Reims, December 2021
A look back at the 2015 harvest
The 2015 vintage champagne from Chanoine Frères Réserve Privée is a wine of character, lively and distinguished, that has aged for five years in the House’s cellars in Reims. It is made up of 53% wines from Pinot Noir grapes and 47% from Chardonnay.
Isabelle Tellier, Chef de Cave of the House of Chanoine Frères 1730 and creator of the Réserve Privée champagnes, remembers the harvest of 2015:
“That year, the spring and summer season was quite favourable, and flowering took place under ideal conditions. The Pinot Noir was the variety that came out of the rainy weather in the second half of August best. 2015 ended up being a very good year for the Pinot Noirs from the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Bar, which give their character to this vintage cuvée.”
Tasting notes for Réserve Privée Millésime 2015
The robe of this vintage champagne is deep in colour, with lovely reflections that set off its very fine, delicate bubbles.
The expressive nose opens on notes of blackcurrant bud and evolves towards greater complexity, with spices accompanied by delicate caramel notes.
The palate is ample, structured around aromas of stewed fruits and extending into notes of liquorice to abut on a delicate yet savoury finish.
Isabelle Tellier’s Christmas menu
For Christmas and the end-of-year holidays, Isabelle Tellier, Chef de Cave and a fine gourmet, suggests associating Réserve Privée 2015 with a traditional meal based on foie gras and lamb. She advises drinking this vintage cuvée at between 10°C and 12°C.
Starter
Sautéed foie gras with mangoes
—o—
Main course
Confit of lamb shanks with chestnuts
—o—
Dessert
Alsatian Stollen
—oOo—
Isabelle says about this menu “This vintage champagne is a rich wine that can stand up to a foie gras. Foie gras with mango is a bit of a change. It’s a sweet-savoury association with a very nice balance. Mango cooked in the pan strikes a nice harmony with the stewed-fruit aromas in the wine.
Lamb shanks accompanied by chestnuts makes a delicate and rather original dish; it’s an association one doesn’t usually think of, and it’s a welcome change from turkey! The Stollen is an Alsatian brioche that’s traditional at Christmas, with raisins and almonds; a bit of candied zest of orange works well too. All these dried fruits marry well with the spice aromas and notes of fruit jam and liquorice this champagne offers.”
Look for Réserve Privée Millésime 2015 in your favourite stores and on the Chanoine Frères online store.*
* currently offered at a special holiday discount of 20%
—oOo—
