Our annual Maui excursion with Champagne

Karl_K · April 21, 2021, 11:08pm

Warren Taranow wrote:
I just reread my post from last year’s trip. That one was cut short in March, 2020, when life as we knew it suddenly changed, and we fled our vacation paradise to an uncertain future. I remember a very ill looking father trying to buy a thermometer in the gift shop as we left, and a woman coughing uncontrollably at the airport gate while everyone gave her sympathetic but fearful glances from a distance. I was thinking “this is going to be a scary and interesting few months”, and here we are, more than a year later. I’m thankful we’re healthy and back to some semblance of our previous life. My life is so different now, but mostly better. I burned out at work by autumn, and needed to reassess my life. I wound up quitting my stressful administrative position, started meditating and later practicing yoga, and dropped to 4 days work a week rather than the 5-7 day 60-100 hour work weeks that had seemed normal for decades. My life is much better, and I’ll be thankful for every day.

Apologies for a little thread drift here. Great post, Warren. As much as I am enjoying the posts and pictures of your trip and of Maui, this particular post really resonated with me. I am glad you were able to reassess where you were in life and have come out better. Regarding yoga, I started practicing yoga 11 years ago and it was one of the best decisions in my life. It really helped me in dealing with many life and work events. Enjoy the rest of the trip and keep posting!

Ed

I am with Ed here, I honestly would like to know a little bit more about Warren’s life decisions in the last year though of course I recognized this post may not be the most appropriate place for that.

Zachary_Mancini · April 21, 2021, 11:18pm

I love this thread. Champagne in Maui sounds so perfect

Warren_Taranow · April 22, 2021, 7:33am

NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 160eme at Mala Ocean Tavern
Savory and autolytic, but still young to my palate. I like the GC with a lot of age. 2004 based, with reserves back to 1990. Orchard fruit, ginger. Very vinous. Repeating the prevailing theme for all of the wines this week, it improved and opened dramatically with air and warmth.

Warren_Taranow · April 23, 2021, 7:43am

2007 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon
A big step up from the delicious NV. Light salmon pink. Pinot and Chardonnay notes. Orange zest and lemon, orchard fruit and strawberries. It’s still a baby, substantial yet elegant now. I really like this wine. I can’t wait to try the 2008.

Blake_Brown · April 23, 2021, 3:09pm

You cast a long shadow Warren. Great pic

Warren_Taranow · April 23, 2021, 6:30pm

My bad, no photo.
2009 Dom Pérignon Champagne

Rich and full bodied (the wine, not the tourists at the resort). Complex and precocious. Citrus melange, floral scents, biscuits and cream. Another wine that I need to slow my consumption and enjoy its evolution in the future.

Mike_Grammer · April 24, 2021, 1:24pm

Concur. Awesome pic. Terrific wines. But I will agree with the other posters, that seeing you talk about the rebalancing of your life, Warren, is the part of the thread that makes me happiest to read. I’ve been on a 3 or 4-day workweek for about a decade now and my life has been immeasurably better because of it. And yes, I am thankful and feel lucky that my profession (in-house legal) and my clientele allow this to happen.

Jenise and Bob are good friends–with you being located in Pacific Northwest I shouldn’t be surprised that you know her.

Mahalo for all the great notes.

Mike

Ed_Steinway · April 24, 2021, 2:31pm

Warren Taranow wrote:
2007 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon
A big step up from the delicious NV. Light salmon pink. Pinot and Chardonnay notes. Orange zest and lemon, orchard fruit and strawberries. It’s still a baby, substantial yet elegant now. I really like this wine. I can’t wait to try the 2008.

Loving this thread, and I need to try this, as we love the Billecart NV Rose’.

Ed

Warren_Taranow · April 24, 2021, 8:05pm

Thanks Mike. I didn’t know that; small (wine) world!
Cheers
Warren

Warren_Taranow · April 24, 2021, 8:08pm

NV Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé
This is one of my, if not my favorite NV Rosè Champagne. It was the perfect choice to bring to the restaurant where a variety foods were enjoyed. It’s very vinous; dense but energetic. Great fruit and spice flavors. Once again, this screamed for more time in the bottle, but showed well in its youth.

One night to go, with one bottle left. Stay tuned for 2009 Cristal at Honu.

Cheers,
Warren

Warren_Taranow · April 25, 2021, 5:19pm

2009 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut
This has it all; structure, texture, cut and finesse despite the warm vintage. There is a kaleidoscope of citrus, orchard, floral and autolytic scents and flavors if you focus, but it’s better to simply relax and enjoy it instead of dissecting its elements.

It’s been a great nine days on the island. We were lucky to have perfect weather, glorious beach and hiking days, great meals, and this parade of fine wines. The quote on my signature has rarely been more apropos.

Cheers,
Warren

A_Dotson · April 26, 2021, 4:10am

Wow!

I appreciate the time/effort/and beautiful tasting efforts!

I love that island. My first time there I tried to swim to Molokai and ended un on Lania.

All champagnes taste better in Hawaii.

Eric_LeVine · April 26, 2021, 5:02pm

They actually have some gems on their list, good Riesling and one of my favorite Rose’s in the world, the Ameztoi Rubentis.

Warren_Taranow · April 26, 2021, 8:03pm

Eric,
Coincidentally, I ordered the Ameztoi Rubentis, but they were sold out! I had to “settle” for the Arnot Roberts Touriga Nacional Rosé, which was really good.
Cheers,
Warren

Eric_LeVine · April 26, 2021, 8:24pm

Oh wow, sorry. I was there 9 days ago and had a couple of glasses of the rose. Maybe I killed it?