Advice on champagne

[medhead]

A free plug for Bernadette. I have just received an email announcing her new improved iPhone app
Champagne consultant.
I have just upgraded.

Got it. Bit unimpressed with the layout issues. Also no Dom.

 

[puppysparkes]

http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/wa-ne...-the-physics-of-champagne-20131224-2zw0t.html

If you're unlucky enough to get hit in the face by an errant champagne cork this Christmas, console yourself with the fact that it could be a lot worse.
Scientists have discovered that the energy that launches the cork across the room accounts for only 5 per cent of the total energy released when opening a bottle of bubbly.
The vast majority of the energy is dissipated as sound - the famous pop as the carbon dioxide forces the cork out of the bottle's neck.
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The study, by French scientists (of course), showed that this ratio remains the same regardless of whether the champagne is served chilled or - quelle horreur! - at room temperature.
But the cork's speed, and the amount of carbon dioxide released, both increase with temperature, reported Gérard Liger-Belair of the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne and his colleagues.
The researchers opened bottles of champagne at 4C, 12C and 18C, and used high-speed infra-red imaging to study the cloud of carbon dioxide released when the cork pops.
At 4C, the cork is launched at just under 40km/h, while at 18C its muzzle velocity is almost 55km/h, the researchers reported in the Journal of Food Engineering.
As any connoisseur knows, champagne is best drunk between 7C and 9C. And the results show that, besides being a crime against good taste, warm champagne is a greater injury risk because the cork flies out at a higher velocity.
"Every year, the combination of warm bottles of champagne or sparkling wines with careless cork-removal technique results in serious eye injuries and even permanent vision loss," Professor Liger-Belair and his colleagues wrote.
It's no surprise that the explosion packs a punch, given that a standard 75 cl (750mL) champagne bottle is crammed with the equivalent of 5 litres of carbon dioxide.
Sugar added late in the fermentation process turns into carbon dioxide inside the sealed bottles, forming a 'supersaturated' solution that generates bubbles when the pressure is released.
The researchers also pointed out that it is possible to open a champagne bottle more gently, by releasing the cork gradually rather than firing it across the room.
However, even the experts admit that popping the cork is more fun. "Even if it is far safer to uncork a bottle of champagne with a subdued sigh, most of us would admit to having popped open a bottle of champagne with a bang," the researchers wrote.
In fact, seemingly the only question left unanswered by their research paper is what happened to all the leftover champagne after their experiment.

 

[Buzzard]

Now I know how to win the "longest distance champagne cork" competition...... warm champers!

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Christmas Day : 10 kilos of Moreton Bay Bugs, 12 kilos of local prawns, 2 roast turkeys, 2 roast beef, countless sides and 3 bottles of Taittinger NV. Bliss.

 

[tgh]

I'm not the bubbly consumer in the family.. but my quick tastes of all 3 tells me that the pricing is a fair reflection of where they are at..

Piper @ $45+? something…LA at $28? and Vinomofo's much hyped Bisou Bisou at $15 ..

Instead of opening a Mumm , I managed to get a steady champer drinker to help with the Louis last night .. a day wine was the exec summary..

 

[Buzzard]

Christmas Day : 10 kilos of Moreton Bay Bugs, 12 kilos of local prawns, 2 roast turkeys, 2 roast beef, countless sides and 3 bottles of Taittinger NV. Bliss.

Hope you invited guests :shock:

 

[RB]

Christmas Day : 10 kilos of Moreton Bay Bugs, 12 kilos of local prawns, 2 roast turkeys, 2 roast beef, countless sides and 3 bottles of Taittinger NV. Bliss.

Must have been a lot of non-drinkers?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Must have been a lot of non-drinkers?

3 of us were drinking

 

[Deleted User]

While not a big fan of the Moët, Liquorland have Moët & Chandon Brut Impérial 2 for $99...

Now while not the best price in it's own right, used with Mr's Shintaro's staff discount card, and paid for with Amex with the current promotion of $20 credit on purchases $50 and above... The nett price works out to around $37 per bottle...

Should be fine to drink at midnight on New Year's celebrations, after the really "good" bubbles has been depleted...

Dear Cardmember,

Congratulations! You have completed all the qualifying transactions on your registered Card ending in *******.

Your $20 credit back for spending over $50 at Liquorland will be issued to registered Card account.

Statement credits are generally issued within 5 business days upon completion of your eligible transaction.

 

[drewbles]

Doesn't everyone travel with an SM kit? Like your AMEX, never leave home without it.

There's always a BevMo! nearby (in CA at least)

 

[drewbles]

Christmas Day : 10 kilos of Moreton Bay Bugs, 12 kilos of local prawns, 2 roast turkeys, 2 roast beef, countless sides and 3 bottles of Taittinger NV. Bliss.

I see a *fatal* flaw here...

*only* three bottles?

3 of us were drinking

My comment stands

 

[Deleted member]

Got it. Bit unimpressed with the layout issues. Also no Dom.

Yep. The list is a bit sparse. I suspect with more sign ups a greater range will ensue. Also I agree with he layout issue

 

[Keith009]

Just a tasting note on today's consumption:

2008 André Clouet Champagne Brut Millésimé

Nose of brioche, Mayer lemon, hints of stone fruit, under ripe pineapple. Velvety mousse, with citrus tones, balanced acid and a decent length finish. Super balanced wine that will get even better with time. 92 points.

We had this with dinner at St Crispin in Collingwood. It was really lovely. Agree with your tasting notes, lots of grapefruit flavours.

Also a shoutout to Franck Pascal Reliance, a biodynamic champagne we had with lunch at coughulus Inc. Lots of minerality and fresh citrus balanced with a hint of toasted brioche and almonds.

Great wine shop that specialises in smaller champagne producers - Blackhearts & Sparrows in Windsor (there's also one in Fitzroy I think). The champagne bar at the Lyall in South Yarra is also a nice place for a great variety of champagnes served by the glass.

Back home in Brisbane we have had good dealings with the Wine Emporium for stuff we can't get at DM's.

 

[Katie]

For those in Brisbane ( or doing a status run up this way) you can log on to Bernadette O'Shea's web site and sign up for one of her many her champagne courses. I can heartily recommend it, she would be one of the foremost champagne authorities in the world and most certainly in Australia. It was both entertaining and educational.
She ( was ) running a champagne Thursday club at the Belle Époque in Brisbane where a variety of fabulous champagnes could be bought by the glass , not sure what her plans for 2014 are in that dept.

Bernadette was a great help to us in planning our trip to Champagne and which houses to visit with the ILs in 2011. We were treated very well by three of the four houses she arranged visits with, and her suggestions really helped us enjoy our time there.
Sounds like we should catch up and talk about fizzy drinks, GPH!

 

[vitagen]

Wanna come to Per.

 

[vitagen]

I'm keen for an aff do Where We All bring a quality bottle and share

 

[Sprucegoose]

I've just discovered that the thing we don't have is a Champagne Stopper........ maybe we have always drank the whole bottle :shock:

When you get a stopper you recognise you have an issue...

 

[Deleted User]

When you get a stopper you recognise you have an issue...

Exactly... My Mother once said, if you can't get the cork back in, it has to be drunk all in one session...!

Cheers <hic>

 

[rogerkambah]

Exactly... My Mother once said, if you can't get the cork back in, it has to be drunk all in one session...!

Cheers <hic>

Very pragmatic your mum.

 

[The Rok]

I wonder if David Jones will price match on champagne. Currently selling 2003 Dom Perignon for $272, but Dan Murphy's selling it for $198.

It's worth 4 MR points per dollar at DJ's...