The Chronicle
Latest dispatches
15 results across all types
videoBlind Tasting New Releases from the 2018 Vintage
What a fascinating blind tasting: sixteen champagnes from the 2018 vintage, a year that broke records for heat and sunshine, and delivered notably low acidities (total acidity averaging around 5.9 g/l, with malic acid largely negligible). Crucially, however, 2018 avoided the damaging heat spikes seen in vintages such as 2003 and 2015, when vines shut down photosynthesis and ripening became uneven. Going in, I expected a softer, perhaps less vibrant profile. That wasn’t the case. The wines showed
videoBollinger La Grande Annee 2018 launch
https://thefinestbubble.com/champagne-bollinger-la-grande-annee-2018-75cl An exceptional evening in the village of Aÿ as Champagne Bollinger unveiled La Grande Année 2018, marking the first chapter in its journey towards its bicentenary in 2029. We moved from the Maison’s historic cellars to the newly inaugurated oak barrel cellar overlooking Clos Saint-Jacques, one of the two historic Vieilles Vignes Françaises vineyards. Along the way, demonstrations of hand riddling and disgorgement, tasting
videoTasting the New Release Laurent-Perrier Brut Vintage 2018
https://thefinestbubble.com/champagne-laurent-perrier-brut-vintage-2018-75cl Today, the new release of Laurent-Perrier Brut Vintage 2018 This is the 32nd vintage in the houses iconic 'Crest Bottle'. The 2018 year started cold particularly February with some snowfall. By April the sunshine emerged leading to flowering at the end of May, some 10 days ahead of the 10 year average. Summer was hot and mostly dry with harvest starting on 20th August and lasted some 4 weeks. The lower night time temper
videoThe new release, Dom Perignon Vintage 2017
https://thefinestbubble.com/champagne-dom-perignon-vintage-2017-75cl Last night i treated myself to the new release of Dom Perignon 2017. I remember tasting the 2017 vins clairs in spring 2018 during my annual visit to Champagne with Essi Avellan MW, reviewing the harvest with a wide range of producers. In 2017, quality hinged on vineyard decisions: producers who identified clean parcels early, moved quickly, and accepted losses elsewhere were able to make good wines through strict selection, wh
videoCharles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires Blanc de Blancs 2017 with Cellar Master Emilien Erard
https://thefinestbubble.com/champagne-charles-heidsieck-blanc-des-millenaires-blanc-de-blancs-2017-75cl Launch of Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires Blanc de Blancs 2017 with Cellar Master Emilien Erard An absolute masterpiece from the Côte des Blancs, this cuvée spends eight years maturing in the heart of Charles Heidsieck's two-thousand-year-old chalk cellars. This is unusual as three winemakers all contributed to the finished champagnes; Thierry Roset was the winemaker who made the base
videoNick Baker sits down to taste the new release Krug 2013
https://thefinestbubble.com/champagne-krug-2013-75cl Krug 2013 , after 10 years ageing in the cellars, was finally released in 2026 having been disgorged late 2024. Krug 2013 is a captivating and wonderfully fresh blend of Pinot Noir (41%), Chardonnay (38%) and Meunier (21%). The 2013 winemaking year proved a welcome reconnection with the glorious past of late harvest vintages. After a cold, wet winter, spring was grey, quite cool and extremely rainy. The vines began budding about two weeks late
videoPart 2: The New Release of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Iteration No27
https://thefinestbubble.com/champagne-laurent-perrier-grand-siecle-iteration-no-27-75cl Nick Baker and Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt taste the new release of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Iteration number 27. Grand Siècle Iteration 27 This release is a blend of 2015 – 65% | 2013 – 25% | 2012 – 10% From June 2019, new releases of Laurent-Perrier Grande Siecle MV have been labelled by their Iteration number on the neck of the bottle identifying the three vintages comprising the prestige cuvée. This
videoPart 1: The Concept of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle
Nick Baker discusses the Grand Siecle concept with Lucie Pereyre de Nonancourt as today sees the release of Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Iteration number 27. The idea of Grand Siècle was born from a simple observation: that nature would never provide the perfect oenological year, but that thanks to the art of assemblage, Laurent-Perrier could in fact create it. Always a blend of three exceptional vintages that perfectly complement each other, Grand Siècle was launched in 1959 as a blend of 1952,
videoThe Friday Bubble - New Release Charles Heidsieck Cuvee Champagne Charlie BV19 NV
https://thefinestbubble.com/champagne-charles-heidsieck-cuvee-champagne-charlie-base-vintage-2019-nv-75cl Today on The Friday Bubble, the new release of Charles Heidsieck Cuvee Champagne Charlie BV19 NV. Daniel Thibault joined CH in 1976 brought in by Joseph Henriot who purchased the company in 1976, Daniel was quick to work on a plan to create Champagne Charlie as a tribute to founder and introduce a "prestige cuvee" into the Charles Heidsieck portfolio. With a long experience shaping the Charl
videoKrug & Max Richter, An evening to remember.
Without question, one of the most extraordinary evenings in recent memory. Krug partnered with renowned British composer and pianist Max Richter to take us on a transcendent musical journey. In truth, it felt less like a concert and more like stepping onto another planet, an entirely different atmosphere, meticulously crafted for total immersion and a tasting experience unlike anything I’ve encountered. The celebration brought together three parts of their 2008 vintage, firstly the focussed Clos
videoTasting New Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir Octagon Block 2022 vs 2018 with winemaker Liam Idzikowski
Today we are back at Danbury Ridge Winery in Essex with Richard Bampfield MW and winemaker Liam Idzikowski tasting their latest release Danbury Ridge Pinot Noir Octagon Block 2022 Danbury Ridge was founded by two generations of the Bunker family: Michael and Heather Bunker and, their daughters Janine and Sophie. The first vines were planted in 2014 with a focus on identifying Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones which could best exploit the unique mesoclimate. After just a few seasons the vines were
videoTasting latest release Danbury Ridge Chardonnay Octagon Block 2022 with winemaker Liam Idzikowski
Today we are back at Danbury Ridge Winery in Essex with Richard Bampfield MW and winemaker Liam Idzikowski tasting their latest release from their Octagon Block, Chardonnay 2022. Danbury Ridge was founded by two generations of the Bunker family: Michael and Heather Bunker and, their daughters Janine and Sophie. The first vines were planted in 2014 with a focus on identifying Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones which could best exploit the unique mesoclimate. After just a few seasons the vines were
videoThe Friday Bubble - The new release of Charles Heidsieck Brut Millesime 2018 with Elise Losfelt
Today we celebrate the release of Charles Heidsieck Brut Millesime and Rose Millesime 2018 as we sit down with Chef de Cave Elise Losfelt. Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésimé 2018 is a blend of six Grands Crus and Premiers Crus meticulously selected by the House, expressing magnificent minerality, intensity and acidity. This exceptional cuvée was aged for ten years in Gallo-Roman Crayères. True to the Charles Heidsieck style, Millésimé 2018 already displays all the elegance and power of an outstand
videoTasting Danbury Ridge Solstice NV with Winemaker Liam Idzikowski and Richard Bampfield MW
Today we are back at Danbury Ridge Winery in Essex with Richard Bampfield MW and winemaker Liam Idzikowski tasting the new release Danbury Ridge Solstice 1st Edition Danbury Ridge was founded by two generations of the Bunker family: Michael and Heather Bunker and, their daughters Janine and Sophie. The first vines were planted in 2014 with a focus on identifying Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones which could best exploit the unique mesoclimate. After just a few seasons the vines were producing gra
videoThe Friday Bubble - Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Iteration 24 in Magnum & Brut Vintage 2007 Magnum
Today on The Friday Bubble, the release of Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle Iteration No 24 MV in Magnum & Brut Vintage 2007 Magnum as we sit down with Grand Siecle Brand Ambassador David Hesketh MW and Global Director Edouard Cossy. Always a blend of three exceptional vintages that perfectly complement each other, Grand Siècle was launched in 1959 as a blend of 1952, 1953 and 1955. One year is chosen for structure, one for finesse and one for freshness, creating a unique combination of power and ba