mylifestylenews: 6 Minutes @ Richard Juhlin

2013-12-13

6 Minutes @ Richard Juhlin

G.H.MUMM unveiled an elegant new Brut Sélection Cuvée that embodies all the nobility and diversity of the Grands Crus of Champagnein Hong Kong with preview of Le Millésime 2006 and new branding makeover in the presence of Cellar Master Didier Mariotti and world number one champagne expert Richard Juhlin. Swedish born Juhlin is famous for his skills in blind tasting and pointed out 43 out of 50 champagnes in Paris at the annual Spectacle du Monde tasting in 2003. Juhlin is now one of only two wine book authors who have been awarded three World Championship titles and had written a couple of award winning books. Juhlin told mylifestylenews what does it take to become a Champagne expert over a prestige pairing lunch......

I was a sports teacher and a soccer player before I involved my relation with champagne. I was born with some specific skills and talent, then, there were subtle details to follow and my family helped me to develop and sharpen my tasting skills.

I started to taste German wine when I was at the age of 8 and I began to fall in love with the process of the various method of tasting by identifying the difference in the making.

Other than that, you need to put in 101% of work with super memories by making images in my minds to identify the difference in colors, the structure and style of the champagne from various traditional vineyards and recognizing different group of people by putting reflection to the brands.

When comes to blind tasting, we shouldn't be too prejudiced and shall not be too judgemental until towards the end. We shall be more open minded and focus and make the judgement or comment at the end of the tasting. Of course, you need to taste a lot more in order to identify the difference.

A good champagne shall be subtle, concentrated and with unique and identified character.

I was awarded the Chevalier del Arc in 1997 and held the world record since 1998 in the number of champagnes tasted, having currently tasted 8000 different champagnes.

In 1999 in Stockholm I arranged the greatest champagne tasting in history, with the 150 best champagnes ever made.

I have written 6 books now : <Champagneboken> in 1995, <2000 Champagnes> in 1999, <The Great Tasting> in 2000 which received the prize for the Best Book on French Wines in the World at the World Cook Book Awards.

Then <3000 Champagnes> in 2002 received the prize for the Best Book on French Wines in the World at the World Cook Book Awards and <4000 Champagnes> in 2004 received an important prize from Louis Roederer at Vinexpo 2005 and was chosen as the best Book on French Wines through All Times at The Gourmand Awards in Frankfurt followed by <Richard Juhlin Champagne Guide> in 2008.

In 2011, I was consulted to lead the project with the famous bottles found in the Åland archipelago from 1840. Two bottles were auctioned at a record price of 30 000 Euros per bottle and Richard was the only one tasting all 164 when they were recorked.

In 2013, I received the highest rank in France and given the medal National Order of the Legion of Honour by the French president Mr Hollande.

I was also awarded the “Best television host in the world” in Paris 2013 for the achievement in the Norwegian TV show Nesevis as the best nose in the world guided the people to awake their forgotten senses smell and taste.

And now, I am writing for several magazines such as Spectacle du Monde, La Revue de Champagne, Wine International, Fine Wine and others working on a Television series which entitled Drinks and Restaurants in Europe, for American and Chinese television among others.

I also run <The Richard Juhlin Champagne Club> and arrange travels to the district of Champagne.

The Brut Sélection is a tribute to founder Georges Herman MUMM’s motto “Only the Best”, embodies all the nobility and diversity of the Grands Crus of Champagne. The unique blend showcases the distinctive personality of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, harvested in the House’s five most celebrated Grands Crus terroirs : Pinot Noir from Verzenay, Aÿ and Bouzy, Chardonnay from Cramant and Avize.

The unique blend showcases the distinctive personality Pinot Noir and Chardonnay harvested in the House’s five most celebrated Grands Crus terroirs.

A youthful perfectly orchestrated champagne from 5 of the best Grand Cru villages in Champagne. This 2008 based cuvee was meant to be an aperitif, but for me its restrained power and crystal clear stony minerality makes it a perfect gastronomic partner to oysters and meet, especially pork dishes from the Cantonese cuisine.

G.H.MUMM has also released Millésime 2006, a vintage reflecting the house style, respecting the traditions of G.H. MUMM and the Champagne culture.

Apart from bringing the new Brut Sélection Cuvée and preview of new Le Millésime 2006, to faith to the vision of its founder, G.H.MUMM House of Champagne has just released the brand new look for its entire classic range, led by the iconic Cordon Rouge cuvee. It aims to reinforce the brand’s famous attributes whilst expressing its noble heritage and the individual personality of each cuvee.

In order to showcase the full purity and authenticity of the five crus that go into Brut Selection, each one is pressed and vinified separately. The relatively high percentage of reserve wines used (between 15 and 20%) enhances the complexity of the blend sugar content was kept low, at only 6 g/l, to leverage this full complexity. The liqueur used is also made exclusively from the five Grands Crus.

This champagne has a lively yellow colour with golden highlights, filled with fine bubbles that rise to form a light and generous head.

The first nose reveals a wide range of fresh, tangy aromas reminiscent of candied citrus fruit (mandarine, lemon) with hints of honey, underscored by considerable mineral content. The rich bouquet then evolves to suggest a scent of fine white blossoms (wild hawthorn, acacia), a sweet hint of vanilla, wax and fleshy white fruit.

As the wine warms up, it releases a subtle fragrance of grilled or toasted nuts, evidence of its slow ageing process.

The strength of this wine is evident from the first sip. A fresh foretaste combines with fine, sweet undertones to give this wine an opulent feel and a dynamic, regular effervescence. The beautifully lingering and delicate aftertaste is enchanting. The Brut Sélection cuvée leaves an impression of harmony and fulfilment.