Love that avatar Alex
pierre peters?
Good call. My only problem with Peters is that the latest run of NV cuvees has been variable. The 02 Base and 06 Base NVs are wonderful wines, but I’m not big on the 04 and 05 that came in between (the 05 base has improved, but I just plain don’t like the 04 based NV). I really don’t know why as Peters really didn’t do anything different in these years; something just didn’t mesh all that well. The basic vintage is a good deal and the 2003 is drinking wonderfully right now though it doesn’t taste like any other Peters. For most of Peters’ vintage wines (Millesime and Cuvee Speciale), you need to let them sit a long time for them to truly bloom. This also comes into play when making recommendations as not everyone just getting into Champagne wants to sit on their bottles for a decade or two.
Oh. Guy Larmandier with Vertus, Chouilly and Cramant being the sources. Rose too.
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Lyld
Peters was in my first post.
Brad, I did not realize you had been around here since the beginning. It’s been cool seeing your commentary about the Champagne space–thank you for being around here.
Man, I miss Joe Hauck from Vegas. Where did he go? With Greg P now in Vegas, maybe he can pull Joe back in and get him posting and sharing again.
I’m loving the necromancy
Hi Brad, how long would you say the Cuvee Speciale/Chetillons needs to get into a good place?
Dare I ask what happened to Roberto?
I believe Roberto posted somewhere that he unfortunately had a stroke and is in an assisted living home currently. He was always a fun-loving, lovely person to deal with. We shared a meal or two that he hosted: needless to say it was tremendous fun. I wish him all the very best.
Sorry to hear that. I met him once at his shop in Santa Monica. I bought a few bottles of Champagne and then he threw in an extra $70-$80 grower at no charge.
I always enjoyed his perspectives and knowledge. Sorry to hear about his condition.
It really depends on what you are looking for in the wine and the vintage. For my preference, most Peters’ Chetillons/Cuvee Speciale/Special Club releases really start to get interesting at 20-25 years of age as they begin to gain a creamy, buttery, toasty, vanilla cookie characteristic. Some vintages may start to make the transition a bit before 20 years (2010 and 2011 are two that might) and some can take a little longer (1996 and 2008 are likely candidates). Nothing wrong with drinking these wines young though.