Richard Geoffroy speaking to audiences in London, Hong Kong, Paris, New York and Tokyo via hologram.

There are many places one could wear a sleek blue suit.

For Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave for Dom Pérignon, that place just happened to be a hologram.

Geoffroy, the tall handsome scion of a long line of Côte des Blanc winegrowers, was transformed into a foot-high digital version of himself for Dom Pérignon’s unveiling of its 2003 vintage. Geoffroy’s shimmering image was beamed simultaneously to press conferences in London, Paris, Tokyo, New York, and Hong Kong, where myself and other reporters watched in rapt attention as he declared, “Yes, there is a Dom Pérignon 2003 and I am very proud to show you this wine today.”

Perhaps the simple announcement of a vintage should hardly warrant a presentation worthy of Star Trek, but 2003 was not just your average year and this Dom Pérignon was not your average vintage.

“The year 2003 has remained in the collective memory of all wine producers in France, and in the Champagne region.” explained Geoffroy at the press conference.

“It is a vintage that was a real challenge to create. The frost… will forever leave their mark on the people of Champagne. There was a small harvest, especially in the Chardonnay areas, and then a really hot, blistering summer.”

These circumstances discouraged several houses to produce limited quantities of wine and champagne — if at all. But Dom Pérignon pushed full steam ahead.

“For us, creating (this) vintage has always been more than just positioning. It is a commitment, more philosophical than just knowing how to deal with climate constraints, whether they are moderate or extreme like in 2003. [It was about] taking this constraint and turning the challenge into a chance of greatness for Dom Pérignon.”

Geoffroy’s poetic words about a glass of bubbly could easily fly right over the head of those, like myself, with a simple palette. And yet, once the audience finally got their chance to sample the delicious vintage, we understood.

Like a selection of suits for the presentation, producing a 2003 vintage was the right choice.

Source: Zandile Blay Founder of The Blay Report.com
Read the original article by Blay via Huffington Post: Click Here

What is the most impressive way to open a bottle of champagne? I present you The Noble Art of Sabrage

History

Sabrage is the technique of opening / beheading a Champagne bottle with a sword or a Saber. It's origins have been traced back to the Napoleonic Era and practiced to celebrate victory.

In those days the wire ‘cage’ around the cork was very tough and not easy to remove. After doing battle, the cavalry were hot, thirsty and also in a hurry to quench their thirst, which is what led to this impressive technique.

Technique

Sabrage is done with a slicing action rather than a chopping one. The sabre is slid along the body of the bottle towards the neck and the force of the blade hitting the lip (called the annulus) breaks the glass to separate the collar from the neck of the bottle. Due to the high pressure inside the bottle the cork shoots out at high speed and can travel quite far. The inside pressure of a typical traditional method sparkling wine bottle is around 5-6 atmospheres – the same amount of pressure as the tyres on a London double-decker bus.

One must be very careful to remember to slide rather than chop. Chopping the neck of the bottle will shatter a cold pressurised bottle, deluging the area and, what is very sad, leaving one with no wine to drink. A baptism of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is perhaps nothing to complain about however.

Safety

One should be extremely careful regarding the safety of others (and oneself!) when attempting this ceremony. Whilst there is no risk of glass falling into the bottle because of the pressure of the wine, the cork and annulus at the top of the bottle fly at some speed. Always point the bottle away from yourself and anyone else in the vicinity.

Armand de Brignac

After hearing of this new champagne, I was compelled to check it out for myself.  Colloquially known as the “Ace of Spades,” Armand de Brignac champagne indeed proves that it is the best champagne currently available.

Last year Armand de Brignac made an appearance January 26, 2010 at The Eldridge when Solagne Knowles hosted a benefit for Haiti, where she danced and DJed alongside sister Beyonce and an entourage of friends, including Jay-Z, Michelle Williams, Andre Harrell, Steve Stoute, and Daniel Merriweather.

The brand got its first taste of fame in 2006 when Jay-Z broke off relations with Cristal and hailed Armand his new (unofficial) go-to champagne, even featuring it in his music video.  But why did Jay-Z pick Armand?

Apparently Armand has rightfully earned their steep $300 price tag.  In a blind taste-test of 1,000 different champagne brands with wine critics and sommeliers, Armand was ranked the No.1 champagne in the world.  The champagnes were rated on a 100-point scale, and if they were less than four points apart they were re-tasted and re-tested etc., and in conclusion, Armand beat out many of the great names that you’ll recognize from this list:

The Top Ten:
1. 96p – Armand de Brignac Brut Gold
2. 95p – 2000 Dom Pérignon
3. 94p – 1998 Mumm Cuvée R. Lalou
4. 94p – 2002 Roederer Cristal
5. 94p – 2000 Egerier de Pannier
6. 94p – 1998 Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill
7. 93p – 1998 Dom Pérignon Rosé
8. 93p – 1999 Jacquart Blanc de Blancs
9. 93p – 2002 Roederer Cristal Rosé
10. 93p – NV Chartogne-Taillet Fiacre

The entire champagne-production process is lead by Jean-Jacques Cattier and his son, Alexandre Cattier.  There are eight others who round out the  traditional hand labor-intensive methods.  The Cattier family has owned and cultivated vineyards in the prestigious Montagne de Reims terroir of the French Champagne region since 1763, taking every care and precaution to ensure that each bottle is made to perfection.  Therein lies their long-standing family tradition and the secret to their superior and unmatched quality.

Inspired by famed French fashion designer André Courrèges each metallic bottle is crafted entirely by hand featuring two Ace of Spades insignias and four hand-applied pewter labels.  The bottle is then housed in a black wooden case embossed with the champagne’s royal crest.  Each box is lined in velvet and fitted with an engraved nameplate reflecting grand style and perfectly housing the elegant champagne within.  Each bottle is truly a work of art and is a worthy gift to bestow upon a loved one.

One may choose of three bottles: Brut Gold,  Rosé, and Blanc de Blancs.