Champagne: Think Fresh and Floral for Mother’s Day

champagne

Nothing says ‘spoiling Mum rotten’ like a bottle of champagne on Mother’s Day. It’s the ultimate gift to make the day feel truly fabulous, special and memorable. Pair it up with breakfast in bed, brunch, or a picnic at the park and you will have outdone yourself.

The delightful Sara Underdown was kind enough to put together some suggestions on what you should sip this Mother’s Day. Sara has the most brilliant job! She is a die-hard champagne fan, to say the least. Sara fell head-over-heels in love with the drink of kings during her first trip to Champagne in 2011. It was probably inevitable that one day she would combine her love of champagne with her work as a professional writer.

After visiting Champagne in 2012 she started her blog and now reviews champagnes and champagne-inspired events. She also has an Advanced Certificate with the Wine Spirit and Education Trust (WSET). Sara also lives out her love of champagne by spending time with like-minded enthusiasts at regular tastings and events, and by working with former Vin de Champagne Award Winner, Jim Smith, on a book about champagne. Sara was a finalist in the 2016 Vin de Champagne Awards, one of Australia’s most coveted wine awards.

Over to you Sara!

sara underwood


When selecting champagne for Mum in the lead-up to Mother’s Day, think fresh and floral.

Champagnes, like perfume, come in a wide array of styles; some big and rich, others light and elegant, with so much in between. It’s important to keep the essence of the day in mind when choosing the right bottle for Mum.

Fresh and floral champagnes are typically youthful and dominated by the chardonnay grape variety, as opposed to pinot noir or meunier. These three grape varieties are often blended to create a classic style of champagne. Think chardonnay-led non-vintages or a blanc de blancs (100% chardonnay).

On the nose, youthful chardonnay-led champagnes appear fresh and light, often with hints of lemon, apple, orange blossom, white flowers, white stone fruits and brioche. The palate will mostly reflect the nose, reaffirming it with a lively and zesty lemon acidity softened by some creamy notes and textures and sometimes with a hint of chalky and salty minerality. Typically, they will lead to a fresh and clean finish.

On their own, chardonnay-led champagnes make for a perfect aperitif. But they also go beautifully with creamy, soft cheeses (Langres, Fromage de Meaux or mild goat’s cheese), cold chicken and fish and chips. You’d be surprised how well the acidity cuts right through greasy, salty and creamy food! But more than this, it makes for easy and delicious picnic fare for Mother’s Day.

Top Champagne Picks for Mother’s Day

Laurent-Perrier Brut Reserve – A delicate yet complex nose, fresh and well-balanced with hints of citrus and white fruits. Well-defined, subtly rounded with expressive flavours. The fruit progressively emerges to reveal a finely balanced champagne displaying great length on the finish. Expect to pay $50-$60, available from Cellarbrations at Lane Cove.  Cellarbrations is located under Coles Lane Cove

Laurent Perrier Brut bDelamotte Brut – A nose of great purity, laced with citrus, white blossom, lemon zest and mossy notes. Its creamy freshness is further emphasised by the textural delicacy of its mousse. A generous champagne, clean and elegant, leading to a medium finish. Expect to pay $70-80, available from selected retailers across Sydney.

Delamotte Brut

Jacquesson 739 – These wines are fine, harmonious and balanced. On the nose, there are aromas of white flowers, stone fruits, citrus, baked bread and a hint of toast. The palate is lively and creamy, offering up flavours of baked bread, honey, stone fruits and citrus with a prevailing chalky minerality. It finishes long and dry with a lingering sense of white flowers. Expect to pay $70-$80, available from selected retailers across Sydney.

Jacquesson 739

Brimoncourt Brut Régence – On the nose, there is a delicate, subtle and very elegant bouquet, revealing white flowers and fruity notes. Minerality gives it distinction and nobility. The well-rounded mouth is enjoyable; a dash of freshness invigorates the palate and brings out a beautiful, ample and complex structure with good length. Expect to pay $80-$85, available from selected retailers across Sydney.

Brimoncourt Brut Regence b

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs NV – At first, very intense on the nose with fresh fruit notes, particularly ripe citrus fruits. A second refined floral nose is revealed with notes of white flowers and fruits. On the palate, there is a supple, harmonious attack.  Vinosity is supported by excellent freshness. There are notes of nectarines and citrus fruits with a pleasant mineral quality on the long and refreshing finish. Expect to pay $110-$120.  Ruinart Blanc de Blancs b Gosset Blanc de Blancs NV – This classic champagne is both mineral and floral with aromas of flowers and white fruits, apricot and Mirabelle plum. Very light notes of lemon, citrus fruits, crystallized quince and honey. Harmonious, complex and delicate with a great sense of freshness. A crisp and well-structured champagne with a gentle silky finish. Expect to pay $120-$130, available from selected retailers across Sydney.

 Gosset Blanc de Blancs

Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque 2007 – This prestige champagne is all about flowers and minerality. The nose is still quite youthful and energetic but displays some developing notes in a complex tapestry of citrus peel, white flowers (honeysuckle), red berries, pear, brioche and chalky minerality. On the palate, it’s full of creamy bubbles manifesting alongside medium levels of acidity. The body is medium-plus and produces intense flavours of white stone fruits, pastries, caramel and a hint of minerality. It leads to a long finish that is dry and very well balanced. Expect to pay $200-$230, available from selected retailers across Sydney.

Perrier Jouet 2007 b

This blog post is sponsored by Cellarbrations at Lane Cove. You do not need an occasion to try out these seductive champagnes. Speak to Chelsea Tang at Cellarbrations Lane Cove about Cellarbrations ordering some bottles for you (they can’t guarantee that they can source all the above suggestions, but they will give it a good try). Chelsea Tang is the new manager at Cellarbrations at Lane Cove. She has an amazing knowledge of wine. In fact, she has a Master of Oenology (ie she knows heaps about wine). If you are looking for expert knowledge, drop in and see her at Cellarbrations Lane Cove. Cellarbrations are located under Coles. They are part of a buying group and the store is not owned by Big Business. #itcgoldsponsor

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For more information on champagne, or to contact Sara, go to fortheloveofchampagne.com

A little more about Sara – Champagne aside, her first and foremost passion is her family; husband, Rob, and two gorgeous boys, Oscar and Hugo. Whilst her days are largely spent as a full-time mum, she undertakes occasional freelance work as a Corporate Writer/Bid Manager working – Words on Demand. She specialises in winning major civil infrastructure bids for ASX100 companies and training technical people in the art of clear communication, persuasion and understanding government processes.


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