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These days, nothing is normal.  Do you feel me on that?  Christmas this year due to COVID-19 was quite a different experience and one that I think we won’t soon forget.  No parties, no get-togethers, no last minute shopping at the mall, no going to our places of worship and no Christmas meals with extended family.  I mean, some might question how one can even call this Christmas (or at least the former me would have!) but these are the times that we find ourselves in and we’ve all got to make the best of it.

Truth be told, the situation is pretty sad.  Ok, maybe it wasn’t completely miserable but it certainly was not innately fun.  So to make it fun, we had to get a little creative and find comfort in the smaller things.

And that pretty much sums up how Christmas Day went down at my house.  Being in the middle of a province-wide lockdown in Ontario that has seen strict measures in place on any type of gatherings and any business activity that is not deemed to be an essential service, there was very little going on that felt like Christmas of past years.  Unable to visit our family, or have them visit us, we spent the day together.

In spite of it all, we did manage to have a lot of fun as a tight knit foursome.  Amazingly, we made a great day out of it and one that we will remember for years to come! 

KICKING THINGS OFF RIGHT….

The day started off with my young son bursting into our room, announcing that it was Christmas morning and cajoling us into getting out of bed.  He then ran upstairs and bothered his sister until she too got out of bed.  

Fortunately, I was able to convince the kids to give me a few minutes to pull myself together and do a quick mediation session before all of the mayhem started!

Once we got settled around the tree, with presents stacked around each family member, the fun and games began.  The kids were not disappointed - the tree was overflowing, Santa had paid us a visit and they received a few things on their wish lists and more, thanks to the generosity of Old St. Nick and their beloved Aunts, Uncles and Grandparents near and far ;-).

SAVING THE BEST FOR LAST!

But the best surprise, and the most memorable gift, was saved for last!  After everyone had opened all of their presents and rejoiced, we told the kids we had saved one final special present for them, which they could get after cleaning up (hey, here’s some free parental advice for you - bribe your kids into doing what you want them to, it ALWAYS works :)).  

When we were all ready, we handed the kids one box each and told them to open it together.  Can you guess what was so incredible that was inside, so memorable that it could make COVID-Christmas as good (or even better) than any other?

Each box contained an assortment of …..dog accessories. You got it - the big reveal was that we are getting A NEW PUPPY!!! 

Oh my gosh, I can’t describe their reaction.  It was epic.  I’m talking whoops of joy, happy dancing and tears….I’ll never forget it.  Of course, then there is the business of the puppy itself and taking care of it.  We’ve never had a puppy before but we are ready for this adventure.  More on the puppy in upcoming posts - I plan to share it all i.e. the good, the bad and the ugly - so stay tuned!

BRING ON THE CELEBRATION!

With presents out of the way, it was then time to feed everyone.  In our family, Christmas Day simply would not be complete without an epic over-the-top brunch.  This is a very standard part of our usual Christmas Day program. Usually, we have brunch at a fancy restaurant in our fancy threads.  Things were not quite so fancy this year because of the lockdown, but no less delicious!  

Instead of fancy threads, we donned our matching Christmas pyjamas and had a big homemade feast.  And because it was Christmas Day, and because we also had a new puppy to celebrate, my husband and I poured ourselves a beautiful Champagne to celebrate our family and our blessings.  

Which one you ask?  What better to celebrate with than the time tested monarch in a yellow dress, Veuve Clicquot? :))

WHY VEUVE CLICQUOT?

For our celebration, we chose Veuve Clicquot NV Brut Champagne.  While Veuve Clicquot makes a range of wonderful Champagnes, this one is one of the most widely recognized Champagnes across the globe and an easy-breezy choice that doesn’t require a lot of thought or research.  Aside from being so recognizable, Veuve Clicquot NV Brut Champagne is also downright delicious!  

I can’t blame you if you are wondering if it is all marketing hype and thinking the wine is likely not that great.  But I have to tell you that to think this would be a grave mistake.  This is a very solid and reliable non-vintage Champagne that really does deliver!

A BIT ABOUT THE BRAND

Established in 1772 as a proper wine business, Veuve Clicquot actually became famous once it was taken over by Madame Clicquot upon the death of her husband Francois, who was the founder’s son.  She was only 27 when she assumed responsibility for the business, which made her a real female maverick of her time.  It is actually said that the first ever vintage Champagne was created under her leadership in 1810.  She is also said to have crafted the first rose Champagne and to have had a very keen eye on quality and public relations, which permitted her to extend the reach of the brand all around the world.

Madame Clicquot was famously known as the “Grande Dame of Champagne” and her legacy continues on to today. In spite of the fact that the Clicquot House is now actually owned by the mega-giant conglomerate Louis-Vuitton-Moet-Hennessy (LVMH), Madame Clicquot and her story is still a key feature of this brand, which I love because it highlights the power of what a strong woman can achieve!  

A BIT ABOUT THE NV (NON-VINTAGE) BRUT CHAMPAGNE

Also known as the Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label, the wine that we had is the Clicquot House’s signature Champagne, re-created in the same style and flavour profile year after year, thanks to a hefty reserve of wines from years past that are used over and over to create a signature blend and taste.  

The Champagne is made from a blend of about 50-55% Pinot Noir, 25-30% Chardonnay and 15-20% Pinot Meunier.  It is also aged for three years, which is double the minimum requirement for NV Champagne.    

Priced at about $80 Canadian (or about $50 USD), this is a very nice wine for the price.  And I think it is perfect for any celebration or table where a celebration is occurring!  It also makes a phenomenal gift for anyone special in your life.

MY TASTING NOTES

With a beautiful golden colour and very fine tiny little beads and a lovely persistent foam mousse when it is first poured, this Champagne is simply beautiful to look at and looks like a celebration!  On the nose, the Champagne displays toast and mineral notes and has a light citrus scent.  On the palate, it is incredibly fresh and crisp, with hints of pear, grapefruit and brioche toast.  To get the best out of this wine, the serving temperature should be between 8-10 degrees.  As it warms up, the flavour profile becomes a little fuller in my view and you lose a bit of the wonderful crispness of a top notch Champagne.

MY PAIRING SUGGESTIONS

Frankly, I’m one to drink Champagne with just about anything.  I think it always brightens the mood and makes things festive and uplifted.  Having said that, I think the ideal things to pair this Champagne with are high fat salty cheeses, raw seafood including oysters and smoked lox on cream cheese and delectable brunch items like waffles with strawberries and whipped cream!

HOW TO WINE IT UP A NOTCH

To really wine things up a notch, serve this Champagne in a white wine glass instead of a Champagne flute.  This is an “insider tip”. You’ll experience the aromas a lot more by changing up your glassware this way!

FINAL THOUGHTS  

2020, you’ve been quite the year.  So many ups and downs, and round and rounds.  But no matter what this year has brung, Christmas is still Christmas and I’m glad we took time this year to count and celebrate our blessings and make long lasting memories.  I hope you and yours also enjoyed a wonderful Holiday Season too!

Cheers!