Wine

Veuve Cliquot Demi Sec NV

This was served out of decanter in this occasion to limit bead and improve texture match with paired dessert. Sweet of course, lemon-puff and candied peel style with soft marshmallow and white peach middle. Slightly creamy, and a little honeyed/mineral. Slightly short on the finish, but that's pretty common with a dessert fizz. Partnered beautifully with dessert of yellow peaches, raspberries and cream.

Veuve Cliquot Vintage Reserve 2004

The Vintage Brut resents dryer and crisper than the NV, with more bready character and a concerntration on mineral and savoury characters with some reserved green apple fruit. Slightly austere in flavours, but the body makes this wine more of a mouthful than other aperitif style Champagnes. Will probably age quite nicely too.

From "Champagne in the Brain" a fizzy rundown of ranges of Veuve Cliquot, Joseph Perrier, Laurent Perrier, Taittinger and Bollinger, April 2013. Read more>>  

Drink over 5 years
16.5/20
AED 375 + Tax

Veuve Cliquot Vintage Rosé 2004

Similar fruit to the NV (strawberries, red currant) but more toasty and yeast dominated, and plenty of vanilla on the nose. There is a huge candy hit in the mid-palate that some will love (I however found it disturbed the balance a little), and makes it a great Champagne for food - Christmas turkey would be perfect. Trophy winner Decanter World Wine Awards.

From "Champagne in the Brain" a fizzy rundown of ranges of Veuve Cliquot, Joseph Perrier, Laurent Perrier, Taittinger and Bollinger, April 2013. Read more>> 

Drink Now or over 3-4 years
15.5/20
450AED + Tax

Veuve Cliquot Rose NV

Generous red fruit on the nose, voluptuous palate full of wild strawberries and biscuit. Lovely length. Slight sweetness (only marginal, it's still a dry wine) and very fine bead. Explosive flavour, very good value.

From "Champagne in the Brain" a fizzy rundown of ranges of Veuve Cliquot, Joseph Perrier, Laurent Perrier, Taittinger and Bollinger, April 2013. Read more>>

Drink now or over 2 years
17.5/20
345AED + Tax

 

Veuve Cliquot Brut NV (Yellow Label)

Plenty of mousse and a warm but pale gold colour. Current bottling seems a little lighter in character than some years. It can be a very broad and yeasty Champagne, but is very nicely balanced at present. Nutty, brioche, red apple.  Not overly dry, and a good introduction to Champagne.

From "Champagne in the Brain" a fizzy rundown of ranges of Veuve Cliquot, Joseph Perrier, Laurent Perrier, Taittinger and Bollinger, April 2013. Read more>>

Drink Now
16.5/20
295AED + Tax
(buy it on special - the price varies greatly)

Duval-Leroy Brut NV

This Champagne is far too cheap. It's only 2/3 the price of Moet and yet its better - well, it is for those who like a richer style of fizz anyway. It's a very complex champagne, and delivers all round. Nose is almonds, apples and honey. Front palate bursts with red delicious and burnt sugar, middle palate is toasty with hints of redcurrant and gorgeously round. The finish is long, and spicy like a figgy pudding. It's a fantastic aperetif, being a meal in itself, yet its fullness means it will even deliver with a fruit and pastry based dessert like tarte tartin. Bargain Champagne. Also comes in 3 x 200ml packs at Dubai duty free for emergency Oh-God-I need-a-good-wine-in-my-lonliness moments.


Drink now or for 2 years
145AED + Tax (purchased at a duty free outlet)
16.5/20


PS - pronunciation is doo val lair hwah

Cattier Premier Cru Brut Rose NV

One of the least expensive rose champagnes on a Dubai shelf. And dirham wise, for a pink champers it does well. Strawberries and cream style up front, bursting with flavour, then tapering (possibly a little to quickly) to some toast and molasses development. Finish a little short, but its  nice and dry. The lack of complexity and length mixed with the oomphy front palate and bargain price is a trade off that essentially ends in value. At under 200aed this is a fab celebratory wine, especially for those who are considering the choice between big brand blanc brut and a cheaper rose.

Drink now
14/20
175AED + tax (purchased at duty free outlet)

Mumm Cordon Rouge NV

Mumm (pronounced on the short side of mewm, not "mum" as many say it) is on the gentle side of the spectrum. It's just sly of dry, seeming to have a higher dosage than many of the other big names. The acid is a little lacking for moi - but with Champagne, many would say this is a personal preference - some simply can't drink the steelier styles and would love this. Fruit flavours are relatively simple - a little yellow peach and dried pear, and there is the trademark Champagne marmite character also shining through. Quite golden in colour, and showing some nice honeyed development, but in my opinion, not the best at the price point.

Drink now or over 3 years
AED 240 + Tax
13.5/20