Heading to Aulani in a couple weeks with my family and my wife and I are going to be able to get away for a nice, kid-less dinner.
Any restaurant suggestions (within a couple minutes) of Aulani to pair with the Krug? We enjoyed Monkey Pod two years ago. I assume more has popped up?
I just opened the 164 back in November and it was breath-taking! One of the best Champagnes I’ve had in the last year. I can’t wait to open the next one…later in September.
Right now I think 165 is more “enjoyable” than 164, especially depending on the context. If you want a more intellectual experience and have time to sit with it, 164 is fascinating, but outside of a tasting setting 165 is showing more (IMO)
165eme is spectacular- go with that one. It has an unusual degree of florality at this stage. The 164eme is settling down, but still very tight. Not such a problem at first, but after a couple of hours it gets really tight and lemon-y in the same way the 1996 vintage Brut was all lime acids at release unless you left it open for a few hours.
The 165eme ended up being quite rare BTW- it was only sold in 4 marketplaces, and so if you are interested in trying every edition over time- may as well take the opportunity on 165eme while you can. As a future library release, to the extent it happens, the price will only go up.
This hits close to home. Just got to Aulani yesterday. Will be hitting monkey pod in a few days. I haven’t had the 164 but I would guess that one won’t be as open as the other.
Went to Aulani with two other families last year and walking to the Four Seasons next door for their Sunday brunch (La Hiki) without the kids was great. We also enjoyed dinner at Noe (even with the kids). We happily paid the corkage fees at both meals.