Champagne Guru

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Champagne Guru There he blogs about tastings, individual wines and what's going on in the region.

Giles Fallowfield, an award-winning journalist and Champagne specialist who has been writing about the region for over three decades founded Champagne Guru in 2011.

When the king of the maître d’s comes in specially to look after your table on his night off, you know it’s going to b...
27/11/2024

When the king of the maître d’s comes in specially to look after your table on his night off, you know it’s going to be a special evening
A first impression immediately confirmed by an aperitif of Billecart-Salmon’s Nicolas François 2008 served in magnum. What unfolded was simply magnificent with delicious food, exemplary service and a fantastic, beautifully paired vinous line-up, plus great company, in the aptly named Wine Experience room.







A great day of celebration today with two birthdays for different generations. Andre reaches the grand age of 99 while ...
31/10/2024

A great day of celebration today with two birthdays for different generations. Andre reaches the grand age of 99 while grandson Hugo is 23. No doubt something special will be opened in today. Bon anniversaire!



Memorably fabulous trip to last month at the end of the . Great to see three generations still actively involved inclu...
09/10/2024

Memorably fabulous trip to last month at the end of the . Great to see three generations still actively involved including André whose longevity is surely linked to consuming at least a glass of their champagne every day!

We started with a relaxed lunch in Paris At ChezMichel (no relation) where we were met by Charline and tried some of the current impressive cuvées. Chez Michel is a very convivial place, that's handily just a few minutes walk from the Gard du Nord. Carte d'Or with 2020 base impressed, Brut Nature with '21 base is a great food wine while Clairvallis tastes better each time I try it

Then off to Urville via a fab stay and memorable dinner with Hugo and Michel in Charles de Gaulle's home town of Colombey-les-deux-Églises -- Yes there are two churches there -- at the boutique and delightful La Montagne hotel restaurant.

On Day 2 we toured the winery, tasted the 'next generation's' wines that Hugo, Charline and Antoine (who manages the wholly organic vineyard estate) have produced. And then ate lunch Chez Drappier with a mini vertical of Grande Sendrée thrown in that included 2012, 2009, 2006 and 2005. It was quite a visit.







Great to see chef de cave yesterday to get a update and taste majestic wines like this one from the 'in-the-right-ha...
08/10/2024

Great to see chef de cave yesterday to get a update and taste majestic wines like this one from the 'in-the-right-hands' brilliant 2014 harvest. And fascinating to taste in mag against the newly released PNVZ19 what a contrast, showing so well that even in a warm vintage like 19 north facing crus like Verzenay can still deliver amazing freshness. And superb to taste 1989 the underrated year of great trilogy 1989 VVF, Vielles Vignes Françaises that is.

Pretty smart food too : turbot and Les Côte aux Enfants 2014 would be a dessert island first choice combination for me -- sublime.

Thanks to Denis and to especially to Victoria for the lovely flowers that were very well received at home.

A once in a lifetime 50th anniversary tasting of Rosé all in magnums from '76 to 2013, what a treat! Many thanks to F...
03/10/2024

A once in a lifetime 50th anniversary tasting of Rosé all in magnums from '76 to 2013, what a treat! Many thanks to Frédéric Rouzaud and Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon for this amazing afternoon. A brilliant demonstration of how this cuvée has evolved since Frédéric's father Jean-Claude first made it in 1974. And in the 1976 vintage a classic example of how champagne from such a warm and sunny harvest still has amazing freshness, though the 1989 probably had even more fans in the room.

Many thanks also to the subtle combinations on the plate .theowo which never put the wines in the shade. Though that would have been difficult to do. Thanks also to for arranging such a fine event.

Brilliantly looked after by the team at this afternoon and they capped it all by producing this surprise birthday cake...
29/08/2024

Brilliantly looked after by the team at this afternoon and they capped it all by producing this surprise birthday cake for my wife Cathy. Superb.

Birthday celebration today for my wife Cathy requires a super classy fizz and this very much fits the bill. from the ...
29/08/2024

Birthday celebration today for my wife Cathy requires a super classy fizz and this very much fits the bill. from the fine 2014 vintage just released it's fine, already texturally complex, intense, gorgeously vibrant. Dazzling.

Nice to have honey for breakfast from a classy address
09/08/2024

Nice to have honey for breakfast from a classy address

Last night we celebrated medal successes in the cycling velodrome with a delightful glass of Nyetimber’s Classic Cuvée....
08/08/2024

Last night we celebrated medal successes in the cycling velodrome with a delightful glass of Nyetimber’s Classic Cuvée. One of the very first English fizzes to be made from the classic Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier trio as was one of the earliest producers to plant these three varieties in its Sussex vineyards over three decades ago.

As the official sparkling wine of Team GB for the Paris Olympics, has produced a special limited edition of its Classic Cuvée, their award winning, multi-vintage fizz, which is being poured at iconic UK restaurants and hotels throughout August including The Savoy Hotel, in Sussex, , Mayfair and The German Gymnasium in King's Cross. In addition is offering a Nyetimber celebration-themed afternoon tea in its Thames Foyer until 18 August.

As part of the summer of sport you can also sample this attractively fresh, sparkler that shows an impressive mid-palate intensity in the Wine Shop London where Nyetimber’s Rosé and are also available (2-6pm until tomorrow 9 August).  Fortnum & Mason and Berry Bros. & Rudd also stock the special limited edition bottle (£41.50rrp).

Fascinating line up of 2023 vins clairs and then vertical of with fabulous '98: followed by what a treat. Many than...
14/06/2024

Fascinating line up of 2023 vins clairs and then vertical of with fabulous '98: followed by what a treat. Many thanks to Emmanuel Gouvernet one of Didier Mariotti's 12 strong winemaking team for talking us through them yesterday

These chocolate biscuits I found in a store in 's delightful district last month are probably the nicest I've ever ...
06/06/2024

These chocolate biscuits I found in a store in 's delightful district last month are probably the nicest I've ever had. Any chance of stocking them?

Fantastic long weekend in where we went to watch our two boys run the but lots more besides. Superb food and drink n...
20/05/2024

Fantastic long weekend in where we went to watch our two boys run the but lots more besides. Superb food and drink nearly everywhere we went and at this great bar called Bibendum we coincided with a tasting of fine German Rieslings by this man Sebastian Class whose company is looking for UK distribution at the until Wednesday with his company neverland-wine com Worth seeking out, you can find him on Stand X210 in Wines Unearthed

Arrived in Copenhagen this afternoon to find a "heatwave" but delighted also our accommodation is only about 30;yards fr...
02/05/2024

Arrived in Copenhagen this afternoon to find a "heatwave" but delighted also our accommodation is only about 30;yards from this corner bar advertising its wares. And beer was appropriately CTP, -- chilled to perfection.

Climax to a great evening of champagnes 🥂🍾🥂🍾 was this very fine all #2012 style with a lower pressure of 4.5atmos...
25/04/2024

Climax to a great evening of champagnes 🥂🍾🥂🍾 was this very fine all #2012 style with a lower pressure of 4.5atmospheres, presented in magnum and with a decent amount of age on the cork. Complex, biscuity, lovely chalky grip and mouth feel.

As aperitiv we had the super fresh and elegant 2014 all Pinot Mumm de Verzenay, also in magnum which immediately won everyone over to this exciting range of smartly presented RSRV wines, so under exploited as yet in the UK.

And prestige line Cuveé Lalou 2008 stands comfortably with the very best wines of this exalted vintage boasting a palate tension, finesse and intensity that's a real delight. A great evening with super food to match.

Many thanks to Edition wine director & Antoine flament

&foodmatching

Very good of the managing editor Shay to make such kind comments about yours truly. Many thanks to his team, particular...
06/03/2024

Very good of the managing editor Shay to make such kind comments about yours truly. Many thanks to his team, particularly Jaq and James for making the MACB supplement look so good this year. Great that they used my pictures of top winemakers like Hervé Dantan ; Odilon de Varine ; Benoït Gouez ; Emilie Boutillat & ; Michel Davesne ; Stephen Leroux & Elise Losefelt and Jean Garandon

For a page turning version of the Most Admired Champagne Brands supplement see link in Bio

Superb Sunday night dinner .bruce with brilliant wines to match plus first class service from the front of house team. N...
05/03/2024

Superb Sunday night dinner .bruce with brilliant wines to match plus first class service from the front of house team. No surprise that both Nick Lander & Michel Roux rate this as some of the best food in London.

Anjou pigeon with quince purée, confit leg, offal pastry and green peppercorn sauce is culinary masterpiece and the lovely fresh, cherry fruited Château d'Etroyes 2019 1er Cru Mercury Le Clos L'Evéque worked really well with this dish. And this 50hectare estate is I note now owned by the family so may soon be on the Chez Bruce list given that connection.

The Krug 164ème based on 2008 harvest is still surprisingly fresh even though disgorged in summer 2017 nearly seven years ago and shows how if the base year has a very strong personality it's effect on this multi vintage blend is much more significant than in weaker years when the wine can be more complete and rounded.

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Very good of the @drinksinternational managing editor Shay to make such kind comments about yours truly. Many thanks to his team, particularly Jaq and James for making the MACB supplement look so good this year. Great that they used my pictures of top winemakers like Hervé Dantan @champagnelanson ; Odilon de Varine @champagnegossetofficiel ; Benoït Gouez @moetchandon ; Emilie Boutillat @piper_heidsieck & @rarechampagne_official ; Michel Davesne @champagnedeutz ; Stephen Leroux & Elise Losefelt @charlesheidsieckchampagne and Jean Garandon @champagnejacquesson_officiel For a page turning version of the Most Admired Champagne Brands supplement see link in Bio

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