Just did the same. Not sure how I missed this on BD, but the BD offer is still up for people who are interested ($150 + $20 flat rate shipping). Given the accolades, this seems like a no-brainer. Thanks, all!
All in the name of science! Looking forward to your impressions (and mine too).
There is some potential for @John_Cabot sparkling wines to be in the Falltacular charity event here next weekend. That would be a big science experiment for them, as we’ll have 100 people and many could taste the wines. Personally, I want to taste them again, not necessarily blind, but to sit with both vintages over some time in the glass, to see if they show as well as they did blind a few weeks ago via @brigcampbell To see them repeat the positive impact they had on me, that would be a confirming mark I’d want to see. I’m glad that you, Chris, Troy and some others have them coming, to put them in your glasses and see what you find.
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I’d love to hear your second impressions from them.
I also think you may want to start dabbling in some WV sparkling wines. Though, giving it a bit more time probably wouldn’t hurt as consistency across producers is a work in progress, but I’ve had wines recently that carried the energy and nerve that I expect from some of my favorite growers. Not necessarily the elite cuvees, the Oregon versions of VV du Levant, Clos St. Sophie, and Clos de l’Abbaye still have yet to be produced, but a number of wines I’ve tried would meet quality levels of entry level and mid-tier wines from some of my favorite growers.
They’ll be there with bells on. 
Marcus, if you would suggest 2 that you think I might like, I’d appreciate that.
Thank you for posting notes!
Mine were a bit messy, but I tried my best to decipher them to post. The order presented here reflects my tasting order.
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2018 Ultramarine Rosé Heintz Vineyard
Tasted blind. Gorgeous deep salmon color. On the nose, I got quite a bit of barnyard, often found in PN. Juicy strawberry in a bold, big, round style. It came across to me as Grande Marque, though thinking back, the nose was not typical of one. Having heard about this on WB, I was glad to taste this rosé. It’s not my style, but I see the appeal. -
2015 Elise Dechannes Champagne “Essentielle”
This wine was from my cellar, so it was not blind to me. Initially came across very much like chardonnay or chardonnay-heavy blend to several of us, though Brent identified it (blind) as PN. Upon tasting it, I did a double (triple?) take and had to mentally verify that it was PN. Green apple, green pear dominated for me. I don’t think it was served too cold, but perhaps that was the case. I revisited it yesterday at a warmer temperature and after getting some air, red apple came across. It still wasn’t “boldly” pinot noir to me, but it was enjoyable, and I will be seeking more from this producer. -
2014 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Rosé de Maturation
Tasted blind. Light salmon color. The nose is fascinating, and we spent a lot of time trying to dissect it on Sunday. An obvious cocoa note, echoing others at the table, and then something a little less identifiable to me; something a bit meaty, clove/cumin-ish. The bottle was kindly left behind, so I retasted it yesterday, still searching for the descriptor to match the nose. Going through my spice cabinet helped get closer to that elusive note: ground ginger. The taste profile remained as attractive as the prior day, with the cocoa note blending well with blood orange, apricot and raspberry. Yum. My 2nd favorite of the day. -
2019 Marie Courtin Champagne Résonance
Tasted blind. Nice nose and very clean. Yellow raspberry & lemon flesh. Don’t have a lot of notes on this, perhaps because I was hosting and got distracted. -
2012 Bérêche et Fils Champagne Reflet d’Antan
Tasted blind. Oxydized apple on the nose that jumped out when compared to the others in this line-up. Bruised apple and a cider-ish finish that wasn’t for me. My sense is that if you have this wine in your cellar, don’t wait longer to drink it. -
2016 Domaine Nowack Champagne Les Bauchets Extra Brut
Tasted blind. A few weeks ago, I opened Nowack’s S.A., which was my least favorite in that day’s line-up, because it was very tight and almost punishingly austere. The 2016 Nowack Bauchets is much more approachable and richer. A bit of iron (?) and something like Turkish delight on the nose. Wonderful yellow baked apple and the longest finish of Sunday’s line-up. This was kindly left behind and I meant to write better notes upon retasting yesterday, but it was so enjoyable that I forgot to analyze it. My favorite of the day. -
2015 Vouette et Sorbée Champagne Saignée de Sorbée Extra Brut
Tasted blind. Really nice light salmon color. I got a floral note on the nose. Yellow raspberry, red apple and lemon on the finish. There’s also an herbaceous note that I can’t place, despite retasting it the following day. Clean and a bit on the lean side, which would go well with certain food pairings. This was kindly left behind and there’s a good amount in the bottle, so I will retaste and try to concentrate on this tonight. -
2016 Marie Courtin Champagne Concordance Extra Brut
Tasted blind. Slight matchstick on the nose. Gold color. Yellow apple tart and something like a slightly savory pie crust. The Concordance was my 3rd favorite of the day. The bottle was kindly left behind, but my stopper must have given out, or it failed to make a good seal. Upon retasting it yesterday, the fresh notes had disappeared, and it came across as bruised apple with an apple cider-ish finish. -
2016 Marie Courtin Champagne Eloquence Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Tasted blind. Some matchstick on the nose. Juicy green apple and lime. Clean style, perhaps not the most expressive, but it may have been served too cold? -
NV Frédéric Savart / Drémont Père et fils Champagne Grand Cru Éphémère 007
Tasted blind. Total embarrassment for me. Brent told us he brought a non-champagne, and upon tasting the Éphémère, I immediately thought this was the outlier. YIKES. My palate and mind were fatigued by this point, but my conviction at the time was so strong that it’s evident my palate & discernment were at fault rather than fatigue. Everyone can laugh with me for misidentifying this champagne, but I won’t share my notes for the Éphémère: in addition to being unreliable, they are ridiculous gibberish…
Obligatory picture of the line-up:
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Frank, let me see if I can track down a couple if things.
Also, we’re doing a BdB tasting next Monday with both WV and Champagne. That should give me some updated information to work with. At least one of the wines I am thinking of is sold out.
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@AstridKG Thanks for putting these notes up–they take time and effort, I really appreciate you adding them to the discussion here.
It’s cool you got to see another Nowack cuvee, and yet another 14 Maturation showed up, both your favorites of the day. I do think we had the MC Eloquence too cold, as I had nearly a full glass of it last night, allowing the cool temp to relax and the wine did take off its winter coat. But, it’s always going to be a little leaner, as I think that is both the style Dominique makes, and maybe some that’s what she got from the 16 vintage. If you taste the 15 Eloquence, you will find a fleshier version of it, again with the vintage coming through.
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That is probably the “softest” UM made to date. Has more still wine added than normal from what I heard. Don’t give up on them…try a BdB next time!
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Champagne Wirth Michel Origines. 70% Meunier and 30% Chardonnay Mise en Bouteille July 2020,
Degorgement August 2022. Dosage 3g/l. A blend of 2018 and 2019.
A new generation producer from Moussy. A linear, structured style of champagne with a nice floral nose. Needs some time to open up, and improves with contact to air, At this stage of its evolution, not complex but really enjoyable to drink. Worked best with hard cheeses. An interesting producer to follow, an will be interesting to retaste in two years.
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Was in Reims last weekend and happened to go to Glue Pot which was a super fun little spot. Tried to order the Marie Noelle Ledru Extra Brut off the list. Owner came back and asked if I wanted the Cuvee du Goulte for an extra 40euro so of course we said yes. Was probably one of the best bottles of champagne I’ve had ever combined with being on a great trip. Came out cellar temp and we opted against the ice bucket, which I think helped. From memory, apple/citrus with great acidity. Mineral. Opened up a bit more after 30m-1hr. Combined with the ham/cheese tart was just chefs kiss.
Afterwards, we ordered the 2014 Marie-Noelle Ledru Extra Brut which was a bit more round in comparison, but at that point, we were just drinking, listening to the dj, people watching so we enjoyed the bottle and no notes.
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This was the champagne I mentioned in another thread, the one where the somm “accidentally” gave me something no dosage when I asked for something NOT that. 2014 Domaine Vincey "Le Grand Jardin." He was very excited about it, waxing poetic about the skill in vineyards and quality of the fruit.
I split it with another diner at the bar, and we both agreed that it had a lovely nose, redolent of lemon tart with cream, with a savory impression on the palate and lively attack. For the first 30 minutes, though, it was quite absent in the mid-palate and showed only a lean, abrupt finish. Those aspects improved and filled out as it opened (note, it was served after only a few minutes on ice, and was certainly no colder than cellar temp, even at first), and we ended up enjoying it. I probably would not buy it for myself, as I did find it a bit limited in range, a little like listening to a piece of music on average ear buds when you are used to hearing it on a great system: all the elements were there, just not able to express fully. Very glad to have tried it, especially as I’d never even heard of the producer.
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Glad you enjoyed it (eventually 
). We sell the 2015 of this but I haven’t tried the 2014.
The 15 is quite rich, so I can see why they might use it to try and bring you to the dark side (if thats what happened!)
Some Vincey wines have a small dosage.
I wondered if you knew this one. Again, I like plenty of no dosage champagnes, I was just getting irritated by the lack of choice at that point, and the feeling of being forced to drink someone’s philosophy, sonto speak. It was a pretty busy night, so I would guess it was a genuine mistake on his part, though the high percentage of choices in that category makes the “accident” more likely.
I read this and caught myself thinking, there you go, this is sort of how I feel about very, very many “new generation” Champagnes 
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Hey Astrid & FM (and the other attendees) do you think your palate fatigues faster with bubbles or reds?
Reds, for me.
I would say, the sommelier thought he was doing you a favour. Vincey were for a long time an underperformer. In the last three years, there has been a massive jump up in quality and I mean massive. It is not my style of champagne, but the deprived Ulysse Collin clan are going crazy for them. Our allocation of 2018 was sold out within 15 minutes of the email going out.
But again 2014, a vintage champagne, I don’t really think so.
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Reds for me, especially if they are a bolder/higher alcohol style.