damn, this is good stuff. Due to a diet, I’ve only had wine a couple times past few weeks but since I reached my weight goal days before I planned, I opened this bottle. This is why one buys on release–to have a perfectly stored bottle decades down the road. And this bottle is amazing. A vigorous pop accompanied the cork removal though the wine has little fizz in the glass, more like a still wine w a little pétillance giving lift. The wine has a long life ahead of it–this bottle doesn’t.
Creamy, a little honey and caramel but not oxidized or sherried, complex and refined, it’s a classy wine that makes me happy. It has great palate presence and weight but stays balanced and lithe–really really good juice.
whenever I go to Europe I lose 20 lbs before departure–so I can eat whatever the hell I want without remorse or second thought. I don’t want to add to my paunch. Don’t worry. I’ll fatten right up again.
Nice note, doc. WC is my favorite champagne, the '88 being one of the best the house has ever produced. It’s frightfully expensive, but once in a while it shows up in the market.
This was one of my aha wines. Had my only bottle 12 or 13 years ago. Had an '00 recently and was a bit disappointed. Glad this wine is still drinking well. Travel well!
I recently had the 1998 and was blown away, and now I’ve bought a bottle or two of the 2002 and 2004. Do most people think about this as a fairly consistent wine in the years they make it, or so you selectively buy the best years?
I’m not the best to ask. I cellar 02 and 04, haven’t yet had them. 96 was stunning and I kick myself that I bought only one b before price skyrocketed. It is expensive–more than Taittinger or Vilmart CdC.
Thanks for the memories as it`s been a few years since last having the wine. I love your qualification of it having “caramel but not oxidized or sherried” as I have had difficulty writing up clear notes where that is true.
