Which Champagne are you drinking?

[Jon_Lawrence]

Jon,

I have a few of these. Would you care to ponder a drinking window? Worth the tariff?

Cheers,
Warren

…given that I don’t drink a lot of rosé, I like to drink really good ones when I do so I usually reach for this or Elisabeth Salmon '02 or '08. Cristal is my favorite and is so good that I do believe it is worth the tariff, but those are reserved for special occasions.

Thanks Jon,
My “go-to” notable rosés include the Billecart Elisabeth Salmon, the Vilmart Emotion, Amour de Deutz, and the Egly Ouriet NV rosé. I haven’t opened a Bolly yet.
Cheers,
Warren

Nice Champagnes, although I have yet to try the Egly.

[Sarah_Kirschbaum]

…given that I don’t drink a lot of rosé, I like to drink really good ones when I do so I usually reach for this or Elisabeth Salmon '02 or '08. Cristal is my favorite and is so good that I do believe it is worth the tariff, but those are reserved for special occasions.

Thanks Jon,
My “go-to” notable rosés include the Billecart Elisabeth Salmon, the Vilmart Emotion, Amour de Deutz, and the Egly Ouriet NV rosé. I haven’t opened a Bolly yet.
Cheers,
Warren

Nice Champagnes, although I have yet to try the Egly.

Do it, Jon. It’s superb. No competition as far as NV goes, for me, and superior to many, if not most, vintage rosés.

[Sarah_Kirschbaum]

A few other quick notes on recent champagnes in addition to the Larmandier-Bernier posted above:

Diebolt-Vallois Prestige - never disappoints. We were talking about what a house champagne means, and for us it comes down to always a pleasure, an old friend, a delight and never asks much but your enjoyment. For us, this one fits the bill.

Ployez-Jacquemart rose - a lovely nose, like Egly lite, but on the palate a bit simple, with what I call a generically pleasing palate profile. Everything good, nothing great. But the nose was outstanding.

Ulysse Collin Les Enfers 2014 - much better than a 2015 version several months back, which was tight and only suggesting the Collin fireworks. This 2014 was right back where I want them to be, with the exotic nose of ginger and kaffir lime, and for me a perfect richness and balance. Loved it.

[Jon_Lawrence]

Thanks Jon,
My “go-to” notable rosés include the Billecart Elisabeth Salmon, the Vilmart Emotion, Amour de Deutz, and the Egly Ouriet NV rosé. I haven’t opened a Bolly yet.
Cheers,
Warren

Nice Champagnes, although I have yet to try the Egly.

Do it, Jon. It’s superb. No competition as far as NV goes, for me, and superior to many, if not most, vintage rosés.

Any specific disgorgements or are they all good?

[Sarah_Kirschbaum]

Nice Champagnes, although I have yet to try the Egly.

Do it, Jon. It’s superb. No competition as far as NV goes, for me, and superior to many, if not most, vintage rosés.

Any specific disgorgements or are they all good?

I’ve never had a bad one, and I haven’t paid much attention to the disgorgements, to be honest. We’re drinking a July 2014 disgorgement now, IIRC. They benefit from a few years of age for sure. That said, he’s steadily increased the amount of time on lees since I started drinking it a number of years ago, and I think that extra time is beneficial.

It’s special stuff. Only the best bottles of Selosse rose come close for NV - and that is made with Egly’s fruit!

[Lonnie_F]

This was quite tasty last night with cheese, smoked trout and mixed berries. Especially for $32.

[alan_weinberg]

another delicious bottle of Taittinger Folies de la Marquetterie.

[AD_Northup]

Can’t remember my last update, so here’s the last week or so:

• 2014 Guiborat Fils Champagne Grand Cru Mont Aigu - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (6/11/2022)
  BdB disgorged December 2020. Rich, red delicious apple, marzipan, good acid, baked bread in the finish in the back of the tongue. Really nice, drinking well.

Posted from CellarTracker

• NV Chavost Champagne Eureka - France, Champagne (6/11/2022)
  70% Pinot noir, 15% Chardonnay and 15% Meunier. Immediately dense and baked apple up front, but the finish has a strong note of green almond that hangs around much longer than invited, which isn’t to my tastes. I preferred the last Cuvee I opened (the Meunier) more.

Posted from CellarTracker

• NV Perseval Farge Champagne Premier Cru Brut Terre de Sables - France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru (6/10/2022)
  green apple up front, with just the perfect Bit of tart. Nice rich mouthfeel, that hangs with the fruit over 15 or so seconds. Ringer for some
  Big house styles, and quality right up there too at a fraction of the price.

Posted from CellarTracker

• 2015 Caillez-Lemaire Champagne Cuvée Pur Meunier - France, Champagne (6/9/2022)
  2,046 bottles produced in the 2015 vintage aged 100% in oak. classic Meunier notes but with a bit of an oxidative nature up front melding into the bruised apple. Baking spice notes, good pure lemon acid finish.

Posted from CellarTracker

[Warren_Taranow]

Another nice bottle of Clouet Un Jour de 1911. I think these need a bit of time after disgorgement to really shine. This bottle seemed to have more of the old solera showing through than the base year 2008. Lots of white flowers, hazelnut, apple, and ginger. It was loved by all, and the bottle was empty in no time.

[Steve_Barnett]

I’d say give LF another shot. But be intentional about which one you open, though. My advice? Find the Les 7 and try one. Bit harder to get but excellent. For something more available, try the 100% Chard, which is the Les Grandes Crayères. There is some dosage in that wine (versus the sans dose BdB and even the Nature Craie CdB chard he makes). Even the Autrefois is a good one, too, which is Meunier. Try one of these and see if you still have the same opinion.

The Laherte Les 7 was on the bucket list for me. Bummer the Lahaye was corked. It was actually decent, just buried in wet newspaper.

Great treat from FMIII for the bubble geeks.

Frank and Brig,
I’ll keep an eye open for an offer on the Les 7 and the Les Grandes Crayères and pick up a couple. Thus far, I’ve been left out of the Laherte Freres fan club, but I’ll give them another try.
Cheers,
Warren

I’ve found the LF single vineyard wines to be very accessible and delicious, easy drinking. Frank suggested that vintages prior to 2017 are more complex. But I’ve liked Lea Grands Crayeres and Les Longues Voyes. 2017 available on WDC.

I enjoy the LF more after I have given them another year in the bottle. No one mentioned Les Beaudiers, which seems great to my tastes without extra time.

[Jon_Lawrence]

Decided to make this a Bolly rosé weekend so followed Friday’s '12 with the '04. Very similar fruit profile with an abundance of red strawberries, cherries, raspberries, still very fresh. Drank without food and it really did not need it. I just love that color.

[Keith_A_k_e_r_s]

I’ve been awful at posting, but last night I did had some personal accomplishments to celebrate. The Suenen Oiry jumped out at me when I went into the store nearby:

• NV Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru Oiry Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (6/11/2022)
  This is lively and fresh from the get go as it shows off the distinctive mint and herbal notes that I love here along with green apples, peaches, pears, lemon peels, saline, vanilla beans, jasmine, acacia flowers, crushed rocks, biscuits, and warm dough. There is excellent depth and complexity while showing of the nuance I expect. The Medium bodied feel is fresh, poised, and balanced while showing off racy and mouthwatering, high acidity. This is a 2018 base and it is really lovely right now. (92 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker


I love both the C+C and the Oiry, but I personally find the Oiry the more distinctive of the village wines and I love it

[crickey]

2012 Delamotte BdB:

• 2012 Delamotte Champagne Blanc de Blancs Millésimé - France, Champagne (6/10/2022)
  Apples and toast, with a bit of lemon twist. A lot of bubbles at first (almost like the head on a hard pour of beer), but it settled down. Solid, concentrated, lots of material for a champagne. Well-balanced, well-mannered, not too sweet. A notch above “just another champagne,” but not mind-blowing.

Posted from CellarTracker

I feel like I may be damning with faint praise. It was good, and my friend and I drained the bottle quickly sitting outside on a nice, sunny day.

[Frederico_L_e_e]

Any lovers of Jacquesson? Opened this nr. 737 DT, a 2009 base wine on lees for 90 months and was disgorged in Nov '17.

Colour was medium yellow gold with very fine and elegant bubbles. Very citruous with brioche and nice yeasty favor. Hints of baked apple and apricot. Acidity was high, good when paired with smoked Atlantic salmon. Sadly it was my only bottle.

[Sarah_Kirschbaum]

Any lovers of Jacquesson? Opened this nr. 737 DT, a 2009 base wine on lees for 90 months and was disgorged in Nov '17.

Colour was medium yellow gold with very fine and elegant bubbles. Very citruous with brioche and nice yeasty favor. Hints of baked apple and apricot. Acidity was high, good when paired with smoked Atlantic salmon. Sadly it was my only bottle.

We love Jacquesson. They need food, being high in acidity and fiercely cut. Smoked salmon sounds like an excellent match.

[alan_weinberg]

I’ve opened 24 Champagnes in the last 30 days, one a night. Tonight is Egly-Ouriet rosé 16 base. Top wines of the group were 08 Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée, 2015 Laherte Frere Grandes Crayères, Doyard Revolution, and a couple Bouchard Val Vilaine, 18 and 19.

[Frank_Murray_III]

alan weinberg, that 2015 LF LGC is what got me hooked on Aurelien Laherte’s wines. Really glad to see that wine resonated for you. You can still find some 2016 around, and the new release is 2017. When I visited Aurelien in Chavot a few weeks ago, he poured me the 2018 (not out yet), which he referred to as ‘solar’. His reference was to the vintage being sunny and LGC being more ripe and richer because of it, which I did agree with but there is still freshness and acidity even in a solar vintage like 2018. Anyway, just wanted to expand on your post.

As to some Champagne I opened/was shared this weekend, here are some impressions.

• NV Champagne Suenen Champagne Grand Cru C + C Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (6/13/2022)
  Have not had this in a while. Was served to me blind. 100% Chardonnay farmed organic from both Chouilly and Cramant, with just 3 grams of dosage, disgorged June 2019, using 2016 base wine. The Initially aromas of pounded rock and citrus. Flavors of lemon oil, crisp green apple, with mint and a bright freshness. With air, this becomes a little more lemon curd-like yet it never loses the fresh citrus and acidity. Damn, this showed excellent.
• NV Georges Laval Champagne Extra Brut Garennes - France, Champagne (6/13/2022)
  Served to me blind. Disgorged June 2021, with base wine of 2019 and reserves from 2013-2018. 100% Pinot Meunier farmed organic, I believe one gram of dosage is applied. The first glass reminded me of spice cake, lime, stone fruit and licorice. That may sound all jumbled up for a Meunier but when I write notes, I just let what comes through hit the page. Later, dried black cherry and with more air a stony, pure clean finish. This is the second bottle of Laval I have had in 2021 (the other was the Cumieres 1er Cru) and both have left me with a very favorable impression.
• 2016 Rémi Leroy Champagne Blanc de Noirs - France, Champagne (6/12/2022)
  Disgorged November 2020, 2 grams of dosage with 100% Pinot Noir. I dig these wines from Remi Lerpy as they remain affordable, he farms clean, the wines reflect good energy and stylistically they fit very well for me. My first of two. The presence of cranberry and raspberry, yet a juicy apple and spicy, honeyed pear that finishes with a refreshing salinity and citrus. I enjoyed this at outside temperature of 68f, allowing the wine to show all the nuances. Then, finished today from the remainder of the bottle, the wine had gone still. Delicious even still, with good freshness and acidity.
• NV Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Shaman 17 Rosé - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (6/12/2022)
  Disgorged September 2020. No dosage, roughly 60% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir. Peachy color. This is brisk, with saline, strawberry, green apple and cinnamon/5-spice (which is very reminiscent of the 2017 Les Crayeres we had earlier this week, showing the same spice profile). As this finishes, a fresh juicy lime taste emerges, along with the saline. Refreshing and juicy.

Posted from CellarTracker

[JoelD]

I’ve opened 24 Champagnes in the last 30 days, one a night. Tonight is Egly-Ouriet rosé 16 base. Top wines of the group were 08 Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée, 2015 Laherte Frere Grandes Crayères, Doyard Revolution, and a couple Bouchard Val Vilaine, 18 and 19.

How are the 18 and 19 Bouchard VV? I don’t think these age as well as his other wines, but also have heard those two might be a tad young. Trying to find the right window to crack an 18 soon.

[K_John_Joseph]

Another nice bottle of Clouet Un Jour de 1911. I think these need a bit of time after disgorgement to really shine. This bottle seemed to have more of the old solera showing through than the base year 2008. Lots of white flowers, hazelnut, apple, and ginger. It was loved by all, and the bottle was empty in no time.

Unsurprisingly, I had this same bottle about a week and a half ago. But I had a different take, though my note is not all that much different. Every time I have these I think that they are so dominated by apple notes the initial impression is almost like baked red apple cider with a hint of ginger, then a yeast and bread note, with a hint of nutiness. Fresh on palate with good acidity, and absolutely not oxidated. But to me I always get the feeling that it’s a cheap knock off of what Krug MV used to be back before 164eme. Provides pleasure, but seems a bit clunky to me. It disappeared, but I wasn’t all that enthused.

[alan_weinberg]

I’ve opened 24 Champagnes in the last 30 days, one a night. Tonight is Egly-Ouriet rosé 16 base. Top wines of the group were 08 Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée, 2015 Laherte Frere Grandes Crayères, Doyard Revolution, and a couple Bouchard Val Vilaine, 18 and 19.

How are the 18 and 19 Bouchard VV? I don’t think these age as well as his other wines, but also have heard those two might be a tad young. Trying to find the right window to crack an 18 soon.

great fruit, 18 more delicious but older. Loved both. No formal notes n