Story by Dwight Casimere
Photos by Michael Kovac
-Golden Globe Nomination Presenters Sofia Vergara and Gerard Butler toast with Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2002 Champagne
-Golden Globe Nomination presenters Sofia Vergara (far left-nominated, Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in Mini-Series or Motion Picture for the TV series “Modern Family) and actor Gerard Butler (2nd left-The Bounty Hunter, How to Train Your Dragon, both 2010) toast the 69th Golden Globe Award nominees with Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Champagne 2002 with fellow presenter, actress Rashida Jones (center)and Moet & Chandon USA vp Ludovic du Plessis(r).
Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 1911 Collector’s Case for auction
Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 2002
Moet & Chandon Imperial
Moet & Chandon USA vp Ludovic du Plessis
Story by Dwight Casimere
Beverly Hills-When this year’s Golden Globe nominations were telecast on live global television, Hollywood Foreign Press Association president, Dr. Aida Takla-O’Reilly and Ludovic du Plessis, vice president of Moet & Chandon USA led the toast with Moet & Chandon 2002 Grand Vintage Champagne ($84.95) at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This year, the Champagne house celebrates 21 years as the Official Champagne of the Golden Globes.
For the first time, Moet & Chandon will serve its Grand Vintage Champagne from customized magnums created especially for the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards. “Grand Vintage 2002 is a remarkable Champagne,” said vice president Ludovic du Plessis. “It honors the past, yet looks forward to the future. Characterized by its aromas of white peach and nectarine and a velvety texture and precise finish, this is an exceptional champagne that mirrors the excellence in execution that the Golden Globes honor in its special awards night.”
Over 1,000 Moët & Chandon Imperial minis and 500 Grand Vintage 2002 magnums will be served on both the red carpet and inside the ballroom totaling over 9,000 glasses of Moët & Chandon enjoyed during one of Hollywood’s biggest nights.
As Christmas and New Year’s Eve approach, Moet & Chandon’s flagship Champagne, Imperial ($27), is expected to be the largest selling Champagne in the world. Imperial, familiar to Champagne lovers around the world, has only recently been introduced to this country, replacing the wildly popular White Star label. Non Vintage Imperial’s reception by both the wine press and the public has been enthusiastic. Venerable wine critic Robert Parker called it “a straightforward, tasty Champagne made in an easygoing style.”
Dwight The Wine Doctor sampled it with a lunch composed of New England Lobster in Tarragon and Truffle Butter and a side of Homemade Linguini with Arugula and Portabello Mushrooms. The results were astounding. Imperial’s innate apple and citrus flavors, combined with its notes of honey on the tongue and crisp ginger aftertaste were the perfect foil to the briny, yet creamy ummami (mouth feel) of the lobster (enhanced with the sauce made with Kerry Gold unsalted Irish butter, a must for cooking!) and the earthy minerality and slight peppery edge of the pasta dish. A Yin/Yang of flavors is created in the mouth. You should really try this dish as a starter for the Holiday meal, especially for ringing in the New Year.
Imperial’s complexity and flavor are unparalleled. It’s value and price to quality ratio is among the highest in the industry. No dosage listing is given. None is needed. Suffice to say that it simply tastes GOOD.
With its rich, soft mouth-filling feel and its clean, sophisticated aftertaste, you cannot find better Champagne for the price!
2011 also marks a Special Event for Moet & Chandon and a milestone in the Champagne house’s history. Celebrating 100 years of its Grand Vintage 1911, Moet & Chandon is using its landmark Champagne in a special way. “We are auctioning off exclusive collector’s cases of Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 1911 in discrete local auctions all over the world with the hopes that each auction would build excitement and bigger donations for the designated charities,” du Plessis said. New York’s auction at Christie’s benefitted The Lunchbox Fund, a not-for-profit organization that is dedicated to improving the lives of students in South African township high schools. “The $66 thousand sale will help them immeasurably,” du Plessis noted.
Moet, according to du Plessis, has the largest Grand Vintage cellar in the world. “We had a limited, yet impressive reserve of 1911, 100 year old Champagne,” du Plessis explained. “The Chef de Cave knew that the 1911 vintage would be superior. In fact, he noted in his book that this was an “Annee Memorable,” a year to remember. With these centenary releases at auction, we not only seek to help those in need, but to also honor the living legacy of almost 270 years of winemaking excellence.”
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