Something other than Moet & Krug -14 Mar 06

A Bubbly Evening @ The Moomba

After a hard day's work, Matt and I went for a champagne tasting at Moomba. Nice aussie restaurant tucked away at the corner of Circular Road. Impressive 10yr history given how tough the resturant business is in Singapore. Good food and reasonable prices. Atmosphere is quiet and relaxed. One of my favorite places.

More into wine right now and I thought it will be interesting to move into champagne tastings. Aha... and this one definitely didnt disappoint me. Acidity for "special curvee" and RD were rock solid with tons of tiny bubbles. Classic Bollinger nose of toast, yeast and citrus fruits. The RD 88 was awesome.. prob the best champagne I have ever tasted. The finish was persistent - pure and clean. And it goes very well with the dinner menu. Supposed to go very well with sushi and caviar too. Ah, lovely evening.

With Mr. Etienne Bizot - Managing Director, Champagne Bollinger

Bollinger Dinner 14 March
52 Circular Road, Singapore 049407. Telephone: 64380141 E-mail: restaurant@themoomba.com

Aperitif ‘Special Cuvee’ Brut N.V.
Amuse Bouche ‘Special Cuvee’ Brut N.V.
Sautéed Seafood in a Blue Swimmer Crab broth
‘Grande Annee’ 1995
Tea-smoked Spatchcock
With roasted Japanese Pumpkin mesh, vine-ripen tomatoes
and Rocket leaves in a vanilla jus
R.D. 1988 &
R.D. 1995
Peach Custard Tart

Champagne Bollinger was founded in 1829, and is still 100% family owned today. Mentzendorff have been agents for Bollinger since 1858. Somewhat unusual for a Champagne House, Bollinger have been growers and producers from the outset. 70% of Bollinger's grape supply comes from its own vineyards.

The two most commonly found Bollinger wines are the vintage Grand Année and the non-vintage Special Cuvée. The latter includes up to 10% of reserve wines which may have been fermented in oak, and spends three years on its lees. As a consequence it is often one of the more complex, structured NV wines on the market and is said to withstand several years of bottle age following release. The Grande Année (also available as a rosé) sees five years on its lees and is aged under cork rather than crown seal (the latter practice being the norm for much of Champagne), as is the first special cuvée worth mentioning which is the RD (récemment dégorgé) which sees eight years on its lees before disgorgement.