The Humble Gourmand

As I write this, I am about to embark on a journey to ye Olde World. By the time you’re reading it, I’ll be at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich — but I wanted to write from the perspective of my naïve palate on the eve of sampling some of the finest Champagnes in the world.

Such an occasion warrants a shameless proliferation of Champagne propaganda.

You see, I started drinking sparkling wine just like anyone else, the unsuspecting Padawan consuming a bottle of Andre on a frigid New England New Years’ Eve, but something about it touched me. I don’t know if it was because Americans typically reserve sparkling wine for special occasions, or if I just really liked its dry, fizzy texture. I was hooked from Day One.

As my palate evolved and I tried new wines, I found myself enjoying somewhat pricier sparklings — even though Piper Sonoma and Cristalino remained some of my favorites — but I never spent more than $15 for a bottle of sparkling wine. I didn’t see the point.

That all changed when, about two months ago, my beloved wine shop offered a pretty ridiculous sale on Champagnes (real Champanges) that otherwise would have been out of my price range. I still spent plenty more than I ordinarily would have, but I acquired a bottle of Perrier-Jouet for not much more than I’d spend on a splurge bottle, and the splurge was well worth it.

Some people would argue that spending more than $15 or $20 on a bottle of wine is ludicrous. Some of the same folks I’ve heard utter those words would easily spend $300 or $400 on a pair of shoes or a designer handbag. To those folks, I ask, what’s the difference? A quality handbag may worth the price because you’ll have it forever. Okay, I agree with that. But what differentiates a quality handbag from a cheap knockoff?

Two words: materials and craftsmanship.

When you consider those two words, you can’t avoid becoming a supporter of “moderately” priced Champagne. A bottle of Perrier-Jouet, Mumm, or Taittinger all run $30-$50 a bottle. In the end, it comes down to materials and craftsmanship. These Champagnes are made with the finest, most carefully picked grapes and handled with unbelievable care, from picking to pressing to the final product in the bottle. I guarantee that in a blind taste test, you can detect the difference. A sip of Piper Sonoma is positively lovely, but take that first sip of Perrier Jouet and you can’t help but say, “Wow.”

Such an utterance escaped my lips as I sipped my first glass of Perrier Jouet. While I don’t have the intention (or the budget) to make a habit of it, I truly believe that buying that “next step up” bottle is well worth the extra money. While the bottle may not last as long as a well-crafted leather handbag, the sensual heights to which it will bring your taste buds will evoke memories that haunt for months — even years — to come.

1. AGSmith

   May 2 10:37 a.m. 1

   Love the article! xoxo