good luck deluxe

Speaking of champagne…well, sparkling wine, to be more exact for my champagne purists…

I’ve had the very recent joy of imbibing a friendly, fruity-patooty sparkling wine called Sofia Blanc de Blancs that is produced by (you guessed it!) Sofia Coppola.

At first I was extremely hesitant to try this adult beverage, because it also comes in (gasp!) cans. Don’t believe me?

L’evidence…

Since I initially considered the concept to be lame, my knee-jerk reaction was to immediately decline the can’s invite.

However, this vino obviously had a thing for me, because it found me at a dinner party. I downed my chilled Sofia Blanc de Blancs with a light dinner, and savored a glass of it afterwards. Yes, you have my permission to crack open a can and pour it into a wine glass.

I’m now a fan forever.

WineGlobe.com describes this sparkling wine as follows:

Sofia Blanc de Blancs is a sophisticated sparkling wine, lower in alcohol, and perfect for every celebration. A unique blend of Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscat, it offers delicate aromatics, subtle flavors and light effervescence all packaged with striking, feminine flair. Enjoy Sofia Blanc de Blancs as an aperitif with tapenade-topped crostini or with a meal of spicy Asian food, bouillabaisse (seafood stew) or grilled tuna.

The 2005 Sofia Blanc de Blancs releases a seductive perfume of ripe apricot, tangerine and pear. Summer melon and zesty lemon highlight the bright palate that finishes with subtle honeysuckle. Vibrant and crisp.

This is a new casual staple for me. Very few inexpensive sparkling wines “do” it for me, but this one does.

I never thought I’d use such a cheesy phrase (ever!), but I heart it.

Absolutely heart it!

I have the perfect ingredient for making your next Bellini cocktail: iced white peach purée!

Delivered frozen to your door, your order from The Perfect Purée of Napa Valley is ready to swirl into soups and sauces, blend into fabulous cocktails, or spoon over simple desserts for an elegant touch. The only limit is your imagination, folks.

To make an easy Bellini, just drop a nice dollop of this purée in the bottom of your champagne flute. Pour some Prosecco or your favorite bubbly over the purée and
sip yourself silly.

These gorgeous cherries in Kirsch (brandy) have to be tasted to be believed.

Famous throughout the world by the most famous chefs for their freshness and their refined taste, these Morello cherries have been pitted and prepared using a secret French recipe that has been safeguarded for years.

Savor delicious Griottines any time of day…add to desserts, aperitifs and cocktails and turn every event into a celebration!

The most ideal way to savor these sumptuous cherries is slightly warmed and spooned over premium vanilla ice cream. That’s not my favorite way…I say it’s the only way!

Sometimes when a trendy drink product or cocktail comes out, it makes a big splash for a week while the promotion lasts, but a month later, everyone calls it ghetto and that’s the end of it.

So what is Lichido?

Lichido is a 36 proof lychee liqueur made with vodka, cognac, lychee and guava essences and white peach juice. It is imported from the French city of Cognac.

Ask for a Lichido martini the next time you’re out. Look sofistokated.

I love these handcrafted winebags from India!

Kalamkari is an Indian craft tradition that has been passed down for over 3000 years in which the colors are created using natural vegetable dyes. These winebags are also available in maroon.

Lovely!

Lotus, by the League of Artisans (LOA), is a company whose focus is providing quality merchandise that is handmade by Indian artisans, and thus supporting fair trade.

Per the site…
LOA’s mission is to create a unifying platform to build sustainable business enterprises in the craft sector in India.

Over 20 million artisans in India work in the handicrafts sector. Most of them live below the poverty line and in the country’s most remote areas. They are forced to sell their crafts through middlemen, and often earn less than 5% of the end price of their goods.

Our goal is to use the League of Artisans platform to create sustainable livelihoods for these underprivileged artisans – particularly tribal, rural, and women artisans – and thereby, improve their economic and living conditions.

Responsible, charitable luxury is a win-win situation!

Forget about drinking mass-produced wines that taste like vinegar.
Say sayonara to sipping Cab and Shiraz that Stephen, Maria, Seth, Maurice, Emily and everybody else is drinking.

Doesn’t your palate deserve more specialized, unique wines that are geared specifically toward pleasing your own individual pucker?

Introducing Montesquieu, your attentive personal wine broker!

In their own words…

For over 400 years, Montesquieu has celebrated small production, boutique wines and family vineyards. We pride ourselves in discovering hidden gems - vineyard properties steeped in tradition and from which the wine is a reflection of the terroir and local culture. We promise you won’t find the same names and vintages here that you find everywhere else.

There are hundreds of family owned vineyards all over the world that have been passed down from generation to generation. Typically, their wines never make it to the United States.

Often, these wineries only produce a limited amount of wine, less than 500 cases. In fact, sometimes we come across an absolutely amazing wine with a run of just 40 to 50 cases. While major U.S. importers may overlook them, these small quantity runs are what we seek out and choose to represent. If you’re among the fortunate few lucky enough to acquire these wines, we promise that you’ll experience a true work of art!

Our Wines

Every time you open a bottle of handcrafted wine, you’re also unleashing the passion and love of an artist, the winemaker.

Since our primary focus is to specialize in wines that reflect the terroir and vision of the winemaker, Montesquieu does not represent wines that are mass-produced. Every wine we carry is typically produced in less than 1000 cases, and often less than 500 cases.
On occasion, we release special selections of under 100 cases.

Of course, not all wines are created equal, small production does not always result in a wine that is delicious and pleasing to the palate. That is where our team of wine buyers comes in. Our buyers not only seek small producers, they also are highly selective about which wines we will ultimately decide to carry. So rest assured that every bottle will be of the highest quality.

* Boutique wines - 1,000 or less cases produced.
* Exclusive wines – You can serve wine that no one else does – Our wines are not mass-distributed and are difficult to locate in shops.
* Personalized service - Be the first to find out about new releases, new vintages and happenings in the world of wine.
* Savings – We import, source and distribute our wines ourselves – you only pay for fine wine.
* Selection – Our tasting team will sometimes sample 100 wines to find one that we would like to share with you. You can be confident that our wines are the highest quality.

About Your Wine Broker

Your personal wine sommelier. Your wine guru. Your vintage valet. Whatever you call your Montesquieu wine broker, you’ll come to appreciate their love of wine and knowledge.

There are always so many new vintages, new releases and happenings in the wine business, that it’s hard to keep track of everything. But you can count on your wine broker to give you the inside knowledge about all things wine.

Your broker will come to know your favorites, your interests, and even your palate to complete your cellar. And unlike a wine club, you’re free to choose what wines you want, when you want them.

So if you’re a collector, your wine broker can place you on the list of special releases, small lots and auction wines. Or if you simply want to learn more about the world of wine, there’s no better way to start.

I am SO game for this concept. My goblet is ready!

I really don’t have anything profound to say regarding Perrier Jouët champagne except:

1. It should be no surprise that I love these pretty flower-designed bottles.

2. There are two Perrier Jouët champagnes that I am excited to try:

1999 Brut Fleur de Champagne Blanc de Blancs

Wally Wine describes the Fleur de Champagne Blanc de Blancs as follows: Very pale color. Lemon drop, apricot and earth, with a light gamey complexity. Ripe, supple, intense. Lemon ice flavor, plus more exotic notes of mango and apricot.

1999 Brut Fleur de Champagne Rosé

…and this rosé champagne as such: Pale salmon color. Smoky aromas of strawberry, raspberry, and earth. Strawberry flavor offers moderate depth, nuance, and verve. The transparency of the magnificent bottle reveals the eye-catching
pink tone!

Well, I know what I’ll be drinking this New Year’s Eve!

And you thought the top-shelf rum you were drinking was really something! It has NOTHING on my favorite — Mount Gay Barbados Rum — the oldest and BEST rum in the world.

You better get a pen and take notes, son!

MOUNT GAY’S UNIQUE CRAFTSMANSHIP
The process by which all Mount Gay Rums are created - a marriage of artistic creativity and sciences - is close to the traditional Golden rum manufacturing process. However, Mount Gay Distilleries’ unique craftsmanship derives from other producers by five unique and distinctive elements:

- The best molasses
- The purest coral water
- A unique distillation process
- Aging in Kentucky oak barrel
- The art of our ‘Master-blender’

THE RANGE

ECLIPSE illustrates the art of Barbadian and Caribbean rum. Created in 1910, its luminous, golden amber glow and distinct floral and spicy notes have pleased, ever since, the palates of connoisseurs the world over. Its subtle, balanced blend perfectly harmonizes taste and aroma. Ideal in long drinks or cocktails, it can also be enjoyed on the rocks or neat.

EXTRA OLD, in its category, is the reference of the rum world. It is a masterful blend of the finest, aged spirits, selected attentively amongst the oldest reserves with a resulting maturity of 17 years. The force of its oak aromas is softened by its sweet, fruity notes, reminiscent of pastry and bananas. Easily identified thanks to its traditional label and its malt whisky type bottle, its magnificent luminosity, dark amber colour and extreme clarity are the key qualities of this rum. The result of many years of meticulous development, EXTRA OLD has received several Grand Gold Medals and Trophies from the highly respected International Institute for Quality competition.

Alongside these two exceptional references, Mount Gay Rum also offers a
PREMIUM WHITE RUM for a selected market, very much appreciated by the Barbadians, as well as a reputed SUGAR CANE BRANDY. This pure rum was named at a time when the unique blend had such a high percentage of double distillate that its characteristics resembled those of brandy.

Two other products highlight the brand’s innovation with premium and natural flavours such as MOUNT GAY VANILLA and MOUNT GAY MANGO.

I’m all over the Mount Gay Mango!

It’s time to put away the baby formula and drink an ADULT rum.

I have a preposterous, unscientific theory that whatever continent a person’s genetics predominantly originate from, that person will have a natural inclination and predisposition toward things of that region. Not always, but usually.

I readily admit that my crackpot theory may not even be true, so there’s no need to fuss with me about it. It’s just something that I like to believe.

I’ve already told you I’m not a big wine drinker, but of all the wines of the world,
South African wine sits best with my body composition. I can stomach this regional wine, it doesn’t give me a headache, and it doesn’t make me nauseous. I prefer the taste, texture, and aroma of it! It just feels right for me, and it pairs so well with the Afro-Caribbean food that I love!

Kumala South African wines are casual, fruit-forward, easy-drinking wines with bold varietal flavor. Produced from fruit grown in the ancient soils of South Africa’s Western Cape, Kumala is the perfect way to introduce your friends and family to South Africa’s rich history of wine making.

A casual South African wine to entice your sense of discovery and adventure, Kumala wines feature four varietals that offer something different from other New World wine regions. An upfront Chardonnay, a classic Cabernet, a rich Merlot, a fruit-intense Shiraz, and a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc are grown from the ground up in the Western Cape of South Africa.

The Kumala web site features a fabulous instruction guide to wine tasting that you may find useful.

As for food pairing with Kumala wines…

Kumala Pairing Table

The following table outlines general dishes that are well suited for Kumala’s
South African wine varietals:

Kumala Chardonnay - Upfront citrus aromas and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, stone and tropical fruit flavors are well balanced. Crisp acidity is refreshing and enhances the bright lemon and toast flavors that persist on the finish. White meats,
light pastas, pastas in cream sauce, white fish, shellfish, and mild cheeses go well with this wine.

Kumala Cabernet Sauvignon - Classic Cabernet aromas of cassis and blackberry abound with an underlying note of spice. Juicy black currant and berry flavors run through the long finish. Tannins are firm and ripe. Steak, ribs, lamb, hamburgers, or bleu cheese pair excellently with this beverage.

Kumala Merlot - Enticing aromas of soft plum are lightly accented with dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine is rich with blackberry, plum and black currant flavors; tannins are smooth and supple. Steak, ribs, and aged cheeses are a good match for this Merlot.

Kumala Shiraz - Ripe red and black berry fruit aromas are followed by rich fruit flavors with peppery spice and a smokiness on the finish. Steaks, grilled lamb chops, barbecued ribs, and pizza are divine when matched with this lovely Shiraz.

I’m making myself hungry…and thirsty!

Champagne is a beautiful beverage.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, or better known as Veuve Clicquot (Vuhv Klee-KOH), is even lovelier!

I recently read an interview featuring one of Veuve Clicquot’s top execs, where she said something to the effect of there are always reasons to drink champagne. I agree! Champagne makes everything a celebration. Life should be celebrated!

I am one of those folks who can most certainly tell the difference between cheap bubbly and the real deal. I can detect Veuve Clicquot even by smell. There is nothing like it. So imagine my delight when I discovered the following goodies for Veuve loyalists!

eClicquot is a marvelous Veuve Clicquot online store that features all things Veuve: a key chain, ice jacket, umbrella, robe…even a Veuve Clicquot pen!

But it’s THIS baby that prompted me to create this Veuve Clicquot post today:

A Veuve Clicquot travel case. Yes indeed!