Chandon is not a brand that you and I not familiar with. I still remember my first wine pairing session with Chandon two years back. It was a really fun session and that's why I am not hesitate to join in another one when I received the invitation in my email. I mean, the wine pairing session won't go wrong because we have Dan Buckle with us!
Instead of a fun night party, we were all invited for a fun and bubbly afternoon with Chandon at Eight Gourmets Gala (EGG) in Sunway. It was on a Friday and everyone deserved a laid back Friday after stress for the work the entire week!
We were all welcomed with a flute of sparkling Chandon Brut before adjourning to the tasting area.
In case you're wondering who is Dan Buckle, he is the Senior Winemaker of Chandon. We're lucky to have him because he is willing to share the secret to ideal wine tasting, food pairing and, of course, a trick or two in an exclusive Chandon Cocktail Masterclass after the lunch session! After all, wine appreciation is immeasurably enhanced if one fully understands the principles of tasting.
It was first begun with an introduction of Chandon's history allows us to know more about Chandon's heritage, vineyard and its winemaking process; followed by an intimate wine tasting execise which brilliantly imparted Chandon's unique assemblage.
Lovely setup!
Chandon Brut & Chandon Rosé
Chardonnay 2013, Pinot Noir 2013 & Shiraz 2012
We're going to learn about the perfect pairing for each of Chandon's flagship wines, which are Chandon Brut (brand champion in sparkling wines), Chandon Rosé (the talking point of sparkling wines), as well as the red and white still wines - Chardonnay 2013, Pinot Noir 2013 and Shiraz 2012.
The wine pairing session features EGG's four-course lunch and rather than following a set of guided pairing rules, Dan Buckle encouraged all of us to experiment and choose our preferred pairing sparkling or still wines for each meal course served.
The wonderful lunch session kicked off with the serving of Seafood Platter. Dan Buckle suggested us to pair it with the Chandon Brut to highlight the wine’s savoury characters of roasted nuts and delicate spices; or Chandon Rosé for an extra layer of complexity and additional richness to the palate. Both bubblies were fresh, generous on the palate and finished with a vibrant crisp when paired with this entrée.
I prefer to enjoy my seafood platter with Chandon Rosé!
Next was the Smoked Duck Salad and to be paired with Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir 2013. The dark plum and raspberry fruit flavours of the Pinot Noir was an ideal match to the dish, showcasing a great persistence and structure of this medium bodied red wine. Domaine Chandon Chardonnay 2013 was also recommended in the pairing as the wine’s summer citrus notes and spiced oak characters seamlessly created a flavourful finish when paired with this appetiser.
Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir 2013 is certainly an absolute choice of mine for this dish!
When our main course - Grilled Salmon with Mint Sauce - was served on the table, I know I would pair it with Domaine Chandon Chardonnay 2013. However, we were also encouraged to pair it with Domaine Chandon Pinot Noir 2013 to taste the difference of the pairing. While both wines displayed each own distinctive taste, the pairing generously showcased its sophisticated fruit flavours and complex palate.
I still prefer to enjoy my serving of Grilled Salmon with Domaine Chandon Chardonnay 2013!
Up next was a serving of Beef Prosciutto with Kalamata Olive. Without any hesitation, pair this with Domaine Chandon Shiraz 2012 is a definite choice for us! This pairing highlighted the berry fruit flavours with fine and silky tannins in this red and harmoniously complemented the savoury complexity of the beef; showcasing a perfect balance of flavour, texture and structure.
Totally agreed with pairing this with the full bodied Domaine Chandon Shiraz 2012!
For a perfect sweet ending, we were served with Raspberry Crème Brûlée that perfect to pair with Chandon Brut and Chandon Rosé. The pairing accentuated the fresh and citrus assemblage notes in the Brut and Rosé yet kept the palate fresh and balanced with additional richness and persistence to the dry, crisp finish.
My favorite pair for this dessert would be Chandon Brut!
Well, the Chandon affair didn't end at a sweet ending. We were then brought to another space for an interactive Chandon Cocktail Masterclass guided by EGG's skillful bar manager to learn the fundamental steps of crafting creative bubbly flavors with the Chandon Brut! Fret not, I will be sharing it in my next post!
CHANDON COCKTAIL PROMOTION AT EGGChandon in collaboration with EGG will feature two tantalizing cocktail promotions from 15th May till 31st July 2015 at RM 28+ for each serving. Crafted using Chandon Brut as the main ingredient to highlight the complexity and vibrancy of these cocktails, sparkling wine lovers can choose between Green Demon - made of Gin, Mint, Monin Lemon Grass, Cucumber and Chandon Brut; or Lola - made of Belvedere Vodka, Fresh Apple Juice, Watermelon Syrup, and Chandon Brut.
Thank you for coming!!! Am glad that you've enjoyed yourself :)
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