Episode 37: A Sparkling Christmas Eve: Champagne, Traditions & a Decanting Discussion With Chantal Brégeon-Gonet of Champagne Philippe Gonet
Dec 24 2015: We are tickled to have 7th Generation Champagne Proprietress Chantal Brégeon-Gonet of Champagne Philippe Gonet join us for a fun discussion about … Champagne: how to drink it, great pairings, and traditions. We also talk about the often controversial topic of decanting wine and when it will or will not actually benefit your enjoyment. It’s all about pleasure this week, and it’s truly our pleasure to share these lovely stories from Chantal about Champagne that will surely make you smile if you’re pouring bubbles this holiday!
Steph: Bon Jour Wine-Two-Five listeners! Thank you so much for joining us for Episode 37! I’m Steph up here in Fort Collins, and Val is in Colorado Springs, and this week we’re talking with our guest Guest Chantal Gonet who is in Miami at the moment. Thank you Skype for making this so easy!
Val: Thanks Steph and Merry Christmas Eve everyone!… but before we dive in…we should chat a bit about what we’re drinking & start with our guest Chantal.
Chantal: Philippe Gonet Signature Blanc de Blancs, Les Mesnil-sur-Oger, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France.
Steph: 2014 Le Flaneur Cabernet Sauvignon Vin de France
Val: Still drinking the Lassalle Preference from last week – Chantal’s champagne is on order at the Wine seller!
“Our guest is Chantal-Gonet of Champagne Phillipe Gonet. She’s part of a Champagne family dynasty as the Gonet family has been producing champagne in Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, a Grand Cru village in the Côte des Blancs region of Champagne (for all of you studying Champagne, you should be able to tell me the main soils and grapes of this region!) Chantal and her brother Pierre have been running the business for 23 years now. Pierre is the chef de cave/winemaker and Chantal does the promotional side, which includes the marketing and getting it into our glasses. I recently had the pleasure of tasting her Signature Blanc de Blancs. Their Brut Rose’ is also made from Les Mesnil Chardonnay grapes with 10% Pinot Noir.”
Val met Chantal at a Dipsody event for “Grapes for the Cure”
“We’d love for you to tell us about Phillipe Gonet, first and foremost, anything you’d like our listeners to know about your Champagne brand, the wines, the land or heritage – or something I’ve missed?”
Chantal absolutely delights us this week with stories from the cellar to the table, including a terrific recipe for scallop carpaccio with truffle oil. We can hear the lift in her voice when she talks about how she and her family enjoy Champagne together, particularly during the holidays when they disgorge a vintage champagne à la volée. Often these are bottles that have been resting on their lees (spent yeast cells) since the 1970’s, so there are many surprise aromas and flavours that can present themselves in the glass – talk about a Christmas surprise!
You also won’t want to miss Chantal’s funny story about a friend who tried to christen their home with a bottle of Philippe Gonet champagne. Probably one of our best stories yet! Finally, she shares with us some details about the chalky soil that makes the Côte des Blancs and Les Mesnil-sur-Oger, a Grand Cru commune, so special. After all, her home sits over caves that were built in the 18th century!
Discussion: Decanting and aerating: Here’s what Jancis Robinson, MW, says in the OCW (Oxford Companion to Wine) about it: “…optional and controversial step in serving wine, involving pouring wine out of its bottle into another container called a decanter” (p 231).
You may be surprised by our answers, but it all comes down to it depending on the wine. Not all
“Taste of Devotion” Val’s lovely gift from Steph by Leanne Laine Fine Art!
wine benefits from decanting, and in fact some can suffer. Champagne? Yes, that can be decanted too!
Shoutout:
Val: “My shoutout goes to my awesome podcast partner, wine study buddy and dear friend Steph who totally freaking surprised me with a stunning (seriously – more stunning in person!) piece of Leanne Laine’s art that I’ve been coveting for some time. Very sneaky how you took a cue from our podcast discussion and it showed up on my doorstep shortly after! I so treasure it and our friendship – you rock! Hard!”
Wino Radar:
Steph: “On my radar is a CSW with the SWE that calls herself The Black Dress Traveler, her name is Wanda Mann. Her Twitter handle is @BlackDressDiva and she caught my eye with her #WineWednesday tweet, ‘Why won’t these folks in my office recognize #WineWednesday as a legit holiday? I need a new workplace!’
“Wanda is a Native New Yorker that is passionate about food, wine and little black dresses! She was a brand ambassador for Michelin Guides in 2013 and has interviewed many acclaimed chefs and winemakers. Wanda is a blogger and also contributes to The Daily Meal – All Things Food & Drink. Val, I’m thinking she’s someone to keep a pulse on and run into at a future Wine Blogger’s Convention or SWE Convention (Wine Camp!).”
We at Wine Two Five wish you all a Merry Christmas, and a very Happy Holiday however you choose to celebrate!
The episode can be listened to it’s entirety here: