1879 Facts About Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines

83

The R ei1ns Establislmients.

are examined every fortnight, when any deficiency is at once r eplenished. .At Messrs. Perinet et fils', as at all the first-class establi'shments, the vin brut is a ?n6lange comprising the produce of some of the best vineyards, and h as e,;ery possible attention paid to it during its progressive stages of development. Champagnes of different years were h ere shown to us, ·au of them soft, light, and delicate, and with that fine flavour and full perfume which the best growths of the Marne alone exhibit. Among several curiosities submitted to us was a ~till V erzenay of the year 1857, one of the most delicate red wines it was ever our fortune to taste. Light in body, rich in _colour, of a sin– gularly novel and r efined flavour, and with a ·magnificent yet indefinable bouquet, the wine was in evei7 r espect perfect. .Not only was the year of the vintage a grand one, but the wine must have been made with the greatest possible 0are and from the most perfect grapes for so delicate a growth to have r etained its flavour in such perfection, and preserved its brilliant ruby colour for such a length of time. From the samples shown to us of Perinet et fils' ch ampagne, we were prepared to find that at some recent tastings in London, the particulars of which have been made public, their Extra Sec took the first place at each of the three severe competitions to which it was subj ected. · M. Duchatel-Ohaus's central establishment is in the Rue des Deux .Anges, one of the most ancient street s of Reims, runniJ;ig from the Rue des Elus to the Rue de Vesle, and having every Window secured by iron gratings, and every door thickly studded with huge nails. These prison-like fagades succeed each other in gloomy monot ony along either side of the way, the portion of 1\L Duchntel-Ohau s's residence which faces the street bl~ing no exception to the general rule. Once within its court, however, and quite a different scene presents itself. Before us is a pleasant little flower-garden with a small but charming .R enaissance house looking on to it, the windows ornamented with elaborate mouldings, and surmounted by graceful sculptured heads, while at one corner rises a tower with a sun-dial displayed on its front.