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| Lunch at l'atmosphere in Reims, salad and wine! |
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| Front of the Cathedral |
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| The top rosette was saved before the cathedral was bombed in WWI. The only original stained glass left. |
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| The view of the cathedral from behind |
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| Above the entry to the catedral |
We spent today walking through Reims. A fairly large city, 200,000 population but it has the feel of a smaller town. This city took a big beating during WWI. Over 80% of the buildings in the city were hit during the war. The town has been rebuilt through donations from the likes of Rockefller, Carnegie and UNESCO. The cathedral is spectacular. Gothic, very tall with wonderful statues. All the stain glass blew out during the war, it was hit over 300 times with bombs, shrapnel, etc. The new stain glass is so unique and beautiful. Really a hidden gem.
We spent most of the afternoon at a champagne tasting. We tasted 5 different champagnes and learned a few important things about champagne. 1) champagne is made with 3 different grapes. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot minure. 2) The champagne region in France has very strong controls over the production even to the point of not allowing them to irrigate. 3) this is important and Brandon you must listen to this...Champagne is bottled at the point when it should be drank. Champagne does not improve with age. It should be drank within 3 years tops of bottling.
So Bran, have a party and enjoy that Dom!
We leave tomorrow for the Alsace region but first we must try more champagne!
True Champagne should be drunk soon after bottling and does not age as well as other wines. BUT, not all wine (including different vintages) are the same. Here is Parker's comment on the '96 Dom...
ReplyDeleteThe brilliant 1996 Dom Perignon, which has largely disappeared from the marketplace, may be the finest young example of DP I have ever tasted. Notes of crushed rocks, honeysuckle, lemon oil, orange marmalade, and white pear provide a stunning aromatic display as well as palate impression. Great acidity and huge flavor intensity backed up by vibrant acidity make this an exquisite Champagne. It should drink well for 20-25 years, possibly longer.
Score: 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (162), December 2005
NOTE: 98 points!!!, I can't wait to drink it, but would have traded it for a round trip ticket to Paris and a Rick Steves tour. :)
Love, B