I am trying to figure out which bottle to chose for a dinner later this week and any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
2014 Ulysse Collin, Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs “Les Maillons,” Barbonne-Fayel, 280
2014 Ulysse Collin, Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs “Les Pierrières,” Cogny, 282
2013 Ulysse Collin, Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs “Les Enfers,” Cogny, 339
2015 Ulysse Collin, Extra Brut “Le Jardin d’Ulysse,” Cogny, 380
2016 Ulysse Collin, Extra Brut “Les Roises,” Cogny, 401
Jon - I would choose the 2016 Les Roises (my favorite of his bottlings and, to me, the most exciting) or the 2015 Jardin. I have not tried the second, but have heard very good things. I think the Maillons and Pierrieres have gotten to their best levels in more recent vintages. I have not had the 2013 Enfers, so I can’t comment on that, except to say that I think it, too, is getting better and better. That said, I doubt you will be disappointed.
I would second that the 2015 Jardin d’Ulysse is an outstanding wine drinking well now - had a bottle a couple of weeks ago that was truly excellent.
Thanks Sarah and Jason!
I would say the 2016 Roises for sure. I like the Jardin a lot, though less than the Roises. I am curious about that 2013 Enfers; the first disgorgement of Enfers ever is 2015, and it was 48 months on the lees at the time (it was originally sold in 5 packs with each other bottling). I think the next vintage was a lot stronger.
great post.
Unfortunately the cheapest grey market offer I’ve seen for this wine has been $675, and it too is one I’ve wanted to try for a while…
The place to drink it is at restaurants! The bottle I got was $265 off a list in Manhattan.
What can I say, Collin is a man of the people.
I Loved the 2016 Maillons extra Brut and can see what the fuss is about. Very distinctive
Selosse (Anselme) was already retired at the time the 2008 came out, so not sure him moving to a monastery would have made much of a difference 
We got the Egly allocations, this has just become crazy.It seems the demand is massive.Allocation reduced by a third. Personally could not care about UC, but Egly. They will now slowly trickle onto the market and customers will wake up to the new prices, in fact the prices will make UC’s prices seem like peanuts. I was going to sell the 2013 at about 500 € but considering how limited it is, 900 -1000€ seems more apt.
I saw an offer yesterday for the ‘13 Egly at 875 GBP.
So I had dinner at Sunday Vinyl last night, which is the across from the breezeway from Tavernetta and part of the Bobby Stuckey food empire. It was a great experience that I will write up separately, but the somm used to work at Tavernetta and she described the ‘15 Jardin as a bit more oxidative and would work better with an autumnal dish. The Roises is fresher, creamier, stone fruit driven, better with oysters. Knowing my palate, I am leaning towards the Roises. I am going to have lunch at Tavernetta on Thursday so I will finalize the choices for our Friday dinner with the somm then.
I think the somm is somewhat conflating “oxidative” with “more oak influence” which people sometimes do with Champagne (Krug is an obvious example). Some old Collins were definitely more oxidative (especially the Maillons), but the Jardin isn’t really an oxidative wine, but rather shows more of the typical “ginger” note that Collin wines often have and which is more of the oak than oxidation. I think the Roises (which is generally my favorite cuvee) has a more slightly blue driven fruit profile which sometimes almost reminds me of some GG rieslings (though it’s a faint reminder!). I don’t think of any of the current Collin releases as “creamy” though - that’s how the older wines were made; I opened an 08/11 disgorgement PIerrieres last month and that is a creamy wine.
Either way, you can’t go wrong with those cuvees - enjoy!
FWIW had a 2016 Les Pierrières in Beaune this week (at 165 euro) and it was sensational. The wines are beautiful, singular and special. Wish there were more around.
Cheers!
I think you are right that there is not a wrong choice here.
yeah def didn’t get any oxidative notes from Jardin. Pretty bright wine
Had the Perrieres, 2016 base, disgorged 3/21 tonight at Zuni Cafe, reasonably priced at $255. However, I’m not getting the hype. It’s good, but not remotely as good as the 2014 Peters Chetillons a couple months ago.
Greg - We went with the '16 Roises 48 month. I asked the somm to help me decide between that and the '15 Jardin and he said the Roises without hesitation. I was able to stop by an hour before our reservation to taste it. The nose was showing lavender and the first flavor that I caught was the ginger that you mentioned. Then it evolved into a more orchard fruit, red apple and peach, but not in a bruised, oxidative way. The finish was very crisp and clean, no chalk. Drank very well on its own and with a panzanella salad.
