Champagne Recommendation?

Robin,

I recently read a blog-posting about Grower Champagnes, with a number of recommendations. (All: These wonderful bubblies are produced by those who also grow their own grapes- in Champagne, most wines are made by large companies from grapes purchased from growers.) We are going to a special dinner party New Years's Eve and would really like to take one of them if we can find one in town. (Pierre Peters Brut Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru if possible).

Any ideas on where in town might actually have some (or even one) of these small house bubblies?

Deb

[Robin Garr]

Any ideas on where in town might actually have some (or even one) of these small house bubblies?

Deb, they're pretty common nowadays, and I like them too, although given the rigorous quality standards in Champagne, I don't know that the difference between "farmer fizz" and the big house brands (many of which have come under the international corporate umbrella of Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessey in recent years) is huge. It's all good stuff, and with the strong Euro, you'll pay for it.

You probably know the trick of looking for the small-print initials "RM" ("Récoltant Manipulant") on the label. The other trick is that virtually all the "farmer fizz" that gets to Louisville is imported by Michael Skurnik of NY and has the name "Terry Theise" on the importer label.

Anyway, long story short, Old Town on Bardstown and Liquor Barn in Springhurst always has a bunch, and Gemelli on Brownsboro ought to have at least a few. Specific brands vary because so much of this stuff is limited production, but the week before New Year's, everyone should be well-stocked.

Deb,
You may also want to try Evergreen Liquors on Shelbyville Road at the corner of Evergreen in Middletown. They have a pretty good stock of champagnes. If you don't see what you're looking for ask, they have a back room with some of the higher end wines but you have to know what you're looking for, for them to get it!

I haven't had as good of luck with Liquor Barn recently but they're certainly certainly worth checking, especially the one in Springhurst.

If you can't find what you're looking for you may want to try Grande Dame, it's one of our favorites.

Hi Deb,

Just wanted to let you know that we've currently got 5 different grower champagnes in stock here at the Wine Shop @ Whole Foods and it just so happens that they're the subject of our Thursday tasting this week. So if you'd like to try a bunch of them you should stop in between 5 - 7 tomorrow. This a catagory that all of us who work here (all 3!) are really excited about right now, so it'll be fun.

Thanks,

Paul