Welcome to our newest series, The Somm Set. Each month we’ll be sitting down with a guest sommelier and uncovering their guilty pleasures, cellar staples, and everything in between! Follow as they hand-select their favorites from our warehouse, giving you the inside scoop on cellar must-haves!

This month on The Somm Set, we’re excited to feature Philippe André, Sommelier. Join us as we explore everything from his passion for wine, favorite wine and food pairing, and his newest endeavors.

Read Our Interview with Philippe André
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This week from Philippe André:

Along my career as a Sommelier, I've been fortunate to taste some of the greatest wines ever- but it's the people I've met that made those bottles so special. I'll never forget my first "Monty" experience… one of my early nights on the floor, still wet behind the ears, I was offered a glass of 1999 Remoissenet Montrachet by my "Burgundy Godfather," and I knew I was in it for life. His and many others' generosity provided me the confidence to push myself professionally, and it's that raw joy for great wine like I had that night 17 years ago that I use to keep me grinding! I'm very honored to show you my world through Benchmark's incredible cellar as this month's featured sommelier... LET'S GO!!!

Hello everyone, my name is Philippe André, aka @niquesomm and my first wine love is… Champagne! Champagne is arguably the greatest expression of time & terroir. The wines are often associated with celebrations or rap videos, but I kid you not; this is one of the world's most serious and versatile wine regions!

I'll never forget my first "ah-ha moment" with Champagne on a rare night off early in my wine journey. I bought two bottles of Champagne from the @OCEANIQUE505 cellar and opened the first while playing NHL '04, a typical chill night, only to find it austere and muted. After struggling through the first glass, I decided to put it aside and chalk it up to a flawed bottle and open the second. The second bottle was vintage 1995 by Laurent-Perrier. Immediately this was what I was hoping for; it was massive and direct and opened up over the hour it took to finish. I decided to come back to the first wine, a Non-Vintage Blanc de Blancs by grower-producer Waris-Larmandier, and to my surprise, the nose on it erupted out of the glass and was absolutely stunning. This moment proved to me that Champagne was more than just refreshing and delicious; it was a true oenological experience and can be treated like any top Burgundy in your glass.

Champagne Charlie Returns!

In 2018 I was offered the opportunity to join the winery team at Charles Heidsieck Champagne as the US Ambassador- I couldn't say no!! When I was invited to meet and taste through the lineup with our Chef de Caves Cyril Brun, it became clear we have something very unique and special to share with the wine world. Over the few years, it has been incredible watching that very same joy I had many moons ago on other's faces when they try Charles for the first time. I could not be prouder to steward these wines of passion, heart, and soul from our historic chalk cellars in Reims:

Nothing Better Than Aged Bubbles!

Why is Champagne the perfect time capsule? Is it the bubbles? Is it the grapes? Is it the terroir? Is it the shoes?!!? Yes, yes, yes, and yes!! Anyone that drinks with me knows I am a HUGE fan of aged wines.. but for me, there is nothing better than a bottle of properly aged vintage Champagne!

Rosé To Make Grown Men Weep.

Rosé Champagne gets a bad rap. Often associated with sweetness or influencer brunches, I'm here to show you some serious juice that will bring even the most discerning collectors to tears. These selections are ultra-complex on the nose with dried rose petals, blood orange, cranberry, and bergamot. On the palate, it's pretty straightforward; it tastes like victory!! They are like drinking a 1979 DRC Romanée-St-Vivant with bubbles- what are you waiting for!!!

#SIZEMATTERS

Some would call me a "Size King"... they are not wrong. I believe wine is meant to be shared, and nothing says I love you like a big bottle of bubbles! Here are my selections that your friends and family deserve when you can host that proper gathering we've all been waiting quite some time for… and don't forget to tag #MAGNUMSSHOWYOUCARE!

Check out all the wines mentioned below!