Which Champagne are you drinking?

[M.Kaplan]

Had an 04 Krug last night in 750 to celebrate FIL’s 88th. He loved it, but man is that a high-acid, white-fruit neutron bomb.

Seemed very young to me. Slightly un-Kruglike in that I really didn’t pick up any oxidative notes.

I drank a bottle of 2004 Krug on Wednesday and liked it precisely for the reasons that you mention: high acid, white fruit, no oxidation.

On Friday, I drank a 375 of Krug 162eme. It was too oxidative for my liking.

[Jim Stewart]

2015 Francois Pinon Vouvray Petillant Brut
OK, not a true champagne, but I’m putting this note here anyway. After seeing FMIII and Brig post some notes on Vouvray Petillant in another thread, along with some positive “chip on” comments from others about sparkling chenin, I started looking for one. I saw this bottle by Pinon and grabbed a singleton for a taste drive. Pinon also make a Non-Dosé version of this, so I guess that makes this bottle the Non-Non-Dosé version.

This wine showed the slightest hint of a color. Nice steady stream of bubbles seemed on the fine side to look at, but “tasted” larger and quite assertive. Very dry on first taste, although I did read that the dosage might be around 9g/L. Nice nutty mineral taste, with tangy fruit and softer mouthfeel bubbles showing up as the temperature moderates. I thought this sparkling wine had a very similar taste profile and development in the glass as a recent NV Roederer Brut Reserve. (That may be more a statement of my tasting abilities than true similarities.) Obviously there are different grapes with the Chenin Blanc here, but the methode is the same I believe, what they call traditionelle. This seems like it would be a pleasing sparkling wine choice for most wine drinkers and as an occasional detour for Champagne lovers.

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

'09 Roederer Rose - a bit darker colored than most other vintages of Roederer Rose, including Cristal. Good fruit with some acidity. Drinks well now and is very enjoyable although not very complex. I wouldn't defer from drinking this for too many more years. Excellent

[Warren Taranow]

'09 Roederer Rose - a bit darker colored than most other vintages of Roederer Rose, including Cristal. Good fruit with some acidity. Drinks well now and is very enjoyable although not very complex. I wouldn't defer from drinking this for too many more years. Excellent

Ray,
I love Roederer Rosè, although I’ve only had the 2012. I went through a full case, and didn’t save any to enjoy them with a little bottle age. I have some ‘13 pending delivery.
Cheers
Warren

[crickey]

Had an 04 Krug last night in 750 to celebrate FIL’s 88th. He loved it, but man is that a high-acid, white-fruit neutron bomb.

Seemed very young to me. Slightly un-Kruglike in that I really didn’t pick up any oxidative notes.

I drank a bottle of 2004 Krug on Wednesday and liked it precisely for the reasons that you mention: high acid, white fruit, no oxidation.

On Friday, I drank a 375 of Krug 162eme. It was too oxidative for my liking.

Please help out a newbie: when you say "oxidative notes," do you mean nutty, savory notes, as opposed to fresh fruit notes?

[M.Kaplan]

Had an 04 Krug last night in 750 to celebrate FIL’s 88th. He loved it, but man is that a high-acid, white-fruit neutron bomb.

Seemed very young to me. Slightly un-Kruglike in that I really didn’t pick up any oxidative notes.

I drank a bottle of 2004 Krug on Wednesday and liked it precisely for the reasons that you mention: high acid, white fruit, no oxidation.

On Friday, I drank a 375 of Krug 162eme. It was too oxidative for my liking.

Please help out a newbie: when you say "oxidative notes," do you mean nutty, savory notes, as opposed to fresh fruit notes?

Nutty and sherry notes.

[crickey]

Thank you. I've had exactly one Krug, and I picked up those notes, but I attributed them to age when maybe I should think of it as the house style.

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

'09 Roederer Rose - a bit darker colored than most other vintages of Roederer Rose, including Cristal. Good fruit with some acidity. Drinks well now and is very enjoyable although not very complex. I wouldn't defer from drinking this for too many more years. Excellent

Ray,
I love Roederer Rosè, although I’ve only had the 2012. I went through a full case, and didn’t save any to enjoy them with a little bottle age. I have some ‘13 pending delivery.
Cheers
Warren

Haven't tried the 2012 yet. Looking forward to it.

One of my favorite Rose's of all time were some mags of '82 Roederer Vinotheque. Unfortunately, finished the last one a couple of years ago.

[Jay Miller]

a 2012 Benoit Lahaye "La Violaine" opened last Thursday was its usual glorious self.

[K John Joseph]

PSA - Piper Heidsieck "Extra Dry" means something very, very different than Extra Brut.

That is all.

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

PSA - Piper Heidsieck "Extra Dry" means something very, very different than Extra Brut.

That is all.

Yes, the name "Extra Dry" is a misleading classification.

[Yao C]

2010 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Blanc de Noirs Les Ursules
Welcoming and approachable; lifted, perfumey red fruit (strawberry?), and a palpable sweetness in the mouth; the air of frivolity hides the structure but it's there, invisibly keeping everything focused and on track; good plus

Had an 04 Krug last night in 750 to celebrate FIL’s 88th. He loved it, but man is that a high-acid, white-fruit neutron bomb.

Seemed very young to me. Slightly un-Kruglike in that I really didn’t pick up any oxidative notes.

Interesting you say this - I had two bottles of the 2004 on two consecutive days. The first (at l'Assiette Champenoise) was intensely honeyed white fruit with moderate acidity (id: 316029). The second (at Krug) was screamingly acidic and thin and embryonic (sadly I failed to record the ID). Maybe bottle variation, or variation from disgorgement to disgorgement?

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

Apparently Emirates is pouring the 2002 p2 in first class atm

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

Gonet-Medeville Brut Tradition

Love this producer.

[Warren Taranow]

2001 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée. They pulled another rabbit out of a hat in this difficult vintage. Typical CdC richness; creamy orange, apple pie with brown spice, apricot compote, a little oxidative. Plush texture on the palate. The oak worked well. Stellar wine regardless of the poor vintage.
This was sadly my only bottle from this vintage, but happily, I have seven other vintages tempting me in the cellar.

Cheers.
Warren

[Hank Victor]

Drappier Carte d'or Brut NV

Big bruiser of a Champagne and felt clumsy, ton of yello apple. Definitely better with food.

[Oliver McCrum]

Guy Charlemagne Le Mesnil, to celebrate no tariffs on Italian wines (for the moment at least). Lovely wine, seems traditional dosage, very complex and flavorful, evolving in the glass.

[Warren Taranow]

Guy Charlemagne Le Mesnil, to celebrate no tariffs on Italian wines (for the moment at least). Lovely wine, seems traditional dosage, very complex and flavorful, evolving in the glass.

Oliver,

I know they’re located in Le Mesnil, but I couldn’t find a bottling called “Le Mesnil“ on CellarTracker or with a cursory search online.
I really like the 2008 “Mesnillesime”, although it’s still painfully young. I bought the 2012 as well.

Cheers
Warren

[Hank Victor]

Voirin-Jumel 1er Cru Brut BdB

Great bang for your buck at $35...

My ideal balance between autolytic characteristics, citrus, and green fruit.

[Frank Murray III]

This bottle of Marie Courtin is going on my WOTY list for 2020, the first bottle I have listed. This is coming off the 2014 Eloquence from 2019, that along with 2009 Cristal, were my Champagnes of the year for 2019. I know that these grower, clean farmed low/no dose wines are not for everyone's palate but they really work well for me, especially the wines of Marie Courtin. Superb stuff.

• 2014 Marie Courtin Champagne Efflorescence Extra Brut - France, Champagne (2/15/2020)
  First of three. 100% Pinot Noir from the bottom of the slope, no dosage, farmed biodyamic. And, I've been drinking a lot of the 2014 Marie Courtin Resonance recently, which is the top of the hill, whereas Effloresence is the bottom--the soils are different, as well. In thinking about both cuvees now, and in comparison to the profiles, there is a definite structural and power that shows up in Efflorescence. The bottle for this note was part of our Valentine's Day dinner last night and I reserved the last 1/2 glass to bring home, stoppering up the bottle. So, it's been open 24 hours and also retained a good amount of CO2. I also know that the wine is made in old oak, and some off the toasty quality gets into the wine, adding an additional sensory feature to the aromatics, joining a floral note too. There is a core of saline/brine in this wine that gives it a savory, mouthwatering quality. The fruit reflects green apple, brisk strawberry, dried red fruit, pear, herb, and then a tingling acidity that reminds me of tangerine. The finish is infused with minerality that is lithe and refreshing. This is superb, with so much energy, vibrance and yet there is complex flavors all working beneath the structure. I need a few more bottles of this to let the gift of time work its magic yet even now, at this short age, I'm sticking this bottle on my WOTY 2020 list.

Posted from CellarTracker

[Brian Lynch]

Laherte Les Grandes Crayeres and Extra Brut Rosé de Meunier. Both are smoking good!

[Frank Murray III]

Brian, I just took delivery of my Laherte Crayeres too. Need to try one in the next few weeks so thanks for the note. Might be worth you trying Marguet Crayeres too if you have not yet had a bottle of it. I think in 2014 that Crayeres is the best wine of the single plots, too.

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

Gimmonnet Millesime de collection 2008, fantastic

[Blake Brown]

Just posted a separate thread re an annual champagne/ Valentine event my tasting group held last Thursday. Some fine bubbly abounded.

[Brian Lynch]

Brian, I just took delivery of my Laherte Crayeres too. Need to try one in the next few weeks so thanks for the note. Might be worth you trying Marguet Crayeres too if you have not yet had a bottle of it. I think in 2014 that Crayeres is the best wine of the single plots, too.

Agree. I have some Marguet Crayeres '14 and will get into tasting it in March. If you hit the Laherte in the meantime, post a note.

[Frank Murray III]

Funny, I was just coming back to correct my post, Brian. The Laherte Freres Crayeres is from Chavot, which is not the same as Marguet's. Not sure how I got on that track. But, in terms of the 2014 Marguet Crayeres, that is still very good

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

Kept it young over the past few days -

'99 Billecart-Salmon BdB - one of my favorite wines from the vintage. Not quite up there with Taittinger CdC or Cristal but highly enjoyable. Still quite vibrant with yellow fruits and good acidity. Will probably drink well for another 10-15 years. Excellent

'02 Dom Ruinart BdB - A Champagne that doesn't get the attention it deserves, especially in this vintage. Auction pricing was relatively flat from release until recently.Very pale in color. Good fruit with some smokey notes and chalk. Excellent Plus

'02 Dom Ruinart BdB Magnum - See above except this was more powerful and intense. Decades of life left. Staggering Minus

'04 Taittinger CdC - A delicious bowl of lemons in a glass with bubbles. Very approachable but surely will age. Staggering Minus

[John Glas]

Piper Heidsieck Brut! Love it.

[Blake Brown]

Kept it young over the past few days -

'99 Billecart-Salmon BdB - one of my favorite wines from the vintage. Not quite up there with Taittinger CdC or Cristal but highly enjoyable. Still quite vibrant with yellow fruits and good acidity. Will probably drink well for another 10-15 years. Excellent

'02 Dom Ruinart BdB - A Champagne that doesn't get the attention it deserves, especially in this vintage. Auction pricing was relatively flat from release until recently.Very pale in color. Good fruit with some smokey notes and chalk. Excellent Plus

'02 Dom Ruinart BdB Magnum - See above except this was more powerful and intense. Decades of life left. Staggering Minus

'04 Taittinger CdC - A delicious bowl of lemons in a glass with bubbles. Very approachable but surely will age. Staggering Minus

Kind of robbing the cradle, huh Ray? Happy to see you're drinking some familiar bubbly. Just had the 02` Dom Ruinart last Thursday and 04` Taittinger a few weeks ago. Both, superb plus.

[Frank Murray III]

2 from last night.

• 2012 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Terre de Vertus Premier Cru - France, Champagne (2/17/2020)
  Opened yesterday and we enjoyed about half of it. Decided to stopper up the remainder and set it in the fridge...retasting tonight. And as I forgot the disgorge date on my previous note, I'll capture on this bottle, as it is etched on the outside bottom rim of the glass. March 2018, zero dosage, 100% Chardonnay from Vertus. Yellow apple, grapefruit, wrapped around a note of saline and some bitter lemon peel in the finish. There is a spicy, energetic core to this wine, which in part reflects my comment about grapefruit and lemon peel. I like the bitter element, the gingery note mixing with the acidity and apple. Another very good bottle, and in my lane for what I enjoy.

Posted from CellarTracker

• 2014 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Bouzy - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (2/16/2020)
  Disgorged February 2019. 100% Pinot Noir. Zero dosage. This is a strong 2014 for Marguet, one of the more expressive bottlings, less lean than the others. The berry notes are showing a good depth, a black cherry quality. Lime, some chalk, even a little creaminess. Terrific.

Posted from CellarTracker

[Blake Brown]

In celebration of the Kansas win against Baylor today, we opened a 2003 Dom Perignon at the end of the game at 11;20 am. Kind of early, but what the hey; it was a big game and we`re into it big time.
OBTW, the Dom was marvelous with a rich and full body and mature lemon, white peach and golden delicious apple fruit accented by spices and honeysuckle. I've not had that many 03` DP that I `ve liked all that much, but this one satisfied to the max.

Cheers with a big Rock Chalk!

[Merrill Lindquist]

To celebrate my daughter's 26th birthday, she and her boyfriend and I shared a 2007 Taittinger Comtes. Just lovely and they were very impressed. Unfortunately, they are learning (and very quickly) the difference between more "pedestrian" Champagnes and some of the upper tier. Good palates on both "kids," though she grew up with this stuff and he certainly had no exposure. Fun to participate in their growth.

[Neal.Mollen]

2012 Camille Savès Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Anaïs Jolicoeur. Relatively simple but enjoyable nonetheless. Even at this early stage, I didn't perceive anything that suggested that it will benefit from additional aging.

[Frank Murray III]

• 2014 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (2/22/2020)
  First bottle of four. 80% Chard / 20% Pinot Noir. Opened this last night, finishing today. There is evident structure here, and the dosage that I notice in the 2013 seems well integrated here, with the wines acidity and stony notes being more prominent. This is a very good vintage for GCdO.

Posted from CellarTracker

[Warren Taranow]

• 2014 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (2/22/2020)
  First bottle of four. 80% Chard / 20% Pinot Noir. Opened this last night, finishing today. There is evident structure here, and the dosage that I notice in the 2013 seems well integrated here, with the wines acidity and stony notes being more prominent. This is a very good vintage for GCdO.

Posted from CellarTracker

That's very good news, as I bought double what you did, sight unseen (untasted).

Cheers

WT

[Jim Stewart]

• 2014 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (2/22/2020)
  First bottle of four. 80% Chard / 20% Pinot Noir. Opened this last night, finishing today. There is evident structure here, and the dosage that I notice in the 2013 seems well integrated here, with the wines acidity and stony notes being more prominent. This is a very good vintage for GCdO.

Posted from CellarTracker

Wow, right back at it! You're an animal, Frank!

[Tom Lee]

Really enjoyed the 2008 René Geoffroy Champagne Empreinte Brut Premier Cru on Friday night. I think I will go back and reload on this one.

Tom

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

Legras 12 presidence

[Warren Taranow]

Legras 12 presidence

How is it?

[Frank Murray III]

Warren and Jim, that 14 Vilmart GCdO is spot on good. If I run into a few more, I will get them. I finished the last ounces yesterday during Falltacular setup, pouring a bit for a few people here and then the last ounce or so, I just tipped the bottle back and slammed it without a glass.

[Jayson Cohen]

• 2014 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (2/22/2020)
  First bottle of four. 80% Chard / 20% Pinot Noir. Opened this last night, finishing today. There is evident structure here, and the dosage that I notice in the 2013 seems well integrated here, with the wines acidity and stony notes being more prominent. This is a very good vintage for GCdO.

Posted from CellarTracker

This is interesting. While I like both 13 and 14 a lot, I had a preference for the 13 side-by-side, and thought there was more acidity and tension to hide the dosage in 13.

[Mich@el Ch@ng]

Legras 12 presidence

How is it?

Great, like a mini comtes

[K John Joseph]

2008 Dom Perignon Very nice wine with a bit of fresh bread, pear, lemon curd, vanilla, and that hint of mint. A solid showing, perhaps with less stony cool mint and more fresh bread, but a really nice wine with good cut and perfect balance. Always cool and delicious. 96 this bottle.

2008 Cristal So young. Oh so young. I like drinking champagne young but his, compared to the 09, is a bit startling. The 09 is giving and luscious and layered. This is so dense and like a loaded spring that it almost hurts to drink. The white peach, lemon oil, creme pat, hint of vanilla and honeysuckle are so loaded with really stout underlying acid. The first sip legitimately made me squint. I do not recall tasting a champagne so intense in years. Could this be the "perfect" champagne in 10-20 years? I think maybe so. For immediate drinking pleasure, I might take the 2009. But this is really good stuff. 97+

Prevost La Closerie Fac Simile This is so different. My first experience with Fac Simile and the best I can do here is say vinous. It's zero dosage and the wine is quite literally a bit savory. Lacks the sugar added density, but makes up for it with overt rich red wine flavors of cherry, raspberry, orange peel, sous bois, spice, and some meaty notes. Cleaned up by nice effervescence. Really interesting wine. Pinot Meunier. 94-95.

[Frank Murray III]

• 2014 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (2/22/2020)
  First bottle of four. 80% Chard / 20% Pinot Noir. Opened this last night, finishing today. There is evident structure here, and the dosage that I notice in the 2013 seems well integrated here, with the wines acidity and stony notes being more prominent. This is a very good vintage for GCdO.

Posted from CellarTracker

This is interesting. While I like both 13 and 14 a lot, I had a preference for the 13 side-by-side, and thought there was more acidity and tension to hide the dosage in 13.

Jayson, I just found the 2014 to be built better, although I am not hating on the 2013 either.

[Oliver McCrum]

Guy Charlemagne Le Mesnil, to celebrate no tariffs on Italian wines (for the moment at least). Lovely wine, seems traditional dosage, very complex and flavorful, evolving in the glass.

Oliver,

I know they’re located in Le Mesnil, but I couldn’t find a bottling called “Le Mesnil“ on CellarTracker or with a cursory search online.
I really like the 2008 “Mesnillesime”, although it’s still painfully young. I bought the 2012 as well.

Cheers
Warren

Hi Warren,

You are quite right, it was Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs à Le Mesnil, not from Le Mesnil. Thank you for the correction.

[Warren Taranow]

NV Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grande Réserve - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (2/29/2020)
For what I paid (sub- $40), Vilmart GR is a Q/P animal, punching well above its weight. Speaking of weight, it has that dense beautiful Vilmart nose, palate and mouthfeel. There's some oak influence here. Citrus cream, sweet apple, with crisp acidity to keep it sharp. My initial regret for adding six to my overcrowded cellar has faded. Now I wish I had bought more!

[Frank Z]

Vilmart Grand Cellier d’Or 2014

I can’t believe the price difference for Vilmart here in the States. Nonetheless, great showing last night with crisp minerality and a nice acidity.

[Frank Murray III]

Frank, the 2014 GCdO is excellent. Agree with you.

As for a few more TNs, we opened these last night...

• 2014 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Ambonnay Rosé - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (2/28/2020)
  80% Chard, 20% Pinot Noir. Disgorged 03/2019. Peach colored with green apple, strawberry, lemony acid and the signature Marguet dried herb aromatic. This has some spine and yet flesh too.
• 2015 Marie Courtin Champagne Resonance Extra Brut - France, Champagne (2/28/2020)
  First bottle. 100% Pinot Noir, disgorged 02/2015, no dosage. Bit rounder this vintage, with some mineral, black cherry, raspberry and some creamy pear. This domaine continues to kick out beautiful champagne that is farmed organically.

Posted from CellarTracker

[R@y.Tupp@+sch]

NV Pierre Peters BdB - disgorged Sept '03 - a fair amount of effervescence with a pale yellow color. Plenty of yellow fruit with some mature nutty flavors adding great complexity. This bottle was not only the best bottle of NV Pierre Peters I've had, but the best bottle of any Pierre Peters Champagne, which includes a dozen or so vintages of Les Chetillons. Staggering Plus

[J a y H a c k]

Tonight for the Not the La Paulee Dinner dinner, I am oppening a 2006 PR Churchill and a 2008 Henriot. Someone else is bringing a Comtes. Not sure what year.