread. Dry and tart on the finish. Would pair really well with fish and shellfish, especially oysters on the half shell. ABV = 12%.
Need more wine picks from Trader Joe’s – or Costco?
If your search for this wine lands you in Trader Joe’s, take along our handy Lucky 13 list of TJ’s wine here.
And if your wine shopping excursions land you in Costco, prepare by grazing our most recent reviews of Costco wines here in our Lucky 13 list.
If you’re like me, you are wondering how 2023 evaporated so fast. It’s a wrap! See you in 2024. Stay safe.
Cheers!
Leave a Reply