CHAMPAGNE UNCORKED

開瓶之旅

HOW TO READ A LABEL

On a champagne bottle, you will find two letters before a number: NM ( négociant-manipulant) indicates that the house buys in grapes to make its wines – like Ruinart and Mercier – while CM ( coopérative-manipulant), denotes wines made by a cooperative of growers.

The trendiest designation is RM, récoltant-manipulant, meaning that the grower makes wine from their own vineyards. This sector not only produces the most distinctive champagnes, but is also where you are most likely to find organic and biodynamic wines.

TRY WHILE YOU FLY

Cathay Pacific’s assistant manager for wine, beverage and dry store supplies, Ronald Khoo, says: ‘Onboard Cathay Pacific this month we’ve selected the award-winning 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millesime Brut in first class. There have only been eight vintages of this produced since 1976.

‘In business class, we’ve got three options, including a creamy Deutz Brut and a slightly punchier Piper Heidsieck Brut NV. Each champagne has its own appeal. For example, the Deutz Brut has a smooth blend of 1/3 chardonnay, 1/3 pinot noir and 1/3 pinot meunier grapes, with a pleasant sweetness. It’s a nice pre-take-off drink that can be easily enjoyed with or without food.

如何閱讀標籤

細看酒瓶上的標籤，你會發現數字前有兩個英文字母：例如NM（négociantmani p u l ant）指酒莊購買葡萄來釀酒， Ruinart和Mercier等酒莊均這樣做；或是CM（coopérative-manipulant），指香檳由酒農合作社釀製。

而最時髦的是R M（ r é c o l t a n t - manipulant），則指於自家葡萄園釀酒的酒農。這種香檳不但別具獨特韻味，而且不少是以有機和以生物動力法釀製的美酒。

機上享受

國泰航空助理經理Ronald Khoo專責美酒、飲品及下酒小食供應，他表示：「國泰航空在本月為頭等客艙挑選了獲獎的2002年Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millesime Brut香檳，在航班內供應。自從1976年以來，這款佳釀只推出過八個年份。」

「至於商務客艙，我們會備有三個選擇，包括口感順滑的Deutz Brut香檳，以及略為濃郁的Piper Heidsieck Brut NV。每種香檳都有它的優點。例如， Deutz Brut香檳用上了三分一chardonnay葡萄、三分一pinot noir葡萄及三分一pinot meunier葡萄混合釀製，味道香甜。這款酒很適合在起飛前品嚐，不論是單獨享用，還是配搭食物均相宜。」