Friday, April 3, 2015

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace Debuts New Grower Champagne Menu


From our friends at Pearl Dive Oyster Palace...

Pearl Dive Oyster Palace has debuted a new Champagne list, featuring 25 different Champagnes and two by the glass selections, with a focus on small, grower Champagnes from boutique producers across five different styles. The restaurant's menu of oysters and savory items such as the Pearl Dive fried chicken and po' boys pair well with sparkling wine, and Sommelier Josh Pauley's goal is to keep the menu accessible, encouraging patrons to try different styles and explore lesser known producers from the region. The bottles are all less than $100, with affordable options in the $50 to $60 price range, as well as two by the glass options for $12 and $17.

The full Champagne menu is available here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4lbfxusnfdmola8/PDOP%20Champagne%20Card%20Final.pdf?dl=0, and below are a few highlights from the menu.


One of the selections Pauley is most excited about includes wines from J. Lassalle, one of the only all-female run estates in Champagne, produced from 11 acres of Premier Cru vineyards. The 2005 Brut, which is on the menu, is a 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir blend that goes through full malolactic fermentation and spends seven years on its lees, which results in a creamy, rich wine with flavors of Golden Delicious apple and poached pear. The J. Lassalle Cuvée Spéciale Brut Premier Cru Chigny-les-Roses, Montagne de Reims 2005 is featured on the menu.

Another small producer Pauley is thrilled to bring to Pearl Dive is Nicolas Demière, of Demière Ansiot from the town of Oger, Côte des Blancs. He biodynamically farms eight acres of vineyards but bottles less than half of that, producing only two wines: a Blanc de Blanc NV and a Blanc de Blanc vintage, of which the 2004 is a standout and featured on the menu.

Alongside families that have been producing Champagne for generations, Pauley is excited to showcase a very young producer called Coessens Largillier, whose first vintage was 2006. Only producing 1,000 cases of wine per year, their 100% Pinot Noir from the southern region of Aube has earned a cult following for its fruit forward wines with a rich and creamy body. The Blanc de Noirs Brut Ville-sur-Arce, NV is featured on the menu.

About Pearl Dive Oyster Palace: 
Pearl Dive Oyster Palace is located at 1612 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009. It is Metro accessible from the Red and Yellow and Green lines, located five blocks from the U Street/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Station, and six blocks East from the Q Street exit of the Dupont Circle Metro Station. For additional information about Pearl Dive call (202) 319-1612, or visit www.PearlDiveDC.com. Pearl Dive now accepts reservations seven days a week, until 7 PM.