La Pause
August, paid subscriptions and plans.
Recently tasted - a lot of Krug
Dear supporters,
Just a quick one to say that I have fully entered into the spirit of my French friends and committed to almost total uselessness in August. I’m enjoying it. (I also have to have more eye surgery - nothing drastic but further reason to take things gently). All paid subscription billing is paused for the month. If you pay monthly you’ll have a month off, and if you pay annually it will be added on to your term.
In the meanwhile there is an absolute tonne of Champagne content up on Decanter Premium at the moment, from my 150-wine report on the Côte des Blancs to a look at 2004 Prestige Cuvées, dark rosés, new release roundups, first tastes of the new Dom Pérignon and Dom Ruinart releases and much more. Check it all out under my author page here. It’s a good time to take out a subscription; I used it a fair bit on my recent trip to (relatively unfamiliar wine territory) Provence.
It was also good to see that Caroline Henry’s planned book on ‘bio-innovation’ in Champagne got funded recently . Caroline is a fierce campaigner for the very highest standards in sustainable viticulture, and I’m looking forward to what she has to say. The spread of Organics in Champagne has stalled a little over the last few years, and it’s a fascinating time to be looking how the region’s politics, economics and ethos play in this sometimes confounding game of growing grapes for money.
Harvest is approaching, and I’m planning to be in the Côte des Bar this year for the most part. It’s been another tough, tough season in Champagne, but growers will be hoping that the last six weeks provide some respite from the relentless mildew pressure (which followed on from frost, and sometimes hail and even sunburn in places). All to play for….
I’m also kicking off an exciting project reporting on England for a major US publication, with a lot of visits and tastings planned in the early autumn. Watch this space, and I’ll see you back for some Six Atmospheres posts in September.
Your support is hugely appreciated,
Cin Cin
Tom