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What is the minimum age recommended to open a Cristal? I`m not sure there is a minimum age as most have lots to give at the outset. For those who prefer some maturity, my best guess is age 18-20 and beyond. I've tracked the 08` and a few others from early on and they definitely go through maturatio...

What is the minimum age recommended to open a Cristal? I`m not sure there is a minimum age as most have lots to give at the outset. For those who prefer some maturity, my best guess is age 18-20 and beyond. I've tracked the 08` and a few others from early on and they definitely go through maturatio...

00 is spectacular atm Any thoughts on 99? I have a lone bottle hanging around. It's been 3+ years since I had the 99` and it was very good then. I did not think it was the best vintage, but neither was the 2000 and both have shined beautifully and as Brad remarks, it has become a stunning bubbly. L...

Posted as a separate thread and to be included in a larger thread re a current 4 day visit with the Pisoni`s: 2000 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL BRUT- having just had the 2008 a few nights prior, it was interesting to compare and try to project where it may be in 8+ years as the 00` certainly had lots of s...

2000 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL BRUT- having just had the 2008 a few nights prior, it was interesting to compare and try to project where it may be in 8+ years as the 00` certainly had lots of similar and more mature notes even though there certainly was a serious vintage disparity between that and the ...

I forgot to add some ID to the Cristal as the back label has a code that can be deciphered. In this case for the 08`, it was allowed 20% ML with 20% vinified in oak casks, then bottled aged 8 years prior to disgorgement in 2017 and then aged at least for another 8 months after disgorgement where it...

Last year of Burt's direct winemaking, no? Barry et al, yes, this was Burt`s last year for WS as he sold in March of 1998 and even though he had a 5 year consult agreement, he just could not intervene and basically just appeared and encouraged, Obviously, all of his 97` harvest was in barrel and mo...

Chris Seiber wrote: ↑
September 23rd, 2020, 11:52 am
You didn't even need to put your name on this post, everyone would have known who made it. Cristal and Burt-Williams-era WS pinot? Just another day in the happy life of Blake Brown.

Hi Chris. Yes, I'm guilty as charged. Having good friends like you contributes to the happiness.

I forgot to add some ID to the Cristal as the back label has a code that can be deciphered. In this case for the 08`, it was allowed 20% ML with 20% vinified in oak casks, then bottled aged 8 years prior to disgorgement in 2017 and then aged at least for another 8 months after disgorgement where it ...

I forgot to add some ID to the Cristal as the back label has a code that can be deciphered. In this case for the 08`, it was allowed 20% ML with 20% vinified in oak casks, then bottled aged 8 years prior to disgorgement in 2017 and then aged at least for another 8 months after disgorgement where it ...

Extracted from a separate thread re 2008 Cristal: I’ve been scolded numerous times by friends for opening up way too many bottles of this before its time which is still the case; I`m embarrassed to say I’ve now had at least 6 bottles {5 from my cellar} and yes, all have been way too young, mostly ti...

Jeremy Holmes wrote: ↑
September 20th, 2020, 4:26 pm
Nice work Blake.

I too have had good success with those older Marchesi di Barolo wines.

Good to know Jeremy. I have a few more from the 50s and 60s.

To celebrate the lovely woman, we enjoyed another wonderful dinner at our local fav, the Stonehouse restaurant located in the classic luxury resort, San Ysidro Ranch. Over many years, we have our fav table and fav servers and on this night, neither and it still was a treasured evening. Part of the j...

As it turned out, the 10` Drouhin Batard gets the WOTT award although it got lots of completion from the 84` Marchesi di Barolo we had on the 2nd night.

Markus S wrote: ↑
September 19th, 2020, 6:27 am
What's the band got to do with this?

That's what I first thought too. I like the 2nd option of the vintage and lovely grand cru vineyard getting the handle especially if that was your intention.

Very nice Warren and thanks for the mouthwatering, salivating notes. Lots of great bubbly there and I love your self deserved indulgence with the Krug split and the grand finish with another one.

Laurent-Perrier La Cuvee Brut NV. Opened a half bottle to toast our finally coming to a decision on a new car purchase. Some bubbles and mouse in the glass, but more apparent in the mouth I thought. Dry, well balanced, biscuity and up to the job for a quick toast. Jacqueline smelled / tasted some s...

Extracted from a recently posted thread: NV LAURENT-PERRIER BRUT CUVEE ROSE- Having just received this as part of a 6 pack from a new batch, I brought it as a present for our host who loves NV Roses and he decided it fit for our dinner so here it is; I’d actually brought the 96` de Venoge Louis XV t...

Extracted from a thread posted a few days ago and a sequel to an earlier post re the 95` de Venoge Louis XV: 1996 de VENOGE LOUIS XV de VENOGE BRUT- I had just had a the 95` version of this release and it was absolutely stunning, so I was expecting this to be as good, if not better; having had too m...

LA visit- part 2 of 2 We recently traveled to LA to visit some dear friends for a 2 night stay and had such a fantastic time. It was centered around a shared passion for all things food and wine and heart felt fellowship. Our lady host is a former professional caterer and she prides herself on creat...

What a great tasting, Blake! Thanks for sharing. Preaching to the choir about the Bonville. The "Belles Voyes" is also nice but twice the price of the BdB. Cheers, Ed Hi Ed, yes, I know there is a lot of love for Bonville and I`vwe been a fan for many years, but this got my attention even more for ...

Nick Christie wrote: ↑
September 15th, 2020, 5:39 pm
A just reward for our intrepid explorer as he #KeptTrudging through all the old Champagne and trudged all the way a magical set-up in LA . So happy for you, Blake. Great notes.

Much appreciated Nick. Life is good.

extracted from a thread just posted: . . . made from Grand Cru fruit sourced from the Avize and Oger villages in 2016 and 2017, disgorged February 2020 and dosed at 8.33 gpl . . . Cheers, Blake Blake, was all this information on the label? If so, bravo to them! Here's the back label Jim. Agreed, it...

extracted from a thread just posted: NV FRANC BONVILLE BLANC de BLANC BRUT GRAND CRU- this is made from Grand Cru fruit sourced from the Avize and Oger villages in 2016 and 2017, disgorged February 2020 and dosed at 8.33 gpl; it is an amazing QPR as it resembles champagnes that sell for 3 times the ...

LA visit- part 1 of 2 We recently traveled to LA to visit some dear friends for a 2 night stay and had such a fantastic time. It was centered around a shared passion for all things food and wine and heart felt fellowship. Our lady host is a former caterer and she prides herself on creating special, ...

Great notes. Will open my first bottle of the PN VZ15 soon.. Any thoughts on cellaring potential? [wow.gif] Our experience with both bottles suggests there is some benefit in aging this, but it certainly is showing quite well now, after about 15 minutes after opening. My experience with most all fr...

Our dinner group enjoyed another fine evening, this time on the outside upstairs patio of Oku, a fabulous recently opened restaurant featuring California Asian cusine. Our wine them was champagne, white Burgundy and N. Rhone reds. For my champagne bring, I had planed on an 06` Pol Roger Sir Winston ...

BOLLINGER PN VZ15- see dedicate thread for details

Although this was part of a wondrous evening with many more wines, it merits a separate thread IMHO: I had stopped in to my fav local wine shop and discovered the newly arrived Bollinger PN VZ15 and just had to get a bottle for our dinner group outing that night. This is a new product for Bollinger,...

Blake Brown wrote: Thanks Ed. I know you are friends with Henry who I share a dinner group with and he speaks of you highly from times past on the Parker Board {Squires}. Blake, we may be coming down your way next month. My wife and I would love to meet the SB group if we do! We have had 3 differen...

Ed Steinway wrote: ↑
September 7th, 2020, 5:16 pm
Nice notes, Blake. The Montelena Chardonnay is so reliable, and they can age very well. Cheers!

Ed

Thanks Ed. I know you are friends with Henry who I share a dinner group with and he speaks of you highly from times past on the Parker Board {Squires}.

Three of us like mind and soul brothers occasionally get a night out together and share some love which we did recently while dining at the fabulous and majorly undiscovered local gem, Black Sheep, which seems to be appropriately named relative to its degree of recognition amongst a bevy of Santa Ba...

Extracted from a forthcoming thread: 2012 POL ROGER BRUT- blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 20 Grands and Premiers crus vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs; it was aged for 7 years, disgorged 10/18 and dosed at 7 gpl; this is the 2nd bottle of 2 I bought to chec...

Extracted from a forthcoming thread: 2012 POL ROGER BRUT- blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 20 Grands and Premiers crus vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs; it was aged for 7 years, disgorged 10/18 and dosed at 7 gpl; this is the 2nd bottle of 2 I bought to check...

haven't tried one (dual suspicions for TW selection and the fancy bottles). -Al BTW Al, I had the same thought when I first saw the bottle and silently claimed it to be just another pretty face, but the guys in my favorite wine shop in Amsterdam, Charbot, assured me it was a good bubbly and tasted ...

Al Osterheld wrote: ↑
September 5th, 2020, 6:13 pm
Probably got that at Total Wine? They carry tons of de Venoge, haven't tried one (dual suspicions for TW selection and the fancy bottles).

-Al

I had to look up the source and it was from Envoyer at $130 which is also what I paid for the 96`. This bottle was worth it.

1995 de VENOGE BRUT LOUIS XV- packaged in a spectacular clear glass bottle, this is a 50% blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from numerous Grand Cru plots... Cheers, Blake Blake, I went through a half dozen of the 1996’s I bought from Envoyer for $89.99 in 2017. I thought they were amazing ...

Extracted from a thread I posted earlier today with much more preface to the notes: 1995 de VENOGE BRUT LOUIS XV- packaged in a spectacular clear glass bottle, this is a 50% blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from numerous Grand Cru plots; the first important discovery was seeing the bright ...

Jayson Cohen wrote: ↑
September 5th, 2020, 10:57 am
Great note on the de Venoge, Blake. I started chuckling. It’s the wine geek version of what happens when your team scores a touchdown.

And I didn't`t even have to kick an extra point Jayson. It was a sudden death, overtime win.

We recently enjoyed dinner on the outside patio of dear friends who set it up for practicing proper COVID measures. Homemade food and great wines complemented the wonderful friendly and positive conversation, a healthy thing to do in a time when it can sometimes be challenging to find the good out t...

A friend entertained a few others for a pot luck type dinner on the fresh air outside patio of his home. Grilled meats and lobster tails highlighted the main entrees and the wine theme was for champagnes, white and red Burgundy. We ate and drink well and often. We had a wide assortment of wines that...

Happy to hear it is still showing so well and you got to enjoy it. I loved the 95` much more for years and then the 96` caught up and took it to another level and evidently is still hanging in nicely. I long for these kind of experiences and after 3 dismal 96` Krug and 2 bad La Grande Dame lately, ...

Brad Baker wrote: ↑
August 30th, 2020, 8:10 am
Blake,

You will be fine with Blanc de Blancs or Chardonnay heavy wines from 1996. The worries and variability are with those that involve a good helping of Pinot grapes.

Thanks Brad. You've mentioned this previously and I now remember that to be the case. I'm going to test a couple soon.

Happy to hear it is still showing so well and you got to enjoy it. I loved the 95` much more for years and then the 96` caught up and took it to another level and evidently is still hanging in nicely. I long for these kind of experiences and after 3 dismal 96` Krug and 2 bad La Grande Dame lately, I...

R@y.Tupp@+sch wrote: ↑
August 30th, 2020, 7:41 am
A significant percentage of 1980's Salon has been badly oxidized for a long time.

Ray, I'm now about 8 out of 8 in the last few years. That's too significant for me. BTW, why is this happening to this extent throughout the entire decade?

Again, this is an extract from a thread just posted today: 2006 DOM PERIGNON- I’ve had many a bottle of this vintage and enjoyed every one, but none as much as this one; following the Dom Ruinart, it held its own and even presented a distinguished profile that placed it on its own pedestal; the hall...

#KeepTrudging, Blake So glad the '06 duo was splendid; Charlie Brown noises for yet another 80's missed football. Be safe, my friend. And be thankful for outside get togethers. I am going crazy in isolation with all of my own best drinking companions so far away... Much appreciated Nick. May all yo...

Mike Evans wrote: ↑
August 29th, 2020, 3:14 pm
A fun party trick, especially with non-geeks, is to throw a champagne cork in the microwave and watch it return to its original cylindrical shape.

I wonder if that would improve the Salon or maybe that was what happened, it got nuked.

Our dinner group safely met on the outdoor patio lawn of one of our favorite local restaurants, Convivo, which is located just a few yards back from the beach. Our wine theme was champagnes, white Burgs, Super Tuscans and Brunellos although one brought a Barolo from Clerico and we unanimously expand...

Extracted from a soon to be posted thread: "I took the 3rd of 3 potentially great champagnes I purchased recently in hopes of discovering some viable bottles and obtaining more, but the 85` Cristal Rose was severely oxidized and the 86` Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rose was undrinkable thus my hop...

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