Gerard Basset on champagnes
Gerard Basset on his 16 favouritechampagnes in Decanter December 2016
He includes 2 of Vine Trail’schampagnes:
Agrapart & Fils,Les 7 Crus NV (£29.67 exc VAT per bt)
This is a grower I’ve followed for a long time and I loveserving Agrapart wines in my restaurant. I have great admiration for its production methods and commitment toexcellence. This is a wine for food, notjust for an aperitif – I’d like to pair it with tuna sashimi and lobstertempura. It has great individualcharacter, but it’s not too crazy. Elegant and intense with beautiful purity of nectarines. Drink 2016-2022. Alc 12%
Ulysse Collin, LesMaillons, Blancs de Noirs NV (POA)
Tasted blind, you’d never think this was Champagne if itweren’t for the bubbles. It shows intriguing clay, wet earth, cured meat andripe quince fruit that’s not heavy at all. It’s a different style of Champagne but not weird – it still has thecharacter you’d expect, but in an original way. A stunning wine with a gorgeous colour that would stand up to rib-eye ofbeef. Champagne lovers should trythis! Drink 2016-2024. Alc 12%