Every Friday TheChampagneSommelier will ask 5 questions about 5 coeur de bouteilles to friends and Champagne lovers from near and far. This week we had a bubbly chat with Feinschmeckeren !
BIO
Rasmus Palsgård is a 32-year-old journalist by profession living in Copenhagen. Ever since he was a small child, eating well has been an important part of his life and at the age of 17, he decided to apply for the Danish School of Journalism in order to become a food and wine writer. Today, he runs his own business writing about restaurants and wine for the leading culinary magazines and newspapers in Denmark and Germany. He also runs feinschmeckeren.dk, one of the most respected Danish websites about restaurants and wine.
He also plays a leading role in the 360 Eat Guide, a Nordic restaurant guide ranking the best restaurants in the Nordics based on their work with sustainability. When he is not visiting restaurants around the world, Rasmus enjoys cooking at home. In 2016, he participated in the Danish edition of MasterChef and got all the way to the finals. He was one tiny mistake away from the trophy.
Winewise, Rasmus has studied WSET Level 3 and his favourite wine regions are Champagne, Mosel and Burgundy. You can follow his activities on Instagram @feinschmeckeren.
Which Champagne would You treat your parents or in-laws?
My parents as well as my in-laws appreciate good wine without being too knowledgeable about it. Therefore, I would treat them with something that is fairly easy to understand while still showing a slightly different expression of what Champagne can be compared to the very well-known, big houses. It could be the Blanc de Blancs Reserve from De Sousa.
It has a beautiful, bright fruit accompanied by deep layers of minerality and it has a very lively, welcoming character as well. It has this slight touch of natural wine to it, while still being super clean and bright which I find very appealing. I’d make sure to get hold of a magnum bottle in order to make sure that there would be enough for everybody.
Which Champagne would You treat your lover?
This has to be something very special. I immediately think back to a dinner four years ago at Restaurant Marchal at Hotel d’Angleterre in Copenhagen. There, we were served the most amazing dish with ribbons of gently cooked squid served in a buttery, foamy Champagne sauce and a glass of Krug ‘Grande Cuvée 164th Edition’ on the side.
That was the first time, my girlfriend really understood the greatness of Champagne so it would have to be another bottle of this splendid Champagne, preferably with another serving of the squid. Krug ‘Grande Cuvée’ is – throughout the different editions – also one of my favourite Champagnes, thus I would also love to enjoy such a bottle with her.
Which Champagne would You treat your boss?
Well, since I am my own boss, this is not the easiest question. But if I were to treat a good business partner well, I would probably pick a bottle of ‘Dom Pérignon’ 2008. It is such a beautiful Champagne providing all the classic notes of citrus, toasted brioche and ceps and the acidity and freshness in this vintage is remarkable. This is a wine that every sane person would love to drink and I think ‘Dom Pérignon’ really nailed it with this vintage.
This bottle is a great conversation starter as well as a perfect way to celebrate a good partnership. This vintage is also special to me, since I had the pleasure to travel to Champagne to participate in the big celebration of this particular vintage that also marked the retirement of Richard Geoffroy and the take-over by Vincent Chaperon. Great memories!
Which Champagne would You treat yourself?
Hmm, I would always prefer to share a bottle of Champagne with someone. But let’s imagine that I got back to an empty apartment after a good, long day of work, it would love to sit down at my balcony with a bottle of ‘Fidèle’ from Vouette et Sorbée.
I love this very open, rich expression of Pinot Noir, that shows from the very second it goes in the glass. This is a perfect example of a well-made grower Champagne with all the structure of a classic Champagne with these charming, more playful notes added; a great Champagne.
Which Champagne would You treat a dream guest, and why?
This is a great one. My dream guest would actually be my grandfather, whom I have never met. He died before I was born but my mother has told me so many times that we would have become such great friends. He also had a great passion for eating well and I am sure we would have shared a lot of good meals together if we would have had the chance.
I would love to share a bottle of ‘Les Bermonts’ 2012 from Benoit Marguet with him. This is one of the most beautiful Champagnes I’ve ever had. It is so elegant, charming and powerful – it brings a big smile to your face right away. Beniot Marguet is one of my favourite Champagne producers. He is a true Champagne wizard. He brings life and personality into each and every one of his Champagnes in a way that only Jacques Selosse is able to match. We would listen to Ludovico Einaudi in the background while talking about all the good things in life.
