Once upon a time, the G.H. Mumm Champagne house used to bottle and cellar exclusive vintages that weren’t available to the general public. Known as the Reserved collection, these highly prized bottles were only handed out to a select few and became a mark of distinction. A bottle of Maison Mumm RSRV Champagne said you were a valued friend or associate of the family.
These days, the collection has evolved into the exclusive (though more available) Maison Mumm RSRV collection and is currently available in four delightful expressions – the Blanc de Noirs 2009; Blanc de Blancs 2012; Cuvée 4.5 Grand Cru; and the Lalou 2006.
Now, the Champagne house is inviting Hongkonger to join the family and sample these exclusive vintages over dinner at Arcane and Le Pan, two prestigious restaurants that have been designated as RSRV Embassies. The specially-designed dinner menus have been carefully curated to enhance the flavors of the Champagne and showcase their versatility. Hong Kong is the first market outside France to have its own RSRV Club.
We headed to Arcane to check out the exclusive pairing dinner that’s on offer and were delighted to find just how well Shane Osbourne’s unfussy yet elegant dishes complemented the different Champagnes. The starter of Japanese fruit tomato with white gazpacho, grape, almond, and sourdough croutons brought out the fruity flavors of the Maison Mumm RSRV Blanc de Blancs 2012, while the lightly seared white asparagus with broad beans, artichoke, walnut, and sherry dressing allowed the notes of fruit, honey, and vanilla in the Maison Mumm RSRV Cuvée 4.5 to shine.
The night’s standout, though, was the pillowy sautéed potato gnocchi with charred cevenne onion, Shiitake duxelles, and parmesan which brought out the smokiness of the Maison Mumm RSRV Blanc de Noirs 2009.
Tempted to try it for yourself? Well, to access these exclusive dinner pairings at Arcane and Le Pan, you’ll have to enroll yourself in the RSRV club and gain access to the private website and app. Membership also gives you access to workshops by Maison Mumm and Champagne tastings.
How to Join? Register for the Maison Mumm RSRV club online using the code “RSRVHK”
