a rather special champagne weekend.

[Ken Gargett]

Friday was a brilliant evening - we had Didier Mariotti, the chef de cave from Veuve Clicquot, an old mate, and a former presenter on our very own Spitbucket where he joined us for a cigar, in town to present a very special dinner. a vertical tasting of magnums of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame back to 1993. at this stage, my apols for any photos that are on their side or upside down. i do my best. 

the following day, as has become traditional, some friends have a few of us up to their place at Maleny, which overlooks Melbourne to PNG, for a champagne lunch. we all bring something but our hosts are always above and beyond.

if i tell you that the car to return us to Brisbane from lunch was booked for 7,30pm, that will give you an idea of the day. 

some of the champers from the day. 

kicked off with the sensational pierre peters les chetillons 2012. 

next up, the other great pierre peters single site. les Montjolys 2012. 

at this stage a bit of a pierre peters festival with a wine from before he started offering the single vineyards. the 1998. 

the Taittinger comtes 2002 in magnum. if i could drink a wine this good once a year, i'd be a happy man. 

salon 1995 in magnum. if i could drink something this good once a decade, even happier. 

a magnum of Moet 1964. this was not just the champagne of the day, not just the champagne of the year but so far, the wine of the year. it was extraordinary. 

a little rose. the Taittinger comtes rose 1999. in magnum. 

next up, a pair of Bollys, both from 1985. the Grand Annee and the RD. amazing to see them together. the RD won the day. brilliant.

sadly, this Henriot Enchanteurs 1988 was the only cork failure of the day (so sad, my fave vintage). 

 

 

on the other hand, Philipponnat's Clos des Goisses, this the 1998, never fails to thrill. 

one of the all time great - the 1996 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill. 

an ogly-ouriet 1998. 

part of the view. 

what day is not complete without a magnum of Dom Perignon, here the 1992. 

the final wine before we left, the 1995 Louis Roederer Cristal in magnum. 

sadly, no photo of the roadie for the tri[p home - a magnum of Dom Perignon 2008 (another of the all time greats). 

it would be fair to say that i was rather slow on Sunday. sensational day and what incredible generosity from everyone. 

all up, nine bottles and seven magnums for the day (although some troops went off to drink a bundle of grand cru burgs when they got back to brizzy - i, of course, was my abstemious self. and before anyone thinks that we overindulged, may i point out that there were nine of us.

this is Didier. 

some of the troops. 

my apologies - quite a few extra photos have been included at the end. no idea how/why. apols. 

[Ken Gargett]

3 hours ago, Ken Gargett said:

Friday was a brilliant evening - we had Didier Mariotti, the chef de cave from Veuve Clicquot, an old mate, and a former presenter on our very own Spitbucket where he joined us for a cigar, in town to present a very special dinner. a vertical tasting of magnums of Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame back to 1993. at this stage, my apols for any photos that are on their side or upside down. i do my best. 

the following day, as has become traditional, some friends have a few of us up to their place at Maleny, which overlooks Melbourne to PNG, for a champagne lunch. we all bring something but our hosts are always above and beyond.

if i tell you that the car to return us to Brisbane from lunch was booked for 7,30pm, that will give you an idea of the day. 

 

some of the champers from the day. 

kicked off with the sensational pierre peters les chetillons 2012. 

next up, the other great pierre peters single site. les Montjolys 2012. 

 

at this stage a bit of a pierre peters festival with a wine from before he started offering the single vineyards. the 1998. 

 

 

 

the Taittinger comtes 2002 in magnum. if i could drink a wine this good once a year, i'd be a happy man. 

 

 

salon 1995 in magnum. if i could drink something this good once a decade, even happier. 

 

a magnum of Moet 1964. this was not just the champagne of the day, not just the champagne of the year but so far, the wine of the year. it was extraordinary. 

 

 

a little rose. the Taittinger comtes rose 1999. in magnum. 

 

next up, a pair of Bollys, both from 1985. the Grand Annee and the RD. amazing to see them together. the RD won the day. brilliant. 

 

 

 

sadly, this Henriot Enchanteurs 1988 was the only cork failure of the day (so sad, my fave vintage). 

 

 

on the other hand, Philipponnat's Clos des Goisses, this the 1998, never fails to thrill. 

 

one of the all time great - the 1996 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill. 

 

 

an ogly-ouriet 1998. 

 

part of the view. 

 

what day is not complete without a magnum of Dom Perignon, here the 1992. 

the final wine before we left, the 1995 Louis Roederer Cristal in magnum. 

sadly, no photo of the roadie for the tri[p home - a magnum of Dom Perignon 2008 (another of the all time greats). 

 

 

 

 

 

it would be fair to say that i was rather slow on Sunday. sensational day and what incredible generosity from everyone. 

all up, nine bottles and seven magnums for the day (although some troops went off to drink a bundle of grand cru burgs when they got back to brizzy - i, of course, was my abstemious self. and before anyone thinks that we overindulged, may i point out that there were nine of us. 

 

 

 

this is Didier. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

some of the troops. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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my apologies - quite a few extra photos have been included at the end. no idea how/why. apols. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and as usual, many thanks to the tech angel who has kindly fixed the pics.