Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, December 23, 2017

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FOOD AND DRINK & MORE Mountain Views-News Saturday, December 23, 29017 
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com 
TABLE FOR TWO by Peter Dills 
thechefknows@yahoo.com 
SUE COOK 
REALTOR®, PSA 
626.253.1323 
Sue.Cook@podley.com 
CalBRE# 02015404 
Exclusively Represented By: 
30 N. Baldwin Avenue 
Sierra Madre 91024 
Thank you for your continued business 
& friendship in the coming new year! 
By Peter “St. Nick” Dills Wishing you & your family 
Originally dubbed “the devils 
wine” because the bubbles 
tended to explode in the thin 
bottles, champagne has long 
been the choice (well, my 
choice) to celebrate special 
occasions for as long as I can 
remember. January 1st is 
National Champagne Day, 
and for good reason - more 
bubbles will be served from 
December 24th to January 
1st than any other time of 
the year. Remembering that 
only grapes from the region 
of Champagne, France can be 
so-titled, our last review for 
the year celebrates bubbles 
from Champagne: Mumm 
Cordon Rouge Brut. This is a non-vintage winner 
- just like many blends I have written about from 
California, some of the best champagnes I’ve had 
are non-vintage. The wine maker has access to 
over 500 acres of grapes, and the Reims area of 
Champagne produces great juice year after year. 
The Mumm name is rivaled only by the House of 
Moet for champagne dominance. Though you 
might see me at the local market picking up a 
bottle of Veuve Cliquot, for $10 less I can hardly 
notice the difference. 
Of course, this is not a beverage I would 
recommend drinking on a regular basis, but for 
a very lasting memory of a great occasion, this 
champagne will surely create it! Many of you 
expressed the need for me to keep the prices down 
in this article - trust me I hear you loud and clear - 
but for a celebration I do like this champagne. The 
Cordon Rouge has a wonderful depth of flavor, 
though some say a little too sweet (I disagree). 
If stored properly and chilled to the right 
temperature you will enjoy this immensely. Save 
the strawberries and cherries for the prosecco, 
this is real champagne. Champagne goes also 
very well with fried food (the bubbles cut through 
the oils of the food) and will also compliment a 
nice bowl of salty popcorn. Yes, I said popcorn. 
One last tip for the holidays, your sparkling wine 
or champagne will not keep overnight, so once it’s 
opened at the restaurant or your home plan on 
sharing with a friend to finish it. 
Closure: Corked 
Dills Score 
Each week I will give you my Dills Score. Starting 
with a base of 50 points, I have added 8 points 
for color, 7 points for aroma or “nose”, 9 points 
for taste, 8 points for finish, and 9 points for my 
overall impression, which includes my value 
rating. 
Total Score 91, retail $
44 on Sale, around $34 at 
most area supermarkets 
Tune into Dining w/Dills Saturday 4 PM KRLA 
AM 870 Radio 
Find my food blog www.peterdills.com 
HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS