1996 Duval Leroy Bdb - anyone pop one recently?

WINE TALK
1

I’m sitting on a bunch and havent popped one in a bit, anyone have a sense of where this is at?

2

Had the 96 Brut again the other night but I don’t think I’ve ever had their BdB. Not a fan of the Brut style though normally. Is their BdB a step up?

3

I am all out of this wonderful juice. There is no comparing the Brut with the BdB, as the BdB is absolutely fantastic. I traded some Dom for the BdB and don’t regret it.

Anyway, my new Champs are the 02 Dhont and the jean Laurent BdN NV.

Champagne rules!!!

4

Quite different from release in that it has matured faster than I expected. The acidity has really softened up (though I never understood how a wine that went through Malo had so much acidity in the first place) and nice toasty streak is currently showing well. Still a very good wine, but not one to age IMO. Generally, I have found Duval-Leroy’s BdB to be a wonderful wine for the price vintage after vintage (even their 2001 is decent) and it tends to show best on the younger side… and there is nothing wrong with that.

5

Otto - some of your notes turned me onto this gem! WineBid had a bunch for around $40-50 a ways back, loaded up then.

Brad - interesting re: the malo. You think it’s at peak or safe to hold another 5 or so?

6

Oh, and the 02 Dhondt does rock. I just picked up some of the 02 Vilmart Cellier D’Or, too. Can’t kick 02 Milan Noels or the 02 Gimonnet Fleurons out of bed either!

7

Was lucky enough to try that last weekend. Tight as nails but a very nice one. Kind of like how the Dhondt was two years back.

8

Nice!

Thanks for the heads up. If I do open one, I’ll decant (to me, the actual bubbles are useless anyway). Just bought another of those cheapy (but nice) Riedel decanters at Target solely to be used for Champagne.

9

[notworthy.gif] [good.gif] [notworthy.gif]

Glad I have a counter part on the East Coast in my Sisyphean struggles to make people treat Champagne like wine. If you are going to spend that much on a bottle it should be about something other than cold soda. [ok.gif]

10

[friends.gif] [drinks.gif] [gheyfight.gif]

11

Killed my last bottle of the '96 BdB last December. Delicious & great QPR.

12

I think it has hit its peak, but it isn’t going to fall apart. I’d probably drink mine sooner than 5 years, but if you have a bunch, hold on to a couple just to see what it does. I’m keeping a few back as a learning experience.