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Pommery POP Earth

Winery:	Pommery
Varietals:	Non-Vintage
Vintage:	Non Vintage
Region:	France - Other regions - Champagne
Type:	Champagne & Sparkling

Quick Rating:

Retail:	$50.00
Savings:	20%
Price:	$39.99
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The Wine

POP Earth's color is one of extreme brilliance and very fine bubbles. On the nose there is wonderful freshness coupled with great delicacy. The palate enjoys freshness but also roundness for immediate enjoyment.

POP Earth's Eco-Concept:
In 2008, Maison Pommery naturally chose POP, a non-conventional Champagne, as the vehicle for its latest "sustainable citizenship" innovation. It launched POP Earth, the ultimate symbol of all its
sustainable development efforts over the last 10 years! Presented in a 750ml bottle, POP Earth is
the Champagne made from grapes from sustainable viticulture. It comes in a lighter bottle, with a recycled label printed with water-soluble inks. 100% recyclable, the POP Earth bottle
has no jacket (to limit the production of waste).

The Growing Region - Champagne

Champagne is both a region and a method. The wines come from the northernmost vineyards in France and the name conjures an image like no other can. An 18th Century Benedictine monk named Dom Perignon is said to be the first to blend both varietals and vintages, making good wines not only great, but also special and unique to their winemaker. Today, nearly 75% of Champagne produced is non-vintage and made up by a blend of several years' harvests.

All Champagnes must be made by a strictly controlled process called "Méthode Champenoise." The grapes are pressed and fermented for the first time. The blending phase follows and the wine is bottled and temporarily capped. Then comes the second fermentation, a blend of sugar and yeast is added and, this time, the carbon dioxide is kept inside the bottle. This process leaves a great deal of sediment that is extracted through a process of "racking" or "riddling." The bottles are progressively turned upside down until all the sediment is collected in the neck. The necks are then frozen and the sediment is "disgorged." After this phase, the winemaker may decide to add sugar to sweeten the wine. Finally the wine is corked. Some wines move through this process in a couple of months, while others are aged after the riddling phase to build greater complexity and depth.

Champagnes range from dry, "Brut," to slightly sweet, "Demi-Sec." Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are used in Champagne blends, but "Blancs de Noirs" is made entirely of Pinot Noir and "Blancs de Blanc" is made from only Chardonnay grapes. The high acidity achieved by the northern location is crucial to the balance and structure of these wines.

Not every year is a "vintage" declared. In years when it is not, the wines are blended with the produce from other years to create the non-vintage blend, the house style that remains constant from year to year. But in a great vintage year, champagne houses will bottle by itself the unblended year's produce, and use other portions as "reserve" wines to supplement and enrich the non-vintage blend. A vintage champagne can age quite gracefully, and gain complexity just like any other great still wine.

Mild cheeses like gruyere and shellfish pair nicely with Champagne. Also, oysters and Champagne is a popular combination. A full-flavored vintage Champagne can go with almost any meal. Show Full Details