What was the oldest bottle of Champagne you ever tried?
5-9 years past vintage
10-19 years past vintage
20-29 years past vintage
30-39 years past vintage
40-49 years past vintage
50+ years past vintage
0voters
I was curious as to some of the oldest Champagnes some of our berserkers have had the pleasure of drinking. What was the wine, the vintage, the style, the age when opened, how was it cellared (if known), and most importantly, how did it show after its long sleep?
To date the oldest Champagne I’ve had was an '88 Veuve Clicquot Reserve Rosé. At the time it was consumed the bottle had reached it’s 25th birthday. It had been the first time I ever had a Rosé where the sediment had fallen out of the wine. Blood Orange in color, it had notes of coffee, orange peel, nuts, grapefruit, baked fruits, and brioche. The oldest non-rosé I’ve had was a ‘90 Drappier Grande Sendree opened at 23 years of age. Also, the oldest non vintage I’ve ever had was a bottle of Moët White Star I opened a few months ago. I bought it at retail from a mom n’ pop so there’s no knowing the exact age, but I’d guess it was at least 10 years old.
On my birthday in 2012 I had a 66 Dom, a 76 Dom, and an 85 Dom. All were wonderful. Ultimately, however, they reinforced my conclusion that I prefer my champagne on the younger side – I’m starting to think that my 90 champagnes are needing to be consumed before they get any older.
I had a '76 Dom last year that, while surprisingly (given the provenance) alive & delicious, lead me to the same conclusion. It was intellectually interesting, but didn’t give me the same visceral pleasure that the younger stuff, vintage or non-vintage, does.
Pommery from the 50s - absolutely amazing. Own a smattering of 50-70s bubbles and usually enjoy them quite a bit, but I can see how it can be great to one and awful to another.
Most of the Champagnes I have had that have been older than the '50’s to me are more like curios, rather than great drinks…interesting, but I’d really rather drink something younger also.
A couple of Dom oeno’s though from the '60’s were pretty amazing…
Nothing too old, but I’ve been lucky in recent years to have had '85s from Dom P., Krug, Salon and, a recent highlight, Beaufort, a producer I’d never even heard of before. It was a really top-notch bottle.
I recall having a Dom from the early 80’s, 1982 I believe, side by side with an '85 and the older one was measurably better AND fresher wine. This was maybe five years ago at an industry event. My Champagne tastes have changed though, and I am more a fan of fresher, non-oxidative styles than ever. Most of the hot brands I find to be too full of bruised apple and/or sherry notes to be pleasurable. Weird.
1976 Krug Champagne Brut- France, Champagne (9/4/2012) S.F…La Paulee style! (S.F. Ca.): So great to try this…plenty fresh lemon citrus, tiny bubbles, to go along with the strawberry farm cream, nuttiness…very complex…but the sherryness got to me at the end of the glass…wanted to go back to the '90! (93 pts.)