Happy New Year to you all. Thank you for reading and participating and the emails. Wishing you all a peaceful year, filled with success and joy and the health to put it all to good use.

Just for old times sake I thought I'd give a few low points for Champagne in this year and some of the highs. Here goes.

Worst Trend In Champagne: New Oak

Worst Expensive Bottle of Champagne I'm Glad I Did Not Buy: Clicquot Grande Dame 1998. (liquid marshmallow. It was awful.)

Best Surprise in Champagne: The organic Authentis line from Duval Leroy--not bad! (not in the states.)

Most uncomfortable meeting in Champagne: Chef de Cave of Moet. What a mistake.

Best (or is it worst) Lie in Champagne: It is impossible to be organic or biodynamic in Champagne

CHAMPAGNES I LOVED!

They are all in the states and good luck finding them. I'm not giving descriptions for the most part, because it just doesn't matter. As far as dosage, they either have none or minimal, except for the De Meric...which has a bit more than the rest. Prices, like for the Boulard, can be as low as $32.

If you drink these you'll never look at any of the LVMH big boys again.

*Francoise Bedel (LOVE! Floral, complex. All black grapes, from a mere 45 minutes outside of paris)

* Lassaigne (LIQUID LOVE from the chalk hills of Mongeueux far away from the primary grape growing area. See earlier entry from the champagne trip.)

*Raymond Boulard (What this version lacks in acidity it makes up in minerality and complexity. Had this for the first time last night. What have I been missing? And it's $32 at Astor.)

Guy Charlemagne (What can I say? Yum?)

De Meric (Absolutely poor man's Krug)

David Leclapart (Quirky. Glug. Glug.)

Pierre Moncuit (Classic)

Champagne Fleury (Cuvée Robert & the rosé are the favs.)

Larmandier-Bernier (Life will never be the same)

Selosse (If I could find it and afford it I have no doubt I would worship its bubbles)

Pierre Brigandat. (Under $30. Tremendous steel for a steely champers.)