Dec 6th - NYC - Annual Baller Bubbles - Event Planner - Online or Offline - WineBerserkers
What an incredible evening! So deeply thankful for the people, the memories, and the juice. Some top of mind, “hey you’s!”
@J_a_y_H_a_c_k & Rebecca - The Terry Pratchet cosplay
@Jesse_W - pre-event decanting thoughtfulness
@nbri_zuela - How dare Germany take you!
@AaronR - thank you so much for making a pilgrimage despite the scheduale
@Dan_A & Claudia - Always with the good vibes
@B_Caputo and Jamie - No love like Mag love, especially with the origin story
@david_s and better half - The ultimate, and over worked, passing of things
@Sam_Kwak - Curveball sweet wine!
@phil.lukeman - Stealing Nicole one loaf a time and steadfast funkiness
Jake (handle?) - Well, the redemption arc was long, but you crushed it with aplomb. Way to be!
Happy to report that in the fried chicken taste off, Red Rooster clearly defended title against KFC.
Note notes: Tried to use some time-stamps to remind myself when in the evening (we started at 6pm), I had it. Made a first time attempt to note take on lap-top during. Doesn’t work, taking too much attention, back to pen and paper in the future. In a huge tasting like this, things get lost, but I think the generalities hold true for me and my palate. Hope everyone chimes in below and let me know if I missed something!
'09 Pierre Péters Les Chetillons (mag)
7:15pm - opens with lemon. Some hidden depth. Little cinnamon spice in the background. It has more mid body than many BdBs, I’ve had, but in a gentle way. Lemon curd. 9:02 - more apple flavors in the mouth. More of the “chalk” and mineral thing. Overall, this was very impressive. Feels like this could go on for a very long time. My first time with this bottling. Dosage 4.7 g/l. 92-93
'19 Westborn Rosé
2019 Rose: 100% Pinot Noir. 6 months in barrel; 52 months on lees in bottle. 4g/L dosage. Disgorged June 2024. 210 cases produced. Grapefruit and lees were the main points for me. It’s more linear than round. This requires food for me.
NV Westborn Perpetual Reserve 01 (Disgorge: June 24)
7:17pm. Good, interesting, little unusual. Something chocolate on nose. Orange rind in mouth.
Dosage 4g/l
Laherte Frères Champagne Extra Brut Ultradition (Disgorge: '24)
Like it’s rose twin, this was charming and easy drinking. Lacks the complexity to take from very good to excellent, but it’s the perfect aperitivo. 2024 disgorgement. 4.5g/l
NV Laherte Frères Champagne Rosé de Meunier Extra Brut ('23 disgorge)
Once again, just a perfect quaffable / aperitivo. In line with previous experiences. Dosage 2.5g/l.
Christophe Mignon Champagne ADN de Meunier Rose de Saignee Extra Brut ( '18 vintage & '22 disgorgement)
This was decanted/opened 2 hours prior and really benefited from that. The fruit was pure (mostly red) and did not have the slightly bitter notes I find off-putting in Meunier bottlings. Refreshing, but also enjoyable on its own.
'06 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
Excellent. 8:06pm - little smokey, nutty, brioche on the nose. Very intriguing. Mouth very compelling with some nuttiness coming forwards. Florals are here to, but lighter.
'12 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
9:18pm - I prefer the mouth to the nose which was a touch snippy. brioche, citrus, apple, true to bdb personality. Potential is here, but needs more time for me.
'04 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill
8pm - Little caramel. Some pungent spice. It’s pretty heavy honestly. 9:59pm - Mouth has chocolate. So vinous and secondary. Yum. Super complex, but you have to like this style.
2006 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill
Very open and free. Open and vinous. Lovely. Could this use a little more acid? It is for sure on the young side.
'02 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François
Note missing 
'08 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon
9:10pm. Strange. Acidic and leaner. More subtle than the other bottles; We should have done this earlier in the evening. Gentle Clemintine.
'12 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé
Blinded this into the group as it had been last year’s surprise favorite for many (and in a field with much more expensive offerings). Much less aromatically expressive than last time. I then decanted to see if some life would come it. Did help. I think we had just got it a peak primary to secondary transition last time. Now it’s much more secondary and while those doughy yeasty caramel notes are great, I think I liked it better in its previous evolution. I did get these two from the same source. So, could hold out hope that maybe they just weren’t handled perfectly, but if I had to guess, it’s just an ageing curve thing.
'95 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Blanc des Millénaires
Super rich and oxidative. The wood is on display here. N loved it, and it was pretty epic, but I think my taste wants more balance.
'08 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut
7:37pm - Shyest nose of the night so far. Almost not there. Mouth has a subtle spice (ginger). This was much more on the delicate elegant side of thing. I think it did not benefit from going middle of the line-up and I look forward to revisiting.
2016 Juvé y Camps Cava Gran Juvé & Camps Gran Reserva Brut
The nose has an overwhelming plastic note. The rest of the wine is not pleasant, but the brutal aroma kills the potential joy. Basically, everyone dumped this out
NV Maître de Chai Sparkling Chenin Blanc Wilson Vineyard
Had as blind. No idea. Light rubber nose. Little disjointed in mouth. Not champagne for sure. Total head scratcher!
NV Jacques Selosse Substance
Well, I guess I dodged a bullet and more for you guys! So much woodiness on the nose. Mouth - I thought about this for a long time, but honestly, I did not get this at all: salty and oxidative. Felt like someone painting with a sofa sized paintbrush - and not a compelling way. First time with this bottling. Unfort, Nicole LOVED it. She keeps asking what was the wine Jake brought that she liked so much… “You know, I just can’t remember!”
NV Scharffenberger Brut Excellence
Did not enjoy this. The fruit is too ripe and the overall experience clunky and unbalanced. Not quite an “artificial” event, but conjures the ghost of it. I did LOVE having it in the lineup though as it gave a great contrast.
NV Bérêche et Fils Champagne Brut Réserve (Disgorge '24
Great showing! I think I preferred this earlier on. What a nice value. It’s a full and welcoming champagne. 6:30pm - Some light biscuit notes, apple. More red fruit in mouth. Beautiful and round and nice. 8:57pm - Nose is floral, cranberry, weird Pinot Meunier hinting, hint of nuttiness, acid lively. dosage 6g/l
'13 Marc Hébrart Champagne Grand Cru Rive Gauche / Rive Droite Extra Brut
Excellent. Very Compelling. Nose is more mineral and citrus driven than its special club twin.
'13 Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Special Club
Very impressed with this. 8:50pm - So easy on the pop and pour. Ripe and round. Cherry licorice, ripe strawberry, some supporting spice. Approachable. 9:15pm - still just so easy going. It has enough complexity to be interesting, but doesn’t force you to work for it. Wonderful compromise.
'00 Pommery Champagne Cuvée Louise Brut Rosé
7:49pm - Slightly bruised apple nose with bready notes. This made me think a lot and I appreciate that. Despite the thinking, I never figured it out. I’m not sure it was 100% correct? If it was… I don’t think I like it? Distinct from all the other bubbles of the evening though.
2012 Weingut Battenfeld-Spanier Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
7:47pm. Beautiful doughy nose. rounder in mouth with some apple. 8:55pm. Nose is now all butter popcorn and (reductive?) medium roasted hazelnuts. mouth has nice yellow and green fruits.
NV Vadio Bairrada Perpetuum (Disgorge '22)
Lovely and Compelling and weird! Try again.
'06 Philipponnat Le Leon
No note
'13 Vilmart & Cie Ratafia Chardonnay
Unusual. Nose is wood and tough herb and pear and smidge of apricot. Mouth is slick. Some honey dew, light caramel, apple. There is acidity, but not too much. Finish is mostly nuttiness
'23 Walter Scott Le Combe Verte
Red fruit and berry. Some earth and good acid. I never let these sit long enough. Good now, will only get better.
1990 Bodegas Toro Albala Don PX Selección
Brought this back from Spain. Tight, deep dark chocolate. Interesting Coffee note
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