The only ‘15 that I’ve liked is Chartogne-Taillet Les Barres. Fortunately, I own very few others.
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I have '15 Vilmart Cellier d’Or, Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne and Doyard Oeil de Perdrix. All delicious and I’m aging more bottles.
FWIW I had Vilmart in supposed greenie vintages '05 and '11 as well, and in time it did seem to go away leaving a wonderful aged champagne in its wake. I’d love to know the cause but I’m glad that aging them could be a possible solution.
My first try with the '15 Pol Roger left me a bit wanting.
2015 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut - France, Champagne (12/15/2024)
Notes after two hours open. Somewhat linear and stingy. The light bouquet has ginger snaps, honeysuckle, apple, and lemon meringue. But at the moment, the palate lacks some verve and depth for my taste. I hope this bottle is a one-off since I have a couple more. Score for tonight: 5+11+15+7= 88 (88 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
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Serious question: have you ever come across an off vintage of Vilmart? I don’t think I have. Their farming, selection, and winemaking seem to overcome any challenges a particular vintage might present.
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very few but what most best fits your question, Warren, is the 2015 Emotion. It doesn’t resonate for me, with 2 bottles last year just not great. I wasn’t alone in that assessment based on the people who did the bottles together with me. I even went the next step and gave that feedback to Laurent. But. that is the rare case. I think of bottles from 2011 and 2017 that drank fine for me.
I think there are better and worse vintages. I generally only buy them in good champagne vintages; i.e I skipped 10, 11, 14 and 15.
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2010 and 2011
I mean, you can also argue Cristal has excellent farming and winemaking and the 15 (and to a lesser degree 14) are… underwhelming if I’m being nice. Still need to try the 16 but am not expecting fireworks.
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Glad you wrote that. I hadn’t gotten around to ordering any of the '15.
16 is great.
I like the 14 a lot, but it’s very young.
Hm, maybe I’ll have to grab one to try.
Wouldn’t you know it, cellar trading has US low pricing…
Warren, my advice is try one of the 15 Emotion. And do it with as an open a mind as you can muster. I’m one POV, and in a group dinner, sometimes bias influences each other. The counter to that is that the group I taste with are people that have been working hard at their palates for a long time and they have seasoned takes. I consider you to be a ‘seasoned take’ so try one, and then add to the mosaic of the POV we have.
I could slip another one into a blind format too, but the group knows the characteristic Vilmart Emotion wine color, and there is too a flavor signature with that wine. Even if I try and drop the 15 into something blind, one or a few of them (maybe all of them) will spot it.
Its a few years away but I’m waiting for the 2019’s
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For the record, I’ve not tasted a Vilmart that wasn’t at least enjoyable. Most delicious, and a rare bottle or two transcendent. But I have so many left to try!
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I had the ‘15 a few weeks ago and didn’t get the grapefruit qualities you mentioned in your CT notes. Granted your note was almost a year ago so maybe it’s starting a balance out? I have nowhere near your experience with the producer and I do agree that’s it’s a step behind 12/13 but I found it quite enjoyable as did our guests.
Must be the quietest chorus ever since the '15 Cristal averages 94.6 points on CT user notes and high 90s from multiple pro reviewers. Had it myself and it was phenomenal.
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It’s not a bad champagne, just not great for Cristal and thoroughly underwhelming at $270.
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Agree. And '13, my favorite of the teens, is available for less. I love CellarTracker for many things, uncurated ‘scores’ isn’t one of them.
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Have you had 16 yet?
Not yet. You?