Extracted from a thread just posted: !0 wines, 8 tasted blind: 2006 Taittinger Comtes, 2006 Piper-Heidsieck, 2008 Garaudet Meursault, 2016 de Sales, 2019 Brander Merlot, 2005 Columbia Crest Merlot,1989 Le Gay; 2016 Oreno, 2006 Dolce, F Tokaji
2006 TAITTINGER COMTES de CHAMPAGNE BLANC de BLANC- poured blind to the others; I wanted to bring a decent champagne especially after I made the decision to bring a $10 Merlot and this bottle just barely made the grade to be “decent”; it’s rare that I ever get a bottle variation of this champagne/ vintage, but we had one here as it started off suggestive of being advanced with a yellow more gold color; the nose included toasty brioche, caramel, honey, bruised yellow apple, yellow peach, mango and dried apricot which continued on all the way through; thankfully, it was devoid of any butterscotch or almond notes, but it definitely was more mature than other recent bottles; later on, some white pepper notes appeared which was another atypical from any previous bottles of which I’ve had many; it had a nice smooth mouthfeel, but short of being creamy and a bit of acidity, but also less than usual. Once revealed, others chimed in with this not being the usual fine champagne it has been known to be.
2008 PIPER-HEIDSIECK CHAMPAGNE BRUT- blind; the color matched the yellow more gold of the 2006 Comtes and I’m thinking this may be advanced as well; once nosed, a musty, dusty component seemed to confirm it plus the notes of honey covered mature peach, apricot and nectarine with a caramel topping; as big as the fruit profile was, it was equally as big, rich and full bodied with a weighted texture.
Cheers,
Blake