Which Champagne are you drinking?

WINE TALK
1541

Extracted from a recently posted thread:

2002 KRUG BRUT- this release was named by the house as “Ode to Nature” and as stated on their website “to express the music of an extremely serene and generous year with perfect conditions for highly-expressive wines centered around fruit of all types with a beautiful structure, great intensity and elegance.”; the ID code, 315063, informs us that this is made of 39% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 21% Pinot Meunier and that the bottler spent 13 years in the cellar and the cork was inserted in the summer of 2015; the 02 was actually released after the 03 and it is really shining presently; our bottle was stupendous with loads of aromatics, flavors, texture, body and length; the inviting nose had brioche, ginger and spice laden golden delicious apple, yellow peach, lemon, orange peel and papaya and all continued on to be joined by accents of honey, caramel and buttered toast; it was so beautifully textured that all my tactile sensory receptors on my tongue and palate went wild and this might have been its hallmark although it had so much going for it; basically, it just exuded class and excellence with subtle power and and yet amazing finesse; the best vintage Krug I`ve had in a while.

Cheers,
Blake
CFED5047-88D8-4D28-B15C-D610EC6AC1BB_1_201_a.jpeg
AC58A416-AD67-4904-B2A9-E6DFAF1600D5_1_201_a.jpeg

1542

another extraction from the thread:

2008 PHILIPPONNAT CLOS des GOISSES EXTRA BRUT- the back label had lots of disclosures that stated this is comprised of 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir which is unusual as Pinot Noir is more often the highest percentage; it was disgorged Sept. 2017 at 4.5 gpl, thus an extra brut; mindful of my first few bottles of the 08` Cristal, it was very tight and ungiving, but it was real obvious it has the potential to shine ever so brightly; it had bracing acidity, loads of citrus fruit with lemon and lime most evident along with apple and pear and accents of saline, chalk and brioche; it had a creamy mousse, was very rich and full bodied; I kept swirling in hopes that it would give a bit more and when it held back, I wanted to decant it. I’ll wait for a year to open another bottle.

Cheers,
Blake
33AB6854-CDC9-415E-B71C-E28CD7977FE1_1_201_a.jpeg
B867093E-1C78-4E63-92B1-54E9ED649098_1_201_a.jpeg

1543

NV René Geoffroy Champagne Premier Cru Expression Brut - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (10/4/2020)

The nose is quite expressive: yeast, red fruits, green apple and spices, pretty much all in equal parts. The palate is in line with that showing decent vinosity supported by sufficient acidity and a hint of minerality. Good concentration on the mid palate but finishes short. Good and good QPR. I would buy again.

35% Meunier, 35% PN, 30% Chardo, Assemblage 2014/2015, Disgorged July 2019, 5g/l

1544

Also posted as a separate thread:

Many years ago, Veuve Clicquot was one of our go to champagne houses especially for their La Grande Dame {which I would pull for my sweeties birthday annually} and the vintage rose. The 1990 was our fav of all for both wines although 1985 was super good; I bought lots of the 90` rose in 750 ml and magnum formats and just recently realized I had 2 more 750s plus a mag still in the cellar.

In the middle of the night 2 nights ago, I woke up thinking about this and actually got up and made a note to open a bottle soon to see if it is still viable and has any semblance to the wondrous wine we have adored in the past. We recalled one of the last times we drank it was in LA with dear friends before going to dinner at Spago in Beverly Hills and it was the best bottle of all.

Here’s the results of the recent re-visit with the rose:

1990 VEUVE CLICQUOT BRUT ROSE RESERVE- the first good news was the preponderance of bubbles when poured; it was almost as if it was a newly released vintage full of energy; the color was a dark red amber, still a good sign in that it was just shade or 2 darker than the norm; the nose was the first and really only sign that this was pretty advanced with that typical oxidized character that prevails in wines that are so effected; so with a clothes pin on my nose, I tasted it and lo and behold, it was good with distinct nutmeg and clove notes supporting a mature red berry fruit profile; later on, the bubbles are still seen working in the glass and it’s holding its course without any dissipation; we actually poured a 2nd glass and enjoyed what it had to give while remembering what it was like during our last visit at least 10 years ago. I`m thinking the magnum has to be somewhat better and certainly needs to be opened sooner than later. So, a 30 year old champagne that actually had some very enjoyable attributes; maybe I’ll still become of fan of “aged” bubbly.

Cheers,
Blake
38839FF2-C15F-49E8-A883-44ECD20C41C5_1_201_a.jpeg

1545

2004 Taittinger Comtes BdB… having had a couple of cases of this and the 2006, there is no question in my mind the older sibling is the better wine now and the gap will widen over time. Taking on some greater secondary characteristics, it is now in its multi decade drinking window for my tastes.

1546

Three great wines opened too young.

2008 Dom Pérignon Champagne (9/27/2020)
Two recent bottles seemed more open than this one. I’m going to put the brakes on opening these for a bit. This had the nice DP toast, but was otherwise shut down.

2008 Philipponnat Champagne Cuvée 1522 (10/10/2020)
If I had a competent memory, or had read my previous TN, I wouldn’t have opened this. A beautiful wine, energetic but young and primary. I doubled down and followed it with a Krug 164. What a dumb-ass.

NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Edition 164eme (10/10/2020)
A beautiful wine, but way too young. Ginger, dense citrus and orchard fruit; power, harmony and balance are the most attractive features. Still, none of the aged Krug fireworks that make this cuvée so special with time.

The future me might curse the present me for my lack of restraint and patience, but fortunately I have cellared a lot of these.

Cheers,
Warren

1547

Warren, I’m with you on the too early to open decisions on these. Just had all of them with similar conclusions. Another hand spank along with the 08` Cristal.

1548

Extracted from a thread just posted:

2010 LARMANDIER-BERNIER VIELLE VIGNE DU LEVANT EXTRA BRUT- this single-cru champagne is aged for 7- 8 years before being manually disgorged 6 months before its released; dosed @ 2 gpl, it’s made from 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay; this was well balanced with fresh green apple, pear, lemon and minerals delivered in a creamy texture; it’s very pleasant, rich and fulfilling.

Cheers,
Blake
4AB3021E-DAF0-4A5D-AF09-9EB9BB9FB569_1_201_a.jpeg

1549

I have some older bottles of the DP, Cristal, and Krug GC. The problem comes when I look in the cellar and see a handful of older vintage wines next to a case or more of young ones, I grab the newer vintage trying to preserve the old for another day. Flawed logic!

1550

NV Mouzon-Leroux & Fils Champagne Extra Brut Cuvée L’Atavique - France, Champagne (10/11/2020)

Good mousse and plentiful bubbles. The nose shows a little reduction, pear, praline and toasted hazelnuts. The palate starts high-strung with a lot of acidity. It does show orchard fruits, toasted bread and nice complexity but the overarching profile is the acidic backbone and saline finish that brings the fruit profile towards preserved lemons. It shows some very good stuff but it’s too young for my taste. I like it enough to go grab a few bottles and give them cellar space.

1551
1 Like
1552

we had the Veuve 2008 rosè last night and it underperformed prior bottles. Just did not have the life and depth of flavor prior bottles offered. Maybe just in a bad spot right now

1553

2014 Benoit Dehu La Rue des Noyers: good, certainly not great, but interesting at the very least

1554

2006 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas-Francois Billecart - Loved by all

1555

Cedric Bouchard ‘18 Vilaine. Very tasty, vinous young Champagne. Great texture and creamy nutty but with fine and vibrant supporting acid. Benefited from a decant.

1556

A couple of nice recent Champagnes:

1995 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne (10/21/2020)
This 1995 was spectacular, better than a 1996 I had about a year ago. Beautiful hazelnut and brioche with fresh lemon and bright acidity, everything you want in a Champagne with some age. (96 pts.)

NV Alexandre Filaine Champagne Cuvée Spéciale - France, Champagne (10/18/2020)
Lemony, floral, with a hint of wedding cake in a very good way, filigreed elegance, just lovely and beguiling. (93 pts.)

1557

During a recent trip to NW Arkansas, I enjoyed numerous wines with friends over my one week stay. Some I took and some came from the cellars of my friends. Undoubtedly, the most special bottle came from the daughter and husband of my dear friend who I stayed with. I had given it to them 10 years ago for their wedding with the idea it might be consumed during their honeymoon. As it turns out, they held onto it to save for another time and it was selected for my visit and dinner in their home.

2000 Dom Perignon- it was the best 00’ Dom I’ve had as it had super nice mature notes that expressed ripe stone fruit including peach and apricot with tangerine, pear and lemon zest backing up; accents of ginger, brioche and spice added to the taste profile and the creamy mousse made for a grand mouthfeel sensation that peaked during the long finish; it’s bright acidity should ensure many more viable years before it reaches its apogee. This was super rich and full bodied and a great Dom from a very challenging vintage and a further testament to the dependability of a Grande Marques shining even in “off” vintages.

Cheers,
Blake
313F84F8-CC57-474D-9130-E2A78A008AB4_1_201_a.jpeg

1558

Extracted from a thread just posted:

2013 LAMANDIER-BERNIER TERRE de VERTUS 1er Cru- the is the first 2013 I’ve had and it is a good one; although not shown on the label, this is a no dose, 100% Chardonnay or BdB; for a no dosage bubbly, it sure had lots of fruit, body and texture; there’s a saline and mineral accent to the stone fruit notes which on the palate were more easily identified as being peach, lychee and mango as well as some lemon, pear and green apple; the cream like mousse gave it body and texture and as it warmed up, the flavor profile just expanded nicely.

Cheers,
Blake
7EEC0D84-A68A-46F3-944E-8361215175AD_1_201_a.jpeg

1559

It’s been a good month for Champagne here. Some of these were previously posted in other threads.

2006 Taittinger Champagne Comtes
Exuberant lemon and orange, brioche and cream, but it’s the glycerine texture, minerals and balance that keep me coming back to this one. I’m embarrassed how many of these I’ve consumed over the years.

Older Krug Grande Cuvée
This was an older half bottle, and I didn’t check the cork to help determine the base year. Aged Krug GC’s are magical. Citrus and hazelnut, honeyed brioche; such depth! Mineraled and majestic. Objet d’Art!

2009 Roederer Cristal
I need to slap my hand every time I reach for these, but I can’t stop opening this wine. It’s drinking so well, yet has great potential to improve. Dense citrus including lemon, lime and tangerine. The minerals, balance, structure…superb.

2009 Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée
My last bottle ten months ago was grumpy and shut down. This one was sensational. More plush than the 2008. Apple, lemon, apricot mix well, with nice yeasty brioche and minerals. I’ll wait a while to start opening these with abandon, but no harm if you have several.

Krug Grande Cuvée 168eme
1/2 bottle. While accessible and delicious, it’s not showing any of the Krug fireworks at the moment. It will be an outstanding GC in its time.

NV Egly-Ouriet Rosé
This was my second bottle. Fresh, with creamy strawberries and cherries, and a subtle sweet sandalwood note. Very mineral with a long finish. I reloaded a case after trying this.

2008 Remy Massin
Cutting lemon and grapefruit; still a fledgling. Great value here.
2006 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame
I was under the mistaken impression I didn’t like wines from this house, or perhaps they upped their game recently. This has the luxurious body of many '06 tête de cuvées. Baked apple, orange and grapefruit, a little creamy, nutty and honeyed. I enjoyed it much more than I had expected.

Cheers,
Warren

1560

Nice one… I just opened my 21st bottle of the 06 Comtes while I wait for the 02 and 04s. I was thinking exactly the same as you