In wake of the recent thought provoking discussion over Champagne, I decided to pick up the cheapest bottle of bonafide Champagne I could find. Good ol’ Trader Joes answered the call here with a sub $20 bottle of their private label juice. FWIW, a quick google search linked me to an identical looking bottle bearing the name “Dider Chopin”.
I’ve heard a number of people claim that Champagne is the most food-friendly wine under the sun. Having only paired Champagne with Sushi before, I had to experiment with some bolder tastes. This could only mean I had a date with a nice box of J.J. Fish’s fried Perch with fries and hot sauce. On the food front, I think this paired beautifully. The crisp acidity managed to cut through the greasiest of hot sauce-dipped fries, while the lemon citrus and green apple notes complimented the fish’s lemon pepper seasoning.
As for the wine itself, this is respectable stuff from a competent winemaker. Surprisingly, there’s a nice slate mineral component that compliments the slightest hint of toast. This may not be the most complex or impressive sparkler you can muster for $20, but it’s close. Still, there’s not enough going on here to demand a repeat buy. 87 pts.
Mark, I have been worried about the state of the wineboards lately. Wondering what is to become of this board when all us old/older guys go into the sunlight one way or another. I have to give you a big kudos (and I don’t do that often) for making me worry no more. Your passion and zest for all things wine is infectious. In some ways you remind me of a younger me. You have the right idea, have fun with this stuff! Keep it up!
