An evening of award winning wines with Michael Edwards

“I wonder if you would care to join us for an evening of cheese and re-visiting past Glass of Bubbly Award winning Champagne and Sparkling Wines” was the question we put to Michael and gladly he accepted the invite.

Michael Edwards is an internationally recognised and respected freelance wine and food journalist with a focus on Champagne and specifically grower Champagnes, chief inspector of the Egon Ronay restaurant Guide also forms part of Michael’s 40’s year industry experience. You can find a selection of wine books written by him on Amazon to include the much admired ‘The Fine Wines of Champagne’. Michael is also honorary judge at The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards where a dedicated award title ‘The Michael Edwards Award’ is chosen by himself each year to the wine which for him stood out the most.

Christopher Walkey and Michael Edwards

For this evening tasting the host was Tatiana Mann and within a very nice residence in Sydenham we explored four previous medal winning sparkling wines from The Glass of Bubbly awards to include the 2018 winner of ‘The Michael Edwards Award‘:

Quartet Roederer – Michael Edwards Trophy Winner 2018: “This is a very good example of a Chardonnay. It tastes like a fine Champagne, very precise and energetic flavours that leap at you. Such a lovely taste of minerals, it is sleek, beautifully made. A thing to note that is since I tasted it, back in Sept 2018 and chose it as The Michael Edwards Award the wine has developed and tastes slightly different and has added candied fruits and is even more complex – It is fresh and invigorating.” Michael Edwards

Champagne Rosé de Saignée Chateau Boursault – Bronze Medal category ‘First Date’ 2017: “I am most impressed with this rosé de saignée, in my many years of Champagne tasting I can say that this is a very fine example of this style of Champagne. I would suggest that it has performed well since remaining in the bottle and would be worthy of much more than a bronze medal for what it received back in 2017, it could now easily be a gold.” Michael Edwards

Stengel Pinot Meunier – Gold Medal category Zesty & Zingy 2018: “Fresh and invigorating. Clearly, a cool climate wine and I suggest this a perfect wine to compliment creamy cheese and not so spicy curries.” Michael Edwards

F B Schönleber Prestige Riesling – Gold Medal category ‘Classic & Elegant’ 2018: “Elegant and a good body. It tastes very young and I would love to taste this wine maybe one year from now as I can see it improving.” Michael Edwards

“All the wines justified their medals for sure. Though I would like to add that wine tastes of today can be very different the following year as a wine is, in fact, a living thing even after disgorgement has taken place – It was a good experience to re-taste these wines.” Michael Edwards