QUINTESSENTIALLY | Insider | Culture

Design For Living has always been one of Noel Coward’s most controversial plays, mainly because of its frank and very-ahead-of-its-time treatment of bisexuality. Originally staged in the US in 1932, it didn’t receive its first performance in the UK until 1939, and even then it was subject to numerous cuts and excisions by the all-powerful censor at the time, the Lord Chancellor’s office. It isn’t at all hard to see why: even today, in Anthony Page’s skilfully orchestrated and highly entertaining production, there’s a transgressive sexual frisson that runs through the play to electrifying effect.

It concerns, for want of a better expression, a ménage a trois. Gilda (Lisa Dillon, of Cranford fame) is first introduced living with the artist Otto (Tom Burke) in a bohemian Paris. In the midst of this domestic bliss, she is exposed in her come-down from a one-night stand with the playwright Leo (Andrew Scott, who many might recognise from his recent performance as Moriarty in Sherlock). This rather piquant revelation leads to all manner of (very funny) rows and recriminations, with Gilda’s long-standing art collector friend Ernest (Angus Wright) an astonished deliberator in the fracas that ensues. Over the course of the next two acts, the love triangle between the three starts to bend and fracture in all manner of interesting and unpredictable ways; as Otto remarks in Act II, its ‘a bad business. A VERY bad business’.

The cast are all superb, with the three protagonists simultaneously coming across as charming, debonair and utterly self-absorbed; so much so, in fact, that Ernest’s outraged dismissal of their immoral lives in the final act cannot help but ring somewhat true. There’s a lovely cameo from Maggie McCarthy as the permanently outraged housekeeper Mrs Hodge, and the drunk scene at the end of the second act must rank with one of the funniest things that Coward ever wrote. This represents yet another high-calibre production from the Old Vic, and comes highly recommended.

Until 27 Nov. www.oldvictheatre.com.

I’ve seen a couple of Cirque du Soleil’s shows – Saltimbanco in Hong Kong and Zaia in Macau – but aquatic extravaganza O in Las Vegas was by far the most (excuse the pun) splashy and spectacular.

O (which sounds like the French word for water, eau) combines Cirque du Soleil’s contemporary circus acrobatics with a 1.5 million gallon water tank, and showcases the performers’ mastery over the weight of water.

Synchronised swimming, duo trapeze performances, acrobatic barge hijinks and light comic relief from a couple of sailor clowns were a few of the highlights. Set off by the stunning theatre, psychedelic costumes and whirlwind of movement and constant action, it’s complete sensory overload, and of course, absolutely phenomenal.

One of the most dramatic acts included the high-level acrobatics performed on the frame of a swinging boat – jaw-dropping throws and catches perfectly in time with the metronomic swaying of this giant structure above the churning waters below. I also loved the floating barge acrobatics: agile feats of gymnastics performed on top of a floating stage, with a splash of banquine (imagine trampolining performed without a trampoline!) and diving thrown in for good measure.

The technical wizardry is pretty unbelievable – one minute the performers are on solid ground, the next, the floor is dropping away from them with barely a splash. Imagine diving from a platform suspended 60 feet in the air into something that looks a fish tank and making it look as easy and graceful – it’s all in a day’s work for the Cirque du Soleil troupe.

Russian swings fling performers triple-saulting headfirst into the water, and while the cadre acrobatics and a stunning trapeze Washington performance took my breath away, what I loved most about O was the fantasy element – an upturned umbrella that floats along as a boat; a carousel horse gliding down the ceiling before setting sail, jetski-like, into the distance; a man on fire reading a newspaper in a deckchair…

The combination of traditional circus stage acts and otherworldly characters in a setting of water is truly magical.

Accompanied by the sound of Benoit Jutras’ whimsical score, O invokes a sense of “How on earth do they do it!?” awe and wonder….

O Theatre, Bellagio, Las Vegas, 3600 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89109, United States

The ENO’s 2010/11 season exploded into life as their revival of Gounod’s opera Faust took to the Colisseum stage. Faust is one of the most enduring stories in popular mythology, and Goethe’s theatrical masterpiece, the dark fable of one mans wager with the devil. It has seen several operatic productions, including one that the ENO will stage next year – Berlioz’s The Damnation Of Faust. Gounod’s is one of the best known and most respected, with some of the most famous arias including The Soldier’s Chorus and the final three-part harmony between Faust, the devilish tempter Mephistopheles and Faust’s would-be beloved Marguerite.

This new production features high-class production values from the off. Set in the 1950s, it powerfully evokes an atmosphere of a world bordering on apocalyptic suicide, both complicit in and reflective of Faust’s dark musings, in thrall as he is to his own doom. The implication, in Broadway director Des McAnuff’s well judged conception of the opera, is that one man’s end seems almost ephemeral by comparison. But then this is a staging that offers near-constant innovation, occasionally verging on the flashy (Iain Paterson’s excellent Mephistopheles produces as many conjuring tricks from his immaculate cream suits as any cheap magician) but with some soaring visual and musical tapestry.

As Faust, Toby Spence – reputable for striking appearances in Candide and the The Rake’s Progress - copes with the often demanding central role, and is ably supported by Paterson and the aptly named Melody Moore as Faust’s romantic foil. The orchestra is conducted by the ever-excellent ENO music director Edward Gardiner, bringing depth and texture to Gounod’s score, and McAnuff’s visual coups de theatre (coups d’opera surely?) are never anything other than thrilling. If the rest of the ENO’s season maintains this level of quality, then opera patrons are in for a treat.

Until 16 October. www.eno.org

The only non-gaming hotel on the Las Vegas strip, the Mandarin Oriental opened nine months ago next to Aria Resort and Casino and a block away from Paris Las Vegas. How, I thought, would the elegant Mandarin compete with the bright lights and brash sprawl of Sin City?

By rising above it all the Mandarin Oriental offers a sanctuary and an oasis from the desert. It’s not an easy place to pigeonhole with simple names: as the only non-gaming hotel you might expect it attracts an older crowd, but it’s also full of young people looking for something different. Due to the group’s Asian roots, you might want to call it “the Chinese hotel”, and while it certainly has splashes of Oriental whimsy, it would be reductionist to describe it this way. Describing it as a place of supremely personalised luxury isn’t terribly catchy, but the Mandarin is a classy place that defies simple explanation.

Why go non-gaming in Vegas? Because after hours of walking through smoky casinos, cha-chinging slot machines and what feels like the one hundredth tour group, returning to the small and intimate Mandarin feels like your going home. It’s not an exaggeration to say everyone knows your name: with only 393 rooms and suites (compare this to the industry average of 4,000) the Mandarin is all about service, service and more service. Hop on over to any of the other hotels if you’re looking for themed razzle dazzle but you’ll be desperate for the cool calm of the Mandarin when the hustle and bustle of this electric city tires you out.
Check-in is on the 23rd floor of the hotel and is fast and easy – the lack of a casino means no dodging lost tourists and no long lines. Rooms are comfortable and very modern. Chinese accents complement the plush décor with ultra-comfortable beds and extremely huggable oversized pillows. A high-tech control system allows for gentle mood lighting and music, while the eggshell bath, scented bath salts and all the cables for your gadgets are on hand to ensure you’re never too far from the outside world. The hotel is also home to some stellar dining options – leave room to dine at Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, enjoy a cup of tea at their zen tea lounge that overlooks the strip, indulge in Asian cuisine at their delightful MOzen bistro, or enjoy and evening cocktail in the glamorous bar.

I spent a day lounging around the two pools which, like everything else in the hotel, are smaller when compared to other hotels – but much more relaxing. Forget tacky pool parties and raucous, alcohol-soaked crowds. The poolside area includes luxe cabanas offering TVs, sofas and fridges for those who like to catch their rays in style, but even if you opt for one of the comfy loungers, you’ll still be pampered with delicious frozen fruit shotglass popsicles.

Sin City is, of course, a little about the sin. If the mood to party strikes, XS at Encore, Tryst at the Wynn and Tao at the Venetian are the places to see and be seen right now. XS, which was treated to a USD 100 million renovation, offers a stunning indoor/outdoor dance floor and a lavish, sophisticated environment for partying the night away while Tao combines Buddha bar cool with Las Vegas glam by a sultry poolside as well as an indoor club. Ladies, get your glad rags on and gents, look sharp. Sin City just got smart.

Pssst, here’s a little secret from me to you: book into a premier room at the Mandarin and at the time of check-in, subject to availability, enjoy a complimentary upgrade to an executive suite.

Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas 3752 Las Vegas Blvd.
South, Las Vegas, NV 89158

For more information, please go to www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas

Sunshine and sanctuary was all I had on my mind last winter when I jetted south to Mexico. Pale-skinned, bleary-eyed, and extremely tired, the Caribbean waters on the Eastern seaboard of Mexico guaranteed heat and bountiful beauty at an otherwise dreary time of year.

In all honesty, I simply had no idea what lay before me. A place so rich in culture, dripping in colour; an aurora of beauty, art, delectable gastronomy and wonderful people; my trip along the Quintana Roo and Yucatun Peninsular was sheer joy. I barely scratched the surface of a country I am now chomping at the bit to get back to. And, if I do go back, Rosewood Mayakoba along the Riviera Maya will still be there to welcome me home.

Resorts may not be to everyone’s tasting and, though this strip of coastline is dotted with them, the water is aqua, the sand white, powdery, clean and fine, and pretty much any place you wind up actually looks like the brochure. Now, there are resorts and there are Resorts. The Rosewood Mayakoba falls under the latter, capital-lettered umbrella.

Surrounded by natural Mangrove, the Rosewood Mayakoba is all about those rooms on the lagoon, the shimmering blue surrounded by dense and fragrant jungle mangrove. Voted a top resort in Mexico and a deserving recipient of bounteous awards, here, you will find not a stone of detail left uncovered – from the lunchtime sushi (surely the best that side of Tokyo) to the vintage Mexican Tequila – a welcome aperitif in the bedroom – to the restaurant Casa Del Lago, with its lobster rolls and white wine combination – the likes of which I crave even now. The Agave Azul Raw bar and Tequila Library offers just what the name suggests: lots of oysters and scallops and shellfish amidst a library that is, quite literally, filled with book-shaped bottles of Tequila (I am assured that connoisseurs who know how to enjoy it can appreciate why it’s the best drink in the world). The pools are exemplary, the ocean-front sun loungers are utterly seductive, and the spa (which must be tried) is worthy of each and every accolade it possesses.

Mexico is, undoubtedly, a country worthy of deep, deep exploration, but if you’re after just a taste of it, or a least a gorgeous pit stop before heading into the Mayan ruins of Tulum or nearby Playa del Carmen, the Rosewood Mayakoba comes recommended without reservation. You’ll very quickly find out why I could have moved in for good.

Ctra. Federal Cancun
Playa Del Carmen KM298
Quintana Roo, CP 77710
Mexico

www.rosewoodmayakoba.com.

Vintage at Goodwood feels like it’s been a long-time in the making (decades even), with posters and articles popping up since the beginning of the year. A celebration of all things cool Britannia, this ‘Festival of Britain’ descended on West Sussex for a long weekend, creating a temporary time vacuum for lovers of vintage fashion, music, food, art and lifestyle.

The festival is the brainchild of the achingly cool Red or Dead’s Wayne and Geraldine Hemingway, along with Lord March, the mastermind behind the Festival of Speed which has made this beautiful area so famous. This year’s festival is the first of what will become an annual music and fashion event, showcasing DJ’s and bands galore, along with vintage clothing, furniture and vinyl and contemporary brands and bands inspired by Britain’s creative and cultural heritage.

Arriving at the station, it was clear that this wasn’t going to be like any other festival. The platform was teaming with hundreds of people who appeared to have jumped straight out of a time machine, with a bizarre mix of tea-dresses, red lipstick, go-go boots, three piece suits, leg warmers and original army uniforms as far as the eye could see. Festival-goers of all ages had delved into their dressing up boxes to come up with unique outfits from the decade of their choice. I saw immaculately dressed sixty year olds in vintage suits and pillar box hats perched on the vintage 1960′s shuttle bus next to teenagers wearing fluorescent pink leotards, leg warmers and half a can of hair spray.

Walking from the entrance gate, through the small wood decorated with fairy lights that separates the outside world from the main festival, I felt like Alice disappearing down the vintage rabbit hole. The site itself was dotted with vintage cars, motorbikes and caravans and vintage-style posters were plastered across every available wall with the running order of the various stages. Perfectly coiffed attendants waited at the entrance like 60′s air hostesses to greet you when you arrived and a mixture of rock and roll, swing and funk music floated from different corners of the site. Even the food was vintage, with tea tents strewn with union jack bunting and a gloss of doll-like waitresses balancing giant trays of scones with clotted cream and jam, along with vans selling cheese on toast, fish and chips and bacon butties. For those not so interested in the war years cuisine there were also hog roasts, burger vans and sushi stands for those who like sex, drugs and sushi rolls.

There are hundreds of things to do at Vintage, and I wished I had booked in for the whole three days in order to cover everything. Vintage hunters can rummage through the emporiums lining the world’s biggest vintage market – fishing bargains from giant battered leather suitcases and haggling over one-of-a-kind-pieces. Music lovers have a huge choice, with five different stages playing swing, rockability, soul, funk, disco, ska and even electro in a purpose built corrugated-iron warehouse hidden away at the back of the site. The eclectic line-up this year included The Noisettes, The Faces, Earth Wind and Fire, Paloma Faith and The Buzzcocks, and there were even dance classes to help you perfect your moves before hitting the dance floor. Other offerings included the Beauty Box which transformed visitors with 40′s chignons and 50′s quiffs, a cinema showing classic films, a fun fair, a roller disco, art exhibitions, workshops, catwalk shows – the list goes on and on.

When we finally got back on the train and headed back to London we were already planning to book our tickets for next year. Having spent two days soaking up everything Vintage has to offer, we can’t wait for more.

For more information, please visit www.vintageatgoodwood.com/home.aspx

If you expected the Sanderson Hotel in London – haunt of the fashion and media glitterati – to be on the bleeding edge with well-trained eyes and ears for predicting the next big thing then you’d be absolutely correct.

This is amply proved by their annual series of summer showcase gigs in their covered garden on Thursday evenings – presented in association with Beefeater Gin and Modular – which aim to highlight the latest and greatest in new and emerging talent. The hit rate so far is admirably high: Little Boots and Marina & The Diamonds were on the roster last summer and have since soared onto the mainstream scene. Back in June, Coco Sumner (Sting’s Daughter) performed an intimate acoustic set with her band I Blame Coco to rave reviews.

The night we attended saw hotly tipped singer-songwriter Rox perform for a packed courtyard. Rox, whose debut album Memoirs has attracted critical praise and strong commercial interest, wooed the room with singles including ‘I Don’t Believe’, ‘My Baby Left Me’ and ‘No Going Back’. It’s refreshing to write the words ‘it’s hard to categorise her style’, but I’d venture to say a cross between old-school Motown pop and something more modern, harder-edged. This songstress is the real deal with all the ingredients to cross that narrow bridge to superstardom: charisma, brio, sass – not to mention that voice!

And as you would expect from the Sanderson, the standard of food and drink on offer was nothing short of excellent. Beefeater was offered in well-priced (£8.50!) cocktail varieties. My eager guest opted for the ginger and pineapple martini, while I happily tucked into a ‘Bee Fest Martini’, a hat trick of mango puree, pink grapefruit juice and passion fruit syrup. The moreish bar snacks included an international medley of tapas size sharing plates including: mini chorizo in quince puree, rib eye steak skewers with peanut and chilli sauce and steamed buns with braised pork belly.

Perfect cocktail in one hand, Rox belting out the next big hit in the middle of this lush, under-lit garden. Just enough LA vibe for a stellar night out in London.

Sanderson Hotel
50 Berners Street
London
W1T 3NG

Tel – +44(0) 207 300 1400

Hotel 4/5
Restaurant 5/5

Sanctum Soho is a pious affair for rock gods and movie stars. Or it’s a rebel’s lair, or one of those half-remembered dreams, depending on your state of mind. Launched by Mark Fuller of Iron Maiden fame, they’ve kitted out the rooms with so much boho love that trashing them would be like taking a bat to a limited edition Doors 7 inch. But I haven’t got to room 307 yet, with its many-mirrored columns and glass beaded wallpaper, pale pinks and satiny embers on the walls…

7.00pm. There is a Catholic sanctuary next door, and they honoured it when they put up those large gold letters at 20 Warwick Street. The coupling of Sanctum and Soho does wonderful things to the mind before you really know what you’re getting. You think of one of those chirpy Vegas haunts where love-struck Romeo’s get married. I look over my shoulder, and the girl who’s coming in with me is neither love struck, nor in need of a shiny rock. But I’ve promised her good food, and I’ve already handed out one too many compliments.

Daliesque paintings on the walls make my eyes reel as I pull her right into Restaurant No.20. It’s a phantasmagoria of crocodile-skin and slivers of purple glass with the whole bar reflected against bronze-gold leather banquettes. Dinner will be a healthy dose of fine art; the plates of veal and duck, the treacle tart and rose champagne are laid out on veneer tables, and one laughing Blonde applies lipstick as a rather stiff, sulky rock-god swills his glass. But dinners at Eight, and it’s only 7.23.

We had just been to see Nolan’s new movie, Inception. Time was in my mind, and time seemed to slow as we accelerated up to the roof garden on the Fifth. ‘You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling’ I say after considering an aperitif at dusk with a cigar and a copy of Le Monde.

This is first and foremost London’s last sanctuary for smokers, looking out over Soho the way I looked out through the mists of the Neva from the Hotel De L’Europe in Petersburg. The smoke curls through the cigar lounge, and rises above the al fresco Jacuzzi where I didn’t see Al Pacino shouting at the Plasma TV. But I did see some surreal black and white footage of some Nuns, and we ordered something dark in a glass, and I realized that positive emotion trumps negative emotion every time. It’s better to breathe oxygen than carbon monoxide – but that’s why the plants are there.

8:22. We order our starters. Baby Spinach and Cashel Blue Cheese Salad, Charcuteri Balsamic Red Onions and Walnuts; mid price range. Seriously – five out of five, or Helen of Troy to Agamemnon’s Clytemnestra –  such is how I compare the Redhead by my side with a girl I saw in the Roof Garden. The Redhead goes for Foie Gras Terrine and Grape Chutney. She is disappointed and leaves most of it. We don’t talk about it, but her glass of rose – Sancerre, La Croix 2008 – is empty, and our Sommelier/waitress looks upset when she fills it up. After trying the 30day Sirloin, my instincts heighten and I realize that the Redhead is smiling at the Barbary Duck Breast, and the Confit Duck Tortolloni has stuck itself between her teeth. High-five then, and a glowing review, especially after our stomachs are lined all pink and creamy with strawberry trifle. First one I ever tasted, and I’ll be damned if they didn’t put a bit of Rockafella JD in it, just to keep us neat.

9.40. Time ticking on and the night-manager Angelo shows us his best suite. It’s got a circular bed that Joss Stone slept in. Here’s the trick: iPod docks and soundproofed walls so you can leather the speakers. Wii consoles, rain showers, guitar amps, stand-alone baths with magic curtains; and he tells us that for no extra charge, a figure resembling a monk from next door will knock on your door at any hour you wish and shake up a Martini. It sounded absurd when he said it so nonchalantly-like, and then turned on his heels and we flew down the elevator shaft into a room full of bright blue armchairs and a monster cinema-screen on the wall. ‘They take private bookings… worked here a lot during the world cup’ he was saying, but Angelo suddenly reminded me of someone I met on holiday once. He had the same courteous smile, and the way he lifted his eyebrows and the way his eyes sparked like the bar cabinet behind him…

I waited for the dream to collapse; I always thought the Redhead was too good to be true…

I didn’t have that aperitif the next morning; the paper was in English; there was no swaggering out of the room of shimmering mirrors like Travolta (though I unconsciously quaffed my hair up). It was 11.38, and before I left, I spun a coin on the table, just to check I wasn’t still dreaming.

The Redhead wasn’t there anymore, and on the table, a silver box contained fragrant roses…

For reservations, please go to www.sanctumsoho.com.

20 Warwick Street, Soho, London W1B 5NF

I would liken The May Fair Hotel to an elegant woman who seduces not by overt flirtation or conceit but rather by a quiet and self assured sophistication; think Isabella Rossellini or Aishwarya Rai. Ultimately, what I find most appealing about the May Fair is that it continues to attract a loyal and highly discerning clientele simply by being itself: an up-market and chic but pleasantly understated collection of rooms, a spa, restaurant and bar that seem to draw inspiration from – and therefore compliment – the neighborhood in which they are situated: London’s exclusive Mayfair District. A stone’s throw from the designer boutiques of Bond Street: Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Prada and fine jewelers like Cartier, Harry Winston and Asprey – it’s no wonder The May Fair continues to attract the crème of the international set – not to mention the A-list brigade, in droves.

On my recent stay there was a surprisingly well-mannered gaggle of teenage girls sitting outside on the pavement opposite the hotel in the evening, patiently (and quietly thankfully) awaiting the arrival of heartthrob/pinups/pop heavies JLS and The Saturdays – both bands guests at the hotel that evening. Meanwhile doormen were helping mothers usher prams through the front doors and onto the elevator, businessmen were making inquiries with the hotel concierge, a few young couples strolled around love-locked on a romantic weekend in the capital. All this to say, the reason the May Fair continues to be – year in, year out – one of the most popular hotels in London is that once you’ve stayed as a guest, you can not help but notice the consistency in aesthetic, amenities, service – in sum – harmony that transcends from the lobby to the rooms, into the spa, and downstairs into May Fair’s restaurant. There is no aspect of the hotel that delivers anything less than the very best.

The colour palette of the rooms – rich café au laits, caramels, sands and chocolates – immediately massages the eyes into a calm and relaxed submission. The use of textiles like faux-matte crocodile leather on the headboard and velvety chenille pillows, lend warmth and definition to the aforementioned earth tones. With all essential mod-cons: high definition Bang and Olfuson television, iPod dock, hi-speed internet connection – not to mention those blissful extras – rainforest shower and large freestanding bathtub – create the prefect respite after an afternoon of weaving up and down Bond Street.

While there are any number of excellent restaurants in the neighbourhood, including Nobu Berkeley Square directly adjacent, I would highly recommend dinner in the May Fair’s Amba Bar & Grill. My guest and I were deeply impressed by our starters of confit Scottish salmon, purple artichoke, horseradish cream and grapefruit dressing – and – seared scallops and whitebait with garlic mayonnaise and fennel and rhubarb salad. For mains, opt for the slow cooked rump of lamb or grilled sword fish with saffron rice and gazpacho sauce – or their divine artichoke ravioli for vegetarians.

My rating of The May Fair overall? Well, 5 stars of course.

The May Fair Hotel
Stratton Street,
London,
W1J 8LT,
United Kingdom

Tel – +44 (0)20 7769 4041

http://www.themayfairhotel.co.uk

Special Summer Offer!

Explore London’s popular parks this summer in style with Radisson Edwardian’s Bubbles & Berries picnic package. Available at all 12 London based Radisson Edwardian hotels, guests will receive a bottle of Prosecco, a punnet of strawberries and a luxury picnic blanket when staying between 23rd July and 5th September 2010. The package starts from as little as £80 per person, per night, based on two people sharing.

Within walking distance of all the capital’s key parkland, Radisson Edwardian hotels provide the perfect base for summer sightseeing. With bubbly & strawberries in hand, head to one of the famous Royal Parks – Hyde and St. James – from the Radisson Edwardian Hampshire, Mountbatten or Berkshire. Enjoy one of the fantastic theatrical works and concerts at Regent’s Park – just a short stroll from the Radisson Edwardian Grafton hotel – or for a secluded spot, choose from one of the many regency gardens, only moments from the Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street, Kenilworth or Mountbatten hotels. If long, river walks are your outdoor pleasure, Radisson Edwardian New Providence Wharf provides an ideal base for a meander along the Thames. Just be sure to pick up your picnic package at reception.

Available between 23rd July and 5th September inclusive, this summer saving also offers 2 for 1 dining throughout all hotel restaurants.

To book or for further information, please visit www.radissonedwardian.com/summer

Terms & Conditions:

Package Includes:
• 2 for 1 dining
• Breakfast, max 2 person
• Inclusive of a bottle of Prosecco
• Strawberry punnet
• Luxury picnic blanket
• Inc VAT rates

That’s right. Your eyes are not deceiving you. The Warhol Foundation has given permission for Dom Perignon to specially bottle a limited number of Andy Warhol labels and boxes. As you can see, they come in three vibrant colours: red, yellow and blue.

This is a significant moment as it’s the very first time that Dom Perignon has allowed an outside influence to alter their label. Not only are these bottles a work of art in themselves, they are housing the yet to be released 2002 vintage Dom Perignon!

Since the harvest 8 years ago, many Champagne houses have been singing praises about the near perfect vintage conditions and juice that beggars belief (albeit, there was a brief hot spell which affected some of the Chardonnay crop). So it was with very high expectations that I tried this new vintage and it most certainly delivered. This is a step up from the delicious 2000 and a leap on the 1999; it has the power of the 1996 and 1990, but also the finesse of the 1995.

Please note: the 2002 vintage has not been released as of yet so all these bottles are still at their cellars in Champagne. They will be available mid to late September, 2010.

“The 2002 Dom Perignon is at first intensely floral, with perfumed jasmine that dominates the bouquet. With time in the glass the wine gains richness as the flavors turn decidedly riper and almost tropical. Ripe apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this flashy, opulent Dom Perignon. The wine’s volume makes it approachable today, but readers in search of more complexity will want to cellar this for at least a few years to allow for some of the baby fat to drop off. Geoffroy describes the vintage as very ripe and adds that some of the Chardonnay showed the ill-effects of the hot growing season in it the somewhat burned, dehydrated fruit that came in that year. This bottle was disgorged in July, 2009. To be released summer 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2032”

96 points, Antonio Galloni – Parker’s Wine Advocate

For further information, please contact ben@quintessentiallywine.com.