A few years ago, a good friend of mine told me that the way you spend NYE will determine the mood and style of the year to come. This revelation came as we were on our way to some fabulously over-priced NYE’s party to toast to the new year in beauty and style.
But underestimating delays courtesy of a little something called LA traffic, we scrambled to get to our destination in a timely manner for the official countdown. Realizing our miscalculation, we quickly concocted a plan B, and for lack of better options decided to detour to Mulholland drive. We pulled over at the top of the canyon, and champagne at hand, welcomed the new year with bubbles and a stunning panoramic view of Los Angeles.
Not quite what we had in mind. But as the saying goes “The best moments always happen unexpectedly.”
So, what kind of year did that very impromptu celebration delivered?
One that was extraordinarily adventurous, unconventional, and quite exciting.
Naturally, I have since developed an obsession about how I spend New years’ eve and go out of my way to ring in the New Year in fabulous company – friends and family members with positive energy, and of course, bottles of bubbly. But not just any bubbly … Champagne s’il vous plait!
Of course, every bottle tells a unique story. Just like there are myriads of different moods and festive atmospheres New Year celebrations can bring, there are as well a variety of champagnes to select from to enhance your chosen theme.
From the traditional House styles, Tête-de-Cuvées, Vintages, Rosés to more unorthodox bottling featuring limited-edition Cuvées showcasing the unique personalities of different grape varieties, parcels, terroirs and millesimes, there is a colorful and “pétillante” palette of champagnes to explore.
For the sake of this article, I will focus on 3 unconventional styles of Champagnes:
100% Meunier Blanc de Noir: As we all know out of the 7 grapes allowed for the elaboration of Champagne, two completely steal the spotlight: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Unfairly, not enough credit is given to Pinot Meunier typically considered the third wheel grape. But because we like to root for the underdog, we’ll sing its praises here by inviting you to try a Blanc de Noirs made with 100% Pinot Meunier.
The emblematic grape variety of the Marne Valley has its unique profile bringing roundness and flavors of bright red fruits with a touch of earthiness. An ideal way to enjoy this style of champagne and fully embrace its smoky, rustic character is by escaping the hustle-bustle of the city to a natural environment, perhaps a retreat or camping site and bid the old year adieu with good friends and/or loved ones.
Brut Nature: also called Zero Dosage or Non-Dosé, are the utmost driest styles of champagnes on the sweetness scale. This champagne either has no sugar added or at the very maximum contains less than 3 grams of sugar per liter of wine. Essentially delivering a champagne in its most natural state, Brut Nature is typically characterized bursting notes of high acidity and high minerality.
The dryness is trenchant but crisp and refreshing, which effectively creates fireworks in your mouth. This style of champagne full of brightness, punch and verve will pair delightfully well with a high energy, high vibration, glowing New Year’s Eve Soirée with exceptional panache and kick. I think of it as the high adrenaline, fun & somewhat erratic “rave” parties of the 80s - it’ll absolutely surpass your party expectations as long as you have the stamina to keep up!
R.D. - an abbreviation of Récemment Dégorgé (Recently Disgorged) - is a term coined (and trademarked) by Madame Lilly Bollinger to denote a champagne that has been kept on its lees for much longer than usual. While RD is intrinsically connected to the Bollinger brand, other Maisons use the term Dégorgement Tardif (aka Late Disgorged).
Dégorgement (disgorgement) is the phase in the champagne making process where the sediments (dead yeasts) collected at the neck of the bottle as a result of the remuage technique are finally removed. R.D., L.D., or D.T. refers to a champagne that has been aged sur pointe (on its lees) for longer than is usual for that particular Maison or Cuvée.
Delaying the disgorgement beyond its “normal” time allows the wine to retain its freshness and vitality, and results in more pronounced flavors elaborating a champagne with character and complexity. A cult champagne, the R.D. style calls for the perfect opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and experiment with something that you've never tried before to give your St Sylvester character and complexity. Whether it is dressing in a flashy, exuberant way when you typically shy away from the spotlight at parties or staying home and indulge in a cozy and quiet evening by yourself instead of giving into your party animal persona, doing something out of the box will add sparkles and effervescence to your New Years’ Eve soirée.
It’s also a great way to boost your self-confidence, self-esteem, and creativity.
And above all, it is a reminder that life is never boring and neither are you.
Whatever you decide to do to ring in the new year and whatever champagne you pop open, just remember to always rise (like a champagne bubble) to the occasion!
Happy New Year!
I absolutely adore reading anything that salutes my favorite bubbly .
May the glasses be raised in memory of good friends and wonderful memories.
May 2022 bring out the best in everyone
love to us all