SMALL CHAMPAGNE AND BURGUNDY GATHERING - Eddie V’s - Tysons Corner, VA (2/18/2018)
Three of us got together to drink Champagne and Burgundy.
Champagne
The 04 seems like a fresh, harmonious and elegant vintage in Champagne.
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1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut - France, Champagne
A bit strange cork, extremely tight and difficult to open yet lost elasticity, i.e. not expanding. The stem seems a bit dirty causing a metallic note. In a clean stem, it still lacks the detail and the complexity. Medium expressive nose displaying ripe sweet yellow fruit, smoke, honey, brioche and mineral. Excellent concentration, medium fine mousse, ripe yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity, good mineral presence and a medium long baked apple and smoke driven finish. Although enjoyable not the best showing. (93 pts.) -
2004 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut - France, Champagne
Surprisingly open nose displaying fresh white fruit, pear, white peach, apple, white flowers and Chablis like mineral. Very good concentration and balance, fresh white fruit driven palate impression, very fine generous mousse, medium acidity, strong mineral presence and a medium to long white fruit and smoke driven finish. IMO, it doesn’t have the precision and the energy of the 96 at the similar stage. This reminds me the 04 Dom Perignon, i.e. fresh, clean and very approachable. (96 pts.) -
2004 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne
Beautiful harmonious nose displaying fresh apple, baked apple, cherry soda, brioche, smoke and limestone. Medium concentration, warm and round, subtle white and red fruit driven palate impression, medium acidity, good mineral presence and a medium to long baked apple and warm red fruit driven finish. Like the 04 Salon and the 04 Dom Perignon, it is about the balance, elegance and freshness. It lacks the precision and the energy of the 96 Krug. Nevertheless, it is an excellent Krug that is really enjoyable. (95 pts.)
Burgundy
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2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Youthful expressive nose displaying ripe red fruit, strawberry, strawberry jam, noticeable mint, caramel, rose, coffee bean and earth. Excellent concentration, packed ripe red fruit, round and warm, medium acidity, good earthy mineral and a medium to long strawberry jam and coffee bean driven finish. It clear displays the typical Charmes terrior i.e. a bit straightforward and pack with generous fruit, but lacks the perfumed nose and weightless palate of the great Rousseau wines. It is still youthful and will need another ten years to reach the peak. (93 pts.) -
2005 Domaine Armand Rousseau Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos St. Jacques - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru
Expressive nose displaying intense blackberry, a hint of strawberry, caramel, mocha, smoke, very floral, sap and limestone. Excellent concentration, opulent and rich ripe black fruit, good acidity, noticeable tannins and a long black fruit driven finish. Perhaps it is the 05 vintage but it seems to lack the airy palate that I associate with Rousseau. It is still very primary and will need another decade to reach the maturity. (94 pts.) -
1993 Domaine Ponsot Chambertin - France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin Grand Cru
Sometimes Burgundy is really confusing. The last bottle drank from the same source was flirting with perfection. This bottle is very good but not great. Medium expressive nose displaying ripe red and black fruit, blackberry, cranberry drink, dark spices, a hint of sous bois, sasp and strong earth. Excellent concentration, nicely layered ripe blackberry and cranberry, good acidity, still noticeable tannins and a medium to long ripe black fruit and dark spices driven finish. IMO, Ponsot wines are always ripe and seldom express the purity and transparency. Nevertheless, this is really enjoyable. (94 pts.)
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