There was a knock on the door. A dark silhouette filled its frame.
“Hello, love, you Rebecca Gibb?” Well, I am.
“Got a delivery for you: 49 bottles of Bollinger?” If only this could happen every Tuesday morning.
So in came the boxes. It turns out that if you’re a mega swot and become a Master of Wine you’re in the running for one of the prizes at the annual graduation. The Madame Bollinger medal is awarded to ‘outstanding achievement’ in the tasting papers. I almost fell off my chair when my name was called. The prize is 49 bottles of Bollinger. 49? Yes, seems a strange amount doesn’t it? But that’s eight six-bottle cases made up of its various cuvees plus one lovely but lonely bottle of Vieilles Vignes Françaises 2005 making it 49.
It’s been a long hard road becoming a Master of Wine so I’m going to enjoy every drop with friends, fellow students and family that I haven’t seen while I’ve been locked up studying. And I’m going to record every bottle with a picture.
The first bottle was consumed over dinner with friends I’ve known since school: Iain and Rachel Willis. After their youngest son’s second birthday party – and once our ankle biters were in bed – this was our treat. Ferrero Rochers may also have followed; like the ambassador, I was really spoiling them.
This is the first instalment in the Bollinger diaries and you can follow the photographic journey on my twitter or Instagram feed. It might take a while but I will drink them all. I may need some help? Who’s in?
