‘The champagne of beers’?
I acquired my bottles shortly before you posted your note. I see the comments below about the stated blend being boilerplate and not reflective of what is actually in the bottle. That strikes me as very odd, if true, but this is iteration #107.
Thanks for the heads up! Not surprisingly, there is no stock of the 1911 today. I will forever be compulsively checking the site a few times a day moving forward.
@scottkieser What part of the US are you in? @Tom_K might still have some. Just save me a bottle or two.
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Thanks @Kevin_Diffley! @scottkieser take a gander here:
I also regularly offer it as follows:
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The order link doesn’t work for me. I am not going to order today anyway. I am well stocked with Champagnes and am in need of a modicum of fiscal austerity, but I would jump on a similar offer on a future date. Can you estimate shipping charges to Seattle?
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If you go to this link and add to your cart you can get a shipping number:
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NV Roederer Collection 243
I loved - and love!- the 242 when it came out and while I know some feel differently, I believed it was a step up from the Brut Premier (which I also thought was probably the best entry-level grande marque Champagne) and immediately grabbed half a dozen bottles both to drink and stash away.
This is my first time with the 243. At first blush on the nose there’s very attractive and expressive white flowers, fresh bread, a bit of almond paste and a nice chalkiness. The palate is definitely rounder and less precise than the pinpoint 242; it is quite generous and mouthcoating but still has lots of freshness. The acid structure seems a touch disjointed and it has the contradictory feel of being the slightest bit screechy while also being quite generous. All of this is nitpicking, of course - it far outperforms the other large houses’ base bottlings and it’s still darn delicious. Still, I think it’s slightly less successful than the previous edition.
The price in Ontario has also gone up almost $20 from when 242 first launched, as well, so I’m not sure if it offers the same value, but I’d reach for this before almost anything else that is widely available.
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Got it! I just moved to exurbia, I will be having a lot of wine shipped, as grocers are pretty much the only game in town.
Indeed, your note was dead on. I left about 4 ounces in the bottle last night and am just now finishing it off. Those flavors, particularly the apricot, gained in intensity over night and the wine added a lot of body. This almost tastes like an apricot reduction sauce, like something you might glaze a duck with. It’s picked up a gingery spice note, some lead pencil, and is more chalky than it was last night. I should probably put a couple away.
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Oooph, that’s rough…good luck in the new digs. We ship up to 15 in a box if not too heavy of a bottle gauge…sign up for our offers here to get in on the goods! If you check my insta you can see the kind of offers we have… @winesolutions
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I remember doing that. Twice. It will turn into suburbia before you even have time to feel that you got away.
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Yeah, it’s already getting there. Big box stores and large apartment complexes popping up everywhere. At least I am no longer stepping on hypodermic needles and human waste.
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Been on a bit of a champagne bacchanalia last couple of days, have had Dom 2008 and the Rose, 2008 Cristal, and Krug 168, 170 and the NV Rose. I don’t usually have these wines comparatively, but side-by-side you really do discern the distinctions in the house style. And again I am a champagne neophyte compared to most of you on this thread, but my sense is Dom is about the power and the mousse, Krug shows that oxidative note, and Cristal is more about the crystalline purity of fruit. I found the 2008 Cristal to rise above the field here, such elegance.
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A great word!
A Selosse themed dinner last Sunday, all served double blind. A lot of very generous contributions.
For the me standouts were the Bout de Clos, the Cuvee Creation and the Jardin, but a lot of great wine. The Facsimile was the clear standout of the roses.
FLIGHT #1: Blanc de Blancs 1
- 1A - Selosse ‘Les Carelles’ (disg Jan 2019) – Les Mesnil Sur Oger
- 1B - Michel Fallon ‘Ozanne’ (3/26/22 disgorgement) – Avize
- 1C - Guillaume Selosse ‘Au Dessus du Gros Mont’ (disg. ‘20) – Cramant
- 1D - Selosse ‘Les Chantereines’ (disg. Jan 2019) – Avize
FLIGHT #2: Blanc de Blancs 2
- 2A - Selosse ‘Substance’ (disg. 2013) – Avize
- 2B - Larmandier-Bernier ‘Levant VV’ 2008 – Cramant
- 2C - Selosse ‘Chemin de Chalons’ (disg. Jan 2019) – Cramant
- 2D - Ulysse Collin ‘Les Enfers’ 2010 (96 months) – Congy
FLIGHT #3: Blanc de Noirs 1
- 3A - Selosse ‘Sous le Mont’ (disg. Jan 2019) – Mareuil-sur-Aÿ
- 3B - Ultramarine ‘Heintz Vineyard’ Blanc de Noirs 2012
- 3C - Selosse ‘Le Bout du Clos’ (disg. Jan 2019)’ – Ambonnay
FLIGHT #4: Blanc de Noirs 2
- 4A - Selosse ‘La Cote Faron’ (disg. Jan 2019) – Aÿ CORKED
- 4B - Jacquesson ‘Ay Vauzelle Terme’ 2004 – Aÿ
- 4C - Deutz ‘Hommage Meurtet’ 2012 – Aÿ
FLIGHT #5 : Mixed Bag
- 5A - Ulysse Collin ‘Jardin d’Ulysse’ (base 2016, disg 2/22) - Congy
- 5B - Egly-Ouriet Millesime ‘13 – Ambonnay
- 5C - Selosse 2009 – Avize
FLIGHT #6 : Rosé
- 6A - Jérôme Prévost Fac Simile LC15
- 6B - Emmanuel Brochet Rosé de Saignée (2018)
- 6C - Aurelien Lurquin Rose 2018 (disg Apr 2021)
FLIGHT #7: 20+ years
- 7A - Vilmart ‘Cuvée Creation’ 1997 (1.5L) (disg 2009)
- 7B - Cristal 1996 – Reims
- 7C - Salon 1997 – Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger
- 7D - Pierre Peters ‘Cuvée Spéciale’ 1998 - Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger
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That’s a good assessment
Jose Michel Special Club 2014:
50-50 Chardonnay and Meunier. Trying to write a precise and accurate tasting note is challenging, given the speed at which this keeps evolving. The nose is just downright sexy with toffee and bread dough committing a full on assault on the Olfactory Bulb. Palate is more nuanced with Lemon, plum, spice, and hints of hazelnut. Something savory, almost meat like, I can’t quite identify lingers on the long, salty finish. Full bodied, creamy, and muscular wine. Silky smooth palate. Delicious and very low priced relative to the quality. I have one more bottle and wish I had bought a few more.
Edit: Llife happened and I had to leave the bottle for about three hours. When I came back to it, it transformed into an entirely different wine. I don’t have the ability to describe it, other than to say that the nose was intensely floral with a haunting perfume that captivated me. Drinking it was almost psychedelic; each component playing an elaborate symphony in complete harmony, with an almost literal sensation of these musicians dancing across the palate. This was unquestionably the finest bottle I have ever had.
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Oh my God @Greg_K. 
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Eichelmann is a german wine and champagne critic. The last book was published at the request of many producer in english but does not seem have been a success as the new one is in german
The new book came out this week, the most comprehensive guide to champagne, growers and maison. Always interesting to see how he ranks producers. From my perspective Eichelmannis the best champagne critic out there.
Brochet, Leclapart and Hure Freres now at the top, not really surprising. A good thing he does not move markets.
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