• 

  How to Saber a Bottle of Caldwell Champagne
  (a.k.a. how to have fun and impress your friends)

  1. Grab a bottle of Caldwell Champagne and a saber of your choice.
  If you own a fancy Champagne saber, whip it out. Otherwise, grab a solid butcher’s knife or butter knife. Have a kitchen towel and your glassware at the ready. 

  2. Chill that baby down to 38°F-40°F, fridge-temp tops.
  The cold makes the glass easier to break, so stick it in the fridge for a half day or more.

  3. When you’re ready to go… grasp the bottle firmly at the base, and point it away from friends (or toward your enemies).
  Hold it at a 45° angle to ensure minimum spillage. Make sure your fingers are out of the way.

  4. Find the vertical seam that runs up the bottle to the lip.
  Hold the knife flat against the glass, on the seam, with the blunt edge towards the lip.

  5. Run your saber slowly back along the seam toward your body, then quickly and firmly thrust it back up to the top of the bottle so it hits the glass ring near the end.
  Like a good golf swing, follow through.

  If you’ve done the job, the cork (with a ring of glass around it) will fly off the end of the bottle. The cork can reach impressive speeds so mind possible ricochets. Once the bottle is open, capture the escaping bubbly in your stemware, and offer a fabulous toast.

  ---

  2004 Caldwell Château de Boursault Champagne ($120/btl)
  A libation fit for kings and queens, this opulent aged Champagne is the stuff of legends – pure Chardonnay grown on the Veuve Clicquot’s personal family estate. With 15 years of age, its extraordinary texture, complex flavor profile, and near-perfect bead offer a richer style of Champagne that’s still bright and full of life. Gorgeous oak, vanilla and brioche notes on the nose, hints of cognac on the palate, and delectable biscuity aromas that caress your tongue like a well-aged Chardonnay. An impeccable confluence of pedigree and mastercraft, these world-class bubbles are finally ready for their closeup. Drink now. Only 150 cases to go around.

  

  NV Caldwell Philippe Gamet Champagne ($70/btl)
  You’d be hard-pressed to find a bottle of bubbles stateside that can deliver this complexity and dynamism for under $100. A blend of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir from Philippe Gamet, this baby delivers a perfectly clean, crisp mouthful of ripe green apple that floats along the palate with generous notes of citrus and lemon balm that leave your mouth watering. The mousse and texture of this wine make for a totally quaffable and infinitely enjoyable drink. Though there’s only 200 cases for the world to share, this is truly all you need for every brunch, celebration, or afternoon delight for the rest of your days.

  

JFC@caldwellvineyard.com      270 Kreuzer Lane Napa, CA 94559      707‐255‐1294