Champagne Bag Vol. 3

It was only a matter of time. The bottles had been resting, quietly biding their time after being taken off the lees, while we, absorbed in the daily routine, resisted their alluring voices. But you know my willpower - it tends to crumble when faced with the charms of sharing something beautiful. So, rather than sticking to the somewhat dull idea of focusing on just one winemaker or a particular wine, I composed a snapshot of winemaking creativity - a small, eclectic mix. At the same time, I thought I'd rescue a few bottles from an untimely fate by burying them even deeper in my stash for us to discover them in the coming years.

So, what was the plan? I set out to open one bottle each from Ulysse Collin, Roses De Jeanne, and Bérêche & Fils, then round things off with something a bit more approachable, keeping everyone's tastes in mind once the final list of participants is known (I'm not here to torment you, after all). But, as you can see, things didn't quite go according to plan. I didn't even get to announce the event properly, and yet more people signed up than I had expected. Now, no offence to anyone, but great wines need space to breathe, and the guests deserve enough wine to fully appreciate its beauty - that's why I strive to keep the number of participants as low as possible. Still, with eight of us gathered, I couldn't stop adding a few more bottles to the lineup.

From the three stars, I settled on Chardonnay-based labels, and to complement them, I chose something lush, expressive, and undeniably delicious - the 2015 Mesnil by Robert Moncuit. But I couldn't let the evening pass without one of my favourite "staples," so Cuvée 745 by Jacquesson joined us. Given the crowd, I realised we needed a touch of sweetness, and for this occasion, Egly-Ouriet's Ratafia seemed like the perfect fit. And, of course, we couldn't start without a welcoming drink - naturally.

And the wines? Well, I'll leave that for you to judge based on our scores. But I can say with certainty that the evening was anything but ordinary. Spectacular wines, warm company, and a cosy location. So, a heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined in this journey through the world of wine, the team at Lo for their hospitality and treats, to Vasyl for the last-minute tartare (always a hit - that's why I always order two servings), and to Maksym for most of these incredible bottles. Beauty is created through the connections between people, and I'm grateful to all of you for being such a part of it!

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