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DECEMBER 13, 2004
Edited by Toddi Gutner WINE A Toast To British Bubbly France's champagne makers are facing a serious challenge from a most unlikely rival: the beer-loving British. In a recent blind taste test by Which? magazine, Britain's answer to Consumer Reports, seven English bubblies scored equal or higher to supermarket Tesco's (TSCDY ) premier cru French champagne. International wine organizations -- and even the French -- are toasting England's efforts. In March, RidgeView Estate in Sussex, owned by former tech exec Michael Roberts and his wife, Christine, won a silver medal at the august Paris Vinalies Internationales for its Knightsbridge 1999 vintage. In 2003, neighboring Nyetimber Vineyard, owned by Céline Dion songwriter Andy Hill, won a Vinalies gold medal for its 1995 Première Cuvée Blanc de Blancs. Just as New Zealand vintners discovered their soil's affinity for sauvignon blanc, the Brits have found they have a flair for sparkling wine. The reason: The climate and soil of England's Southeast are nearly identical to those of the Champagne region, 90 miles away. While Britain's standards are high, production remains low. Nyetimber and RidgeView produce just 30,000 bottles each a year. Still, Nyetimber is now on sale in the U.S. from Neiman Marcus (NMG ) stores in Dallas and a handful of Dallas high-end restaurants. The award-winning 1995 Nyetimber sells for $440 a case, compared with $1,541 for 1995 Dom Perignon. That's a good reason to break out a bottle of British bubby to celebrate the New Year. By Jane Black INSURANCE Paying A Premium With life expectancies going up, life insurance rates should be coming down, right? That has been the case for a decade, as term life premiums dropped by about half. But now, the industry is tightening its guidelines, and that could spell a hike of 5% to 25% for many applicants. Some insurers are raising rates outright, says Bob Barney, president of Compulife Software, which provides rate comparisons. Others are simply making it harder to qualify for their best rate. For example, American International Group (AIG ) has just lowered the weight cutoff from 221 pounds to 205 for a six-foot man, says Barney. A 40-year-old in the preferred-plus rate category would pay $395 a year for a $500,000, 20-year term policy, but $490 at AIG's preferred level. Insurers are also getting pickier about cholesterol levels, family history of disease -- even driving records, says Byron Udell, CEO of AccuQuote. But some good news could be in the offing. State regulators are adopting a new actuarial table that takes into account longer life spans. That could offset the rate upsurge when states adopt the new numbers next year or in 2006. By Carol Marie Cropper   TIME OFF Cartier Exhibit A sparkling display of gem-encrusted jewelry, watches, clocks, and pens from Cartier's (RCHMY ) private collection is on show at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, through Mar. 27. It's the exhibit's only American stop after a world tour that included stints in Berlin, Milan, and Kyoto. Cartier commissioned avant-garde Italian architect Ettore Sottsass to curate the exhibit and design the showcases. The 200 pieces are from the first half of the 20th century, and many adorned such notables as Gloria Swanson and Mrs. Cole Porter. By Kate Murphy
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