Champagne, Sparkling Wine, Oz Clarke, Jancis Robinson, 60 Pound Australia Wine

Let's get one thing straight, Champagne can only come from France. Champagne, France to be exact. The method of making Champagne is oft repeated, but nothing matches the earth of Champagne. Many other producers add gas to make a wine sparkle, many other producers don't -- but in Champagne, the wine goes in the bottle with some extra yeast.

The cork goes on.

The wine ferments a second time and releases gas. The Carbon can't escape a corked bottle, but instead pushes and pushes until it 'pops' free. Boo-yah. Global warming in a bottle.

Some people, who incorrectly label their sparkling wines, presumably for phony marketing, and sometimes even add extra ingredients, as with an Almond Champagne are bending the rules. Interwined is told this Almond Champagne is the bomb. But it is wrong, so wrong.

Can't wait to try it.

Ruinart is a Champagne house that appeals both in taste and in price. In fact, their lower priced bottlings are tremendously delicious. Unfortunately, the Blanc de Blancs (only Chardonnay) is not worth the 45 GBP price tag. (It was a celebration.)

Other positives are the Lanson Black Label which frequents the cheapside London party scene. Not sure of the price, but it's nice.

But, it's the Bollinger NV that takes the cake. Minerality, mainly flint, a nice, crisp profile with a touch of tarty green apple. Not to mention a decent weight and enjoyable finish. 8.8 points. Bollinger also continues to bubble for FOUR days after being opened. Now that's gas.

A black cab driver (his taxi is painted black para mi Gringos) aired his wine grievances to Interwined during a 35 GBP fare today. The French keep the best wine to themselves, as do the Australians, he said. He claimed to have once called Oz Clarke a wine snob to his face and maintained that he watches Jancis Robinson's TV show, Uncorked Italy, in order to fall asleep.

Harsh stuff. And unfair. Interwined regrets not telling the driver it was not necessary to drive all the way through Hampstead Heath, but Interwined is not in the business of judging the jobs of others.

The cabbie did add that he felt Argentina trumps Chile with its block-buster Malbec and that 2005 Ribera del Duero was going to be a very promising vintage (!). Would have name-dropped Interwined.com, but he admitted to not owning a computer.

His daughter also does these puppet commercials for Italian sauce company, Dolmio, and is often on set in Australia. She returned with a 60 GBP bottle of wine and opened it with much fanfare at the house. She gave him a glass, he took a sip, and told her, "Darling, I wouldn't even rate this wine."

And Interwined agrees. From now on, when Interwined tries a bad bottle, not word will be written. That way if you see a rating behind a wine, just remember its name.

And know it's all good.