 When I glanced through the list for Champagnes in the List for 2007, I was not surprised to find Krug at no.10 with 99 points. Though the King of Champagne was awarded near perfect 99 points, at $250 at bottle, the points are merely academic- I’d rather add another wine cooler to my collection for that price.
What really caught my eye was the only other Champagne in the list. Priced at $35, less than a seventh the price of Krug, the 91 pointer bubbly at 77th position Heidsieck & Co Blue Top Monopole NV would do very well, thank you. I could buy 7 bottles of this bubbly instead of a Krug and keep the change to take a cab to the nearby hotel.
I would not swear by the points or rating given by Wine Spectator or Wine Advocate, but they can be good indicator of the wine and its value-for-money worth, despite a possible disparity of taste between the American and Indian palate. Wines that get a 90 plus rating usually see demand and prices soar.
Heidsieck & C° Monopole Blue Top
Historically, the brand has been reaching milestones throughout its two-century old existence. It was recognized as premium champagne by kings, emperors and aristocrats, and received royal warrants from the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany (1818), the British Crown (1911), and the Swedish Crown, King Gustav (1933), and Tsar Nicolas II whose orders for this bubbly had reached 400.000 bottles for his personal cellar.
It is no wonder that Heidsieck Monopole distributed one million bottles world wide as far back as 1895 and was considered by connoisseurs as a great sparkling wine.
Titanic Legend
Legend has it that the Blue Top non-vintage bubbly, Heidsieck & Co. Monopole was the official champagne aboard the ill-fated Titanic. When they brought the salvage from the wreckage a few years back some bottles of Heidsieck Monopole were also recovered and they still tasted delicious.
Brand of Vranken Pommery
The brand is now owned by Vranken Pommery who also owns Pommery. It continues to make Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top label in the Champagne tradition, blending 70% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier with 20% Chardonnay, giving a powerful wine with a slightly heavier body, crisp frontal attack with a full and fruity flavour on the palate. Elegant and expressive, the straw yellow colour Monopole with shades of green delivers floral, pears and toffee flavours with a creamy texture.
It has an aromatic nose, with slightly spicy notes which carry on into the flavour as well. The after-taste is decently long.
Perfect as an aperitif and for any celebratory occasion, it can be enjoyed with any meal especially shell-fish and chicken. Indian vegetarian meal will also be a good match because of its body, crispness and a touch of sweetness.
Heidsieck Monopole is different than Piper Heidsieck and Charles Heidsieck although the labels belong to the companies which were started by the Heidsieck family. The first two are owned by Remy Martin. Monopole was owned by Seagram's which sold it to the current owners in the nineties.
Availability
One of the best value-for- money Champagnes, Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top is now being imported by Sula Vineyards and is available in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gurgaon and Delhi. It is priced around the same as Moet et Chandon NV, but Heidsieck has a personality that gives a good option and exciting alternative.
Cecilia Oldne, Sula’s Manager of International Business notes that “Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top is a beautiful champagne. One of the “Grandes Marques”, it has the distinction of being the only non-vintage champagne to have featured in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2007. The packaging with the yellow label and the blue top is distinctive and classy. We are proud to have this beauty in our portfolio!”
Serving Heidsieck Monopole Blue Top
Most connoisseurs know that the Non Vintage Champagne does not really improve much in flavour once bottled. But if stored properly between 13-15 °C it will keep its fizz and freshness and the crispy character for a couple of years. Do not pop on untwisting the cage and uncork slowly keeping the thumb or palm firmly pressed. Serve it chilled at 8-10°C in a champagne flute and not those ‘breastly’ saucers. Do not swerve the glass that will kill the thousands of tiny bubbles- the heart and soul of the Monopole, or any other bubbly.
Subhash Arora |