So, the answers are….
What you’ve all been waiting for. Actually, only what a small few have been waiting for, but I’ll try to make my answers entertaining.
- Who makes Noble Cuvee?
The name of the champagne house is Lanson, and this question was asked during the service exam in Cincinatti in August 2009. The question has always stayed with me because it is proof that last minute studying truly helps. Five minutes before I went into the exam, I visited the Guild Somm website for some last minute tips on Champagne’s prestige cuvees. At the bottom of the page, someone had posted, “don’t forget Noble Cuvee from Lanson.” When they asked me the question, I did not hesitate, but many of my peers were lost.
- Name two premier crus in the Cote des Blancs.
There are nine premier crus in the Cotes des Blancs, but since I only asked for two, these are the ones that I have mneumonics for: Coligny and Grauves. The smell of Cologne can be smelled on my white coat and people travel through white groves to drink Champagne made from Chardonnay. Not crazy good, but it’s whatever helps you remember, right?
- What are the only 2 premier crus in Champange with a 99% rating?
Mareuil-sur-Ay and Tauxieres. Haven’t come up with something to help others remember it, but I just say it over in my head everyday to keep it fresh in the mind.
- What is the Special Club?
The special club is a group of producers/growers in Champagne who came up with their special club bottlings as an answer to the big Champagne houses’ prestiges cuvees. It has about two dozen members, and their bottlings must be estate bottled, vintage-dated and pass a tasting panel.
- When did the Special Club originate?
1971–five years before I was born, people born in 1971 in my life have always been super-cool, super-special, very clubby.
- Name three of its original members.
Gaston Chiquet, Pierre Gimmonet, A. Margaine–all growers who I supported when at Windows on the World, my special club.
- What percentage of grapes must originate from the producer’s own vineyards to have RM on the label?
95%–in 95 + days, I will be taking this exam, and trying to remember all of these answers.
- What is the sweetness range, in grams per liter, of Extra Dry Champagne?
12-17 grams/liter; another one of those questions where it’s just keeping it in your memory. Until tomorrow, those are the answers to the first half of the quiz. This was a request so readers who find this horribly painful, be patient. I will write about the good stuff champagne is made of soon.