All hail the Ace of Spades!
Published:Thursday | July 14, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Martin Baxter, Gleaner Writer
Armand de Brignac champagne must be sipped lightly and, like a tonic or liquid salve, should come with directions for use.
They would read:
Step 1: For the truest Armand de Brignac experience, one's half-full flute must first be sniffed to whet the senses.
Step 2: Take care not to gulp or swig the champagne. One's mouth should form the sipping position - the crisp, fruity, full-bodied taste can now be achieved as the makers intended.
Step 3: At nearly $50,000 per bottle, one must seek prior approval from one's bank manager before engaging in steps 1 and 2.
But, on the eve of Tuesday, July 5, a select number of hand-picked guests were invited to Bin 26 Wine Bar at Devon House in Kingston, to sip this precious French nectar free of cost. They joined members of the media for the Jamaican launch of Armand de Brignac - the world's best champagne, as voted by internationally respected wine critics and sommeliers.
Christopher Reckord, one of the owners of Bin 26 and host of the launch, also provided wine and rosé to welcome and prepare guests' palates for the main event. As the smell of young chef Brian Lumley's kitchen permeated the intimate venue, glasses were first filled with Bouvet Rosé Brut that possessed a salmon-pink hue, bringing with it a dry, earthy and crisp-yet-succulent fruity flavour.
Savoury food
Staff brought out a selection of four finger foods, quick, simple and as refreshing as the rosé that preceded it. Platters of peppered shrimp with water chestnut and green-apple salad glazed with balsamic vinegar, weaved their way through pockets of guests. Mini bacon quiches, beef kebabs with a roasted sweet pepper and pesto sauce, and Vietnamese spring rolls, glazed with an orange and rosemary sauce, also found their way onto the menu. With empty glasses and refreshed palates, a sweet, crisp, fruit and nut-flavoured 2009 Louis Jadot Mcon-Villages Chardonnay was introduced; providing the perfect backdrop for opening the Armand de Brignac.
Patrons gathered around the metallic gold bottle that shimmered under positioned spotlights. The lighting exposed the handmade pewter 'Ace of Spades', that is the prestige cuvée's own insignia. Its flavour was complex, with a floral character and creamy texture achieved by the multi-vintage blend proportions of 33 per cent Pinot Noir, 33 per cent Chardonnay, 33 per cent Pinot Menuier.
The champagne demands the high asking price of $49,926 simply because it is widely seen as the best of many prestige champagnes. Those wanting to purchase their own bottled prestige can visit Bin 26 Wine Bar at Devon House in Kingston - but please, inform the bank manager of your intentions first.