Nothing for the new year?

Almost two weeks into 2011 and no posts?

Allow me to retort.

At the strike of midnight Central Time, I popped the cork on a Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2002. If you're going to start a new year, at least do it with real Champagne.

There was no Andre flowing at my friend Wade's house that night. This was wine store employees toasting with the wares of the rich. With a Champagne Varnier-Fanniere he won in a sales contest, it began. The buttered toast tones of a good sparkling were inflected with a rustic feel, not surprising given the four-hectare lot from which it comes. It had an amazing floral noise and compared nicely with what was to come.

Before we go further, let me drop these statistics.
Bottles of champagne consumed: Five
Retail value in Tennessee: $400-plus
Wine & Spirits Discount rate: Much less

Next came the heavily discounted Gosset Brut, which compared surprisingly well with the Varnier-Fanniere and those to come. Our lineup fell off with a Tattinger Domaine Carneros Brut Rose. This California sparkling from the venerable Champagne house really couldn't compete, not with the elegant Marc Hebrart Brut Rose that delighted the Burgundy lover in me.

As for the 2002 Veuve, vintage champagne produced a wholly different animal. It easily topped my list for the night. The bubbles were smaller, the flavors more elegable and complex. I will have to squirrel away another for a special occasion.

By the time we reached the fine, dry bubbles of a Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Reserve danced on our palates, I tried to concentrate on the amazing wine, not what I spent (a lot, it turns out).

I have no memory of the night's funniest moment. Wade's video camera continued recording after I slumped over on the couch. He shot me with a Nerf gun, and the bullet, bounced off my chin, I roused, looked left and right. With a quick "Whatever" my head lolled back and sleep resumed. Now it's immortal.