Champagne Friday: It's International Champagne Day!
Friday, October 26, 2012 at 9:00AM | Uncorked Blog Administrator 
Benoit Marguet inspecting one of his magnums.
By: Gary Westby | K&L Champagne Buyer
Today is International Champagne Day, so it is a very special Champagne Friday. Later today, I will be in the San Francisco store pouring a tasting of all magnum, all estate-grown Champagnes from 5pm until 6:30 PM. Please join me to celebrate International Champagne Day in SF if you can! Even if you can’t come, you can still do your part and drink some Champagne today.
Why magnums? I believe the best premium that one can pay in regards to Champagne is the upgrade to a magnum (1.5L) format. Whenever there are enough people to drink two bottles of Champagne- at my house that means three people- I consider a magnum. Since Champagne undergoes its second fermentation in the bottle, a magnum is at a tremendous advantage: not only does it enjoy double the wine to oxygen ratio in the larger bottle, but the curve of the glass allows for more contact with the yeast before disgorgement. This means you get more of the aged character that you do want (contact with the lees) and less of the ageing you don’t want (contact with oxygen).
I hope you can join me this evening in San Fransisco. The cost to taste is only $10! Here's what I will be pouring:
If you have enjoyed the wines of Lallement, Bollinger and Krug in the past, I think you will very much enjoy Michel Arnould.
Bruno Michel "Blanche Brut" Champagne $32.99/ $$79.99 magnum
Marguet Pere et Fils "Cuvée Reserve" Brut Champagne $34.99 / $74.99 magnum
2002 Michel Loriot Vintage Brut Champagne 1.5L $99 (magnum only)
Ariston Aspasie "Brut Prestige" Champagne $39.99/ $84.99
Michel Arnould Verzenay "Brut Reserve" Champagne $32.99/ $64.99 magnum
Michel Arnould Verzenay Brut Rosé Champagne $34.99/ $74.99 magnum
A toast to you, hopefully with you!
–Gary
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