I’ve been writing about Champagne on my new blog in French and I thought I’d reserve you the after Christmas drink: Armagnac. But when it comes to such a hard liquor, it’s hard to choose! Each time I taste one I can’t taste many more …50 degrees alcohool is a lot on your palate! I’m not quite ready for this article yet but here comes the bubbles:

Well…Champagne is not so easy to taste either, it’s quite acidic and ever tried spitting foam? Desaster! Champagne is good to swallow – Feeling the spark in your body feels amazing and if you choose one, you may as well stick to it for a good part of the night. I particularly hate going from one to another in the business of an exhibition, Extra But or sweet they mix and mismatch and create depleasure… If I’ve done the exercice many time on this early winter, I may as well tell you how it went… so that you can pick the best of best bubbles in the warmth of your living room.

Bubble after Bubble, at the Grand Tasting organised by Bettane and Dessauve in Paris

Between a wine maker or a businness man Champagne, a small grower or big Champagne house, each of the one I’ve chosen have a little “je ne sais quoi” that makes the difference – words, bubbles, images -  that found a way to my heart. – Thank to you all for these gold drops that made me sparkle!

Les Blancs (between 20 and 50 euros)

- Champagne Janisson Baradon Extra Brut : Discovered just on time before Christmas, it is one I will never forget! Hard to pick one in all their collection but for a wonderful price to quality ratio, you can start with the Extra Brut. With almost no dosage, it’s extra fresh, perfectly balanced and will drink in no time ! Simply delicious ! Janisson Baradon on facebook.

- Champagne Tarlant Brut Zero Nature : The one I’ve selected for the Vicky Bubble Tasting. While waiting for more on the case, hard to not put it on the to drink list.  This Zero is a pioneer in the family – skinny, it’s a Champagne with Zero dosage, so zero calorie, zero sweetness, zero complexe!  What you’ll find is the terroir so close your eyes and open your senses, you are at the heart of Champagne!  Champagne Tarlant sur Facebook

- Champagne Drappier Brut Nature : Un champagne délicieusement rafraîchissant! Blanc de Noirs, it’s made out of pinot noir (the same as in red burgundy wines) it gives the wine all its personnality and fruit. As in the Tarlant, no dosage – So you can go for it with no worries dear ladies!  It takes lots of room in your mouthwithout being heavy, I’m all for it!

- Champagne Jacquesson cuvée n°734 : On of my first Champagne crush ever, still again I always think of Jacquesson. The cuvée 734 is mostly made out of Chardonnay. It also taste more like wine than its friends Drappier and Janisson Baradon. Elegant, powerful and complexe. It’s also one of the most refined!

Les Rosés

- Champagne Thienot Brut Rosé. A newbies in the Champagne world, one I’ve already talked about a few months ago when they launched the cuvée Stanislas. This pink is very charming, soft raspberry color, it’s definitely flirting with your palate. Easily noticed, it’s like swallowing a summer fruit handful – Breath, relax and Enjoy!  Champagne Thienot sur Facebook

- Champagne Mailly Grand Cru Brut Rosé. First discovered next to a beautiful ham, this Champagne rosé, more orange than anything, is a very original bubble. It’s because instead of being a mix or white and red wines, it’s red grapes that have been pressed just enought to color the final juice.  Also because it was made out of old bubble and more than anything because they do know how to make it happena at Mailly / Powerful, winy, good as an aperitif or with your supper.

- Champagne Philipponnat Brut Réserve Rosé. Easy drinking, balanced, it’s lively and round. Young and sensual, with enough time in the barrel to add up some complexity, you’ll love it! 

- Champagne Bollinger Brut Rosé. With such a beautiful name, some incredibles bubbles and such a big Champagne house, it’s really hard to imagine that the people that pour you the Bollinger at the exhibition know so little about the wine. Even thought this disappointed me, I loved it and think that being one of the first pink Bollinger makes, it is a lot of good promises for the futur of pink wines in this Champagne house.

Happy Bubble and Merry Christmas

Vicky