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| Champagne @ LaLiT |
| By Rajiv Singhal |
| Traditionally Modern, Subtly Luxurious, Distinctly LaLiT defines the brand to its customers. The foundation for the Lalit Suri Hospitality Group was laid by its Founder Chairman, Lalit Suri. In 1988, the first property opened its doors across the road from my alma mater in Delhi. The group has grown rapidly to 2261 keys across 14 properties across India and, most recently, a wonderfully restored property that it manages in London. |
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| Last year, Keshav Suri, Executive Director, introduced the Annual Food & Beverage Conclave to get the food and beverage managers and executive chefs (and some hotel managers) from all the group hotels across the group to congregate to reiterate, revise, and where needed, rethink their approach – an effort that not many of his peers invest in. |
| This year, The LaLiT Chandigarh was the host hotel. I was invited to present an Appreciation Session on Champagne again – the idea was to help the teams stay au courant with champagne. The focus was on insights into why Champagne is unique; Champagne only comes from Champagne; and guide the participants through a tasting of different styles to allow them to appreciate the subtle differences. |
| Under direction from Keshav, the Champagne list across the Lalit hotels is safe under the guardianship of Ravindra Kumar, Corporate General Manager F&B and Charles Donnadieu, Corporate Sommelier (who I had invited to first come to India in 2007 to join a team of Sommeliers to promote French wine and he just can't go back …). The lists are extremely well planned, with a range of brands and most styles covered – depending on the availability in the city. And clearly, growing sales validate the focus on this category. |
| This conclave allows for discussion on thoughts from within that can be synergized across the vision and values of the group – an excellent forward looking initiative. |
| The Champagnes |
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G.H. Mumm Brut NV
Assemblage of 45% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Meunier. Straw colour with fairly active bubbles. Clean, fresh, light fruitiness on the nose. Green apples and grapefruit with toasty and roasted coffee on the palate. Vibrant lingering finish. |
Moët Brut Imperial NV
Assemblage of 50% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 10% Chardonnay. Pale yellow with a tinge of green on the rim. Subtly vinous on the nose with citrus and lime blossom notes. The palate is delicate and well-balanced. The finish is smooth and mellow. |
Devaux Ultra D Brut NV
Assemblage of 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. Gold yellow. Fine mousse with a lovely lace. Fresh white flowers on the nose. Minerally with a touch of salinity and spicy notes on the palate. A long finish. An ultra brut (2 grams/ litre residual sugar). |
Moët & Chandon Rose Imperial Brut NV
Assemblage of 20% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier and 50% Pinot Noir. Pale pink with streams of fine bubbles. Intense aromas of red summer berries (redcurrant and strawberries) with floral nuances (rose) and a light pepper. Creamy and smooth on the palate with lemon and hints of cinnamon. Crisp, medium finish. |
Moët Ice Imperial Demi-Sec NV
Assemblage of 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Pinot Meunier, 10% Chardonnay and 20% select reserve wines. Deep yellow with aromas of tropical fruit. Full bodied with some caramel notes and hints of ginger. Refreshing acidity and short finish. A demi-sec (45 grams/ litre residual sugar) that is best enjoyed on the rocks. |
| We bring you an exclusive on this session conducted by Rajiv Singhal |
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