What is an enviable annual salary for most was a bar tab for six on a recent evening at The Westbury Hotel’s Polo Bar when a mystery “Russian billionaire” plunked down $53,000 for a Methuselah of Dom Perignon Rose Gold 1996 and then rewarded the barman for the bubbly with a $16,000 tip, on top of the obligatory service charge of more than $6600! The total tab was in excess of $76,000, a whopping more than $2,375 per glass (a Methuselah is the equivalent of 8 regular bottles of Champagne).

While some other rare bottles of Champagne have sold at auction for higher amounts, the $53,000 bottle of Dom is the most expensive ever sold in a British bar. In fact, the posh Polo Bar is one of only three in Britain that carries the pricey iteration, known as the “King of Champagnes,” appropriately housed in a rose gold plated metal casing. Only 35 bottles are produced annually, made with grapes from specially selected vineyards from the best Grand Crus and stored for 12 years before being bottled. And the 1996 is considered especially fine, noted for its maturity and richness of character.

The Westbury mafiar’s urbane Polo Bar, a refreshingly relaxed retreat from the area’s frenetic activity, has welcomed a discerning global clientele expecting the finest in beverages and hospitality since 1955.

About The Westbury Hotel;

Having recently completing a nearly $50 million renovation, The Westbury Mayfair is the London hotel destination for the world’s traveling elite. The hotel’s 250 rooms and suites in the heart of London’s Mayfair district provide a luxuriously cosseting base from which to experience and explore the city’s best. For more information and reservations, visit www.westburymayfair.com.

Photos courtesy of KARL LAGERFELD © CHAMPAGNE MOET & CHANDON 2006.

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Record Setting Price for Bottle of Dom Perignon Rose Gold Fetched by London’s Famed Polo Bar at The Westbury Hotel

1. F.P.Journe Writing Instruments – This timeless collection of genuine art objects is stamped with the personality and design of the F.P.Journe brand. A new concept of fountain pen without a cap, but one that would ensure all the necessary and customary protection. These unique and highly distinctive pieces, in which the art of the jeweler and the goldsmith intertwine, will ensure that the F.P. Journe pens become a legend within the world of writing instruments.

2. Levis Jean Jacket – Just a classic design with its relaxed fit and rugged construction.

3. Longines Admiral Chronograph Ceramic – Those who prefer a watch that has a simplistic sports design and are looking for a timepiece that is at the same time accurate and robust will choose the Longines Admiral Chronograph 24h. It’s elegant steel case, face, bezel and watch band is sporty, yet Very Classy.  A special treat for watch connoisseurs!

4. Armand de Brignac Gold Brut Champagne – There is no better way to start an evening than to open up a bottle of fine French Champagne from Armand de Brignac.

5. NELSON WADE Travel Bag – The “Pienza” Italian Leather Travel Bag, is fabulous for short and long trips.

My favorite is the “Pienza” in Chianti Red.

6. Bialetti Coffeemaker – The distinctive eight-sided shape of the Bialetti Coffeemaker allows it to diffuse heat perfectly and makes a perfect cup of coffee every time!

7. Prada Aviator Style Sunglasses - Classic simple design that never is out of style!

8. Cheaney Shoe – “Caine” Classic Dress Shoe and  the “Wade” Boot. The Cheaney Shoe Collections from United Kingdom represents the pinnacle of English Bench Made shoemaking.

9. Dark Navy-Black Blazer from NELSON WADE – Custom Made to Measure Navy-Black Blazer from NELSON WADE is a great fashion staple to any wardrobe. A great look with a custom casual french cuffed shirt and jeans.

10. Lagavulin – A bottle of Lagavulin 16 year old is very complex, it’s rich, full bodied and has strong smokey, peaty characters. A little Gaelic liquid joy from Lagavulin is a spirit which likes to take its time.

11. Shirts by NELSON WADE – Medium Spread Collar with your initials made from Tessitura Monti, Italian Shirting Fabric. A great shirt for the classy or casual look!

12. iphone and anything MAC!

13. Cologne – Girls love when guys smell great.  However, your scent should be subtle. Cologne is really an personal thing, because of what may smell good on one person, may smell totally different on someone else. So always test your new selection on your self for a while and see how it reacts to your body’s chemistry.

But if we can make some recommendation…anything from Alfred Dunhill is classic!

14. Leon Magazine – Leon is the quintessential men’s monthly magazine for fashion and lifestyle in the world! Unfortunately it is only aimed at men in Japan in their 30s and early 40s. Although there is some expansion with a new magazine addition for the Chinese market. Leon employs the 45 year-old Italian expatriate Girolamo Panzetta as its very cool, suave cover model and the magazine’s official mascot.

15. Laptop Bag/Messenger Bag – Laptop Bags Made Of Used Fire Hose,  made by Feuerwear in Germany. Founder Martin Klüsener began producing bags and accessories of used fire hoses for a few years now and they have become very popular!

The practical thing about Scott bags from Feuerwear is the padded inside Notebook sleeve that can be quickly and easily removed. This makes all Scott models the ideal companion, even on days when the computer has to stay at home.

We hope you have enjoyed our Top Fifteen Style Essentials from NELSON WADE for 2009!

Live Well! Dress Well!

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Top Fifteen Style Essentials for Men by NELSON WADE

Never one to be late for any party, legendary Champagne house Piper-Heidsieck,  is partnering with famed shoemaker Louboutin to revive the tradition “Le Rituel” a tradition dating back over a century.

What began as a customary toast to the ballerinas of the Bolshoi Ballet by gentlemen nobles of the 1880s, soon turned decadent in Belle Epoque Paris, where regulars of the famed Folies Bergeres in Paris – including the Prince of Wales – seemed never to tire from toasting the luscious dancers by sipping Champagne from their shoes.

If the ritual was born when Europe was celebrating and living life to the fullest, it seems that a century later, Piper-Hiedsieck has revived the tradition to attempt to get our spirits bubbling again.

The boundless energy and gifted imagination of Christian Louboutin was  the perfect match to design a shoe for this  incarnation of the tradition. His shoe -shaped flute – intended for the lips, not our feet – is handmade from Slovenian crystal. Each flute is mouth-blown.

The opaque black crystal form shines like a varnished shoe. The 5.5 inch stiletto heel is hand cut and its sole alights with the fiery color of passion when lifted for sipping. It bears the iconic decadent color of both Christian Louboutin and Piper-Hiedsieck…Red!

For fashionistas the world over, this is a must have! With only 300 shipped to the US, Le Rituel is sure to become a collector’s item for fans of both Piper-Heidsieck and Mr. Louboutin.

To order a box set of Piper-Hiedsieck Cuvee Brut and a handmade crystal stiletto flute designed by Christian Louboutin,  visit www.le-rituel.com, where it is sold for $500.

Look for our article review of Piper-Hiedsieck Brut Champagne later this month.

At NELSON WADE, our motra is “Live Well!  Dress Well!”, a box set of Piper-Hiedsieck Brut Champagne and an handmade crystal stiletto shoe designed by Christian Louboutin certainly invokes this passion for stylish life!

Source Information and Photos courtesy of Piper-Hiedsieck, Christian Louboutin, Peter Lippmann.

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Christian Louboutin, Master Shoemaker has made his Masterpiece!

At NELSON WADE Magazine, we feel that this has happened! When choosing a Champagne to enjoy with friends or someone special, it’s time for you to rethink your choice!

We have the privilege of designing custom apparel with some of the finest fabrics in the world and writing about many new products, new services and dining experiences.  Quite frankly, we were not prepared for the modern sophistication of an old world Premier Cru Champagne!

As we have expressed in our previous articles on Champagnes and sparkling wines,  there is nothing finer than French Champagne, and this certainly proves true with what the Cattier family have been producing for generations in the small village of Chigny le Roses, France.   Master winemaker Jean-Jacques Cattier maintains the rich artisanal and strict wine making traditions, as they did when the family started the vineyard in the 1700′s.

This incredible Champagne is made from grapes that are hand selected from “Premier” and “Grand Cru” vineyards in the Champagne region of France. The grapes are then gently pressed by the traditional Coqart Press, unlike many of the Champagne producers that use valve-driven presses. This process ensures a high quality yield of wine. Each prestiges cuvee of Armand de Brignac contains rich wine from other fine grape harvests which of course produces a very consistent limited production cuvee.

The Armand de Brignac – Brut Gold Champagne which is the most popular form of  Champagne is a unique blend of grapes from the  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the Pinot Meunier varietals.

At 119 steps underground in some of the deepest cellars in the region of Champagne are stacks of filled Gold, Rose and Silver bottles. The bottles are turned by hand slightly each day for a month as generations before have done.

The Armand de Brignac bottle design which was conceived by French Fashion Designer Andre Courreges is hand-polished and has it’s own appropriated hand applied unique pewter nameplate label. It is packaged in a very stunning velvet lined black lacquered wood gift box, or for on-premises sales the bottles are packaged in a velvet embroidered bag.

The Ace of Spades insignias that are on each bottle symbolize the Champagne region’s regal heritage.

So with all this deep love to produce a great Champagne, what does it taste like? Well, this number one ranked Champagne is very soft, creamy, luscious and yet it’s also a complex Champagne. It isn’t harsh in texture but is soft and buttery. The bouquet is very fresh with aromas of a floral note. Some say it’s because of the white flowers in the Champagne region. The excitable fruit character is definitely present.

The Cattier family have been highly praised throughout the world for their exquisite quality of  Champagne by fine Champagne connoisseurs as reported in the “FINE Champagne Magazine”.  It’s rated number 1 in their “Top Ten Champagnes” with a 96 point rating.

When the fine restaurant, Maxim’s of Paris wanted to have their own fine champagne, they requested champagne from the Cattier Family!

So when you want to go out and dine at a fine restaurant like Maxim’s, rethink your choice of Champagne and order a bottle of Armand de Brignac – Brut Gold Champagne!

At NELSON WADE we recommend Armand de Brignac – Brut Gold Champagne.

Live Well! Dress Well!

The web site for Armand de brignac is www.armanddebrignac.com

Source Information and Photos courtesy of Armand de Brignac.

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Is it time to rethink your choice of Champagne brand? We think so!

Rivoli Bar

But in 1972 it was transformed into a parade of shops. It re-opened in November 2001, The Rivoli was  lavishly recreated by designer Tessa Kennedy in the more decorative and luxurious style of the late 1920’s rather than its early Art Deco original and is, once again, a fashionable and popular meeting place in London for an after dinner drink.

Upon entering the bar from the hotel’s Long Gallery, attention is immediately caught by the five gilded ceiling domes, each with their own delicate Lalique style chandelier. Windows overlooking Piccadilly stretch the length of the room and are dressed in voile, with each curtain pleat embroidered with Art Deco emblems in velvet and silk.

To the left of the entrance is the onyx marble bar which glows from lighting set both above and below. Glasses, bottles of spirits and liqueurs, silver cocktail shakers and Champagne buckets sparkle with brilliant reflections from the rear wall set in glass.

Recently described as ‘an Art deco jewel box’, The Rivoli is paneled in polished camphor wood veneer and decorated with golden keystone nuggets and magnificent Lalique glass panels. Four mirrors painted in gold and silver leaf in the style of the 1920’s Parisian artist Jean Dunard, cleverly reflect the light and are further enhanced by a gold leaf Art Deco ceiling.

Rivoli Bar

The walls at each end of the room are dominated by two large gold, copper and silver bas relief panels which were inspired by the famous Yugoslav sculptor Metrovil. Mohair sofas, high backed Palisander wood chairs and armchairs in ocelot velvet provide seating in the bar, while a polished bamboo floor covered in Art Deco rugs completes the overall design theme.

The Rivoli Bar, open daily offers an extensive choice of fine wines and Champagnes…ah yes, those Champagnes! The Rivoli Bar also offers many of the signature martinis and cocktails for which The Ritz is famous.

When you are in London, The Rivoli Bar is a elegant way to enjoy an after dinner drink with friends or with someone special!

NELSON WADE recommends The Rivoli Bar at the The Ritz!

View their web site at www.theritzlondon.com

Source Information and Photos courtesy of The Ritz, London.

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An after dinner Drink at The RITZ in the one and only…The RIVOLI Bar!

This precious gift can be personalized with a detachable “Love for Ever” card.

Just sign it and insert in one of the label holders. For romantics with a love of words, Veuve Clicquot has also inserted a small blank card.

Whether sent by courier, left by a front door, or delivered by hand to a romantic table for two in a fabulous setting, this “message in a bottle” is a wonderful modern interpretation of the love letter.

The Ice Dress is the perfect gift for those who love champagne celebrations on the move, who adore surprises, or who just want to make sure the bottle is kept at the right temperature. Ensuring an optimal tasting temperature for up to two hours, the Ice Dress is both a cooler and a beautiful covering for the mythical Veuve Clicquot Rosé bottle!

The Ice Dress is sexy and fashionable, with its soft pink jacket that hugs the bottle’s precious curves. Made from a high-tech material with a honeycomb structure, the Ice Dress reaches up to the neck of the bottle, and is finished with topstitched  yellow edging. Another detail that will win over all romantics is the double leather label holder: yellow for him, pink for her.

Source Information and Photos courtesy of Veuve Clicquot

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Message in a bottle…

During the long hot summer of 1976, France was hit by an unprecedented drought, which starved the vineyards of water, reminding man of his powerlessness when faced with mother nature’s moods. Oenologists, winemakers and growers were naturally worried. Under such extreme conditions, could the creation of a vintage worthy of the House be achieved? Refusing to give up, they were determined to succeed. After all, such an extraordinary event could well give rise to an extraordinary vintage.

Thanks to their know-how and creativity, a small number of inspired winemakers overcame and mastered the temperament of nature herself. Confounding all expectations, the vintage created that year was one of extreme purity. It was given the name Rare as a reminder of the events which shaped it. Ever since, special vintages have been produced in those rare years in which nature shows its unpredictable side, each time very different but always exceptional.

THE RARE YEARS
Over the last three decades, few years were sufficiently out of the ordinary to justify the creation of a Rare vintage.

1976
The drought which affected the entire Champagne region resulted in wines of an exceptional purity.
**1979 – $1300.00 per bottle, only 36 bottles released.
The cold and rainy spring led to late flowering and harvesting.
The wines from this year were incomparably crisp.
1985
An extremely cold winter with black frost produced firm wines.
**1988 – $360.00 per bottle, only 324 bottles released.
The record levels of sunshine experienced that year followed
by cool temperatures resulted in powerful wines.
1990
The April frost affected almost half of the vineyards,
leading to a difficult flowering period and elegant wines.
**1998 – $375.00 per bottle/Magnum Size Only, 360 bottles released.
Temperatures soared to 102°F / 39°C during early August,
burning the grapes and producing rich wines.
**1999 – $250.00 per bottle, only 1800 bottles released.
From May to September, the vineyards were showered by violent hailstorms.
The resulting wines were crisp.

**Rare vintages released September 2008 to the U.S.

The blend
Rare is a blend chiefly of Chardonnay, completed with Pinot Noir. The Chardonnay comes from the Montagne de Reims, which is renowned mainly for its Pinot Noir. Its most striking characteristic is its unusual expression of minerality. Both on the palate and on the nose, its notes are those of black liquorice; over time, it assumes subtle oriental flavours, reminiscent of sandalwood and incense.

Source Information and Photos courtesy of Piper-Heidsieck.

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Created in 1976, “Rare” Champagne has become a style in its own right!

Francophiles have only a few weeks to prepare for the upcoming France Show, which takes place at Earls Court in London between January 9th and 11th. It is expected over 30,000 guests are expected to attend.

Dedicated Francophiles have only a few weeks to prepare for the upcoming France Show, which celebrates the very best of everything across the Channel and takes place in Earls Court in the New Year.

Gourmands will be able to see some of the finest wine and Champagne offered by the country, along with opinions from industry experts, in a series of four different wine seminar theatres.

Meanwhile, one of Britain’s favourite French chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli will also be on hand to prepare some tantalising delights as he gives a number of live cookery demonstrations.

He comments: “I feel very privileged and excited to once again take part in the France Show, especially as it will be bigger and better than last year!”

Those left feeling peckish after the show can pick up some fine cuisine from the French restaurants located on site.

A special Douane customs point is located at the entrance to the venue, but there’s no need to bring a passport as it is included to signify the beginning of the culture section of the event, including French-themed street performances, musical offerings and shows by dancers.

The France Show takes place at Earls Court in London between January 9th and 11th and with over 30,000 guests expected to attend, tickets for the event and London Hotels are sure to be a priority for anyone keen to attend.

It is open from 10:00 – 18:00 GMT on the Friday and Saturday and 10:00 – 17:00 GMT on the Sunday, with tickets currently available for 10GBP each.

Click here for further information; www.thefranceshow.com

Source Information and Photos courtesy of The France Show.

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It time to be Wined and Dined at The France Show 2009 in London

Be sure to have club soda or tonic water on hand.  Keep in mind that once they are opened they’re only good for about a day or so.  You might want to buy smaller bottles that you can finish during the course of the evening before they go flat.

While wines, Champagnes, and Scotch require very specific and elegant vessels to enhance their nuances, exotic Rum drinks are best served in more fun and festive glasses.  In fact, the more outlandish glass the better!

A few additional basic items to always have on hand would include olives, limes, lemons, stirrers, and a good supply of cocktail napkins.

Enjoy!

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Wet Bar Basics

One of my favorite Champagnes is MUMM Cordon Rouge. More than 77 different Champagne crus, or villages, provide the grapes for Cordon Rouge, up to 40% of which are rated grand cru.

In total, Cordon Rouge averages between 93% to 95 % grand cru rating, one of the highest among non-vintage Champagnes.

Dominated by top quality Pinot Noir grape, the flagship cuvée is a blend of the great terroirs of the Champagne region.

On the your palate this cuvée reveals a delicate freshness which I really enjoy, followed by the power and full-bodied character of the Pinot Noir grape.

The bubbles are lively, intense, and light. Oh those bubbles…..

The bouquet of Cordon Rouge is fruity with notes of peaches, pears, pineapples and green apples followed by hints of candied lemon. All of which I think would go very well with grilled lamb and chicken dishes.

Then again…when I’m enjoying a bottle of MUMM Cordon Rouge. The bottle always seems to be empty by the time I get to the meal….

Oh well, I guess we are just going to have to open more bottles!

NELSON WADE recommends Cordon Rouge Champagne from MUMM.

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Ah…yes, Champagne from MUMM