I wasn’t endorsing the Prosecco either. Too sweet and lacks a finish. Just noting it is superior to the Champagne.
Now i have to try tomorrow, stay tuned
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Great notes and great company to share the experience with. I can relate to the fast track tasting and the difference in following a wine over time- they do become different and usually better IMHO. I prefer the latter, but there are times and this was obviously one of them.
Extracted from a thread just posted re a blind wine dinner:
1996 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL- blind; the color was amber gold and the nose was initially inundated with distinct oxidative notes of caramel, butterscotch and almonds; there was a time a few years ago I would have tossed it and moved on, but I’ve learned to hang on and allow for more time and in may instances have found significant changes, mostly for the better as was the case here; early on, some bitter, acid biting laced grapefruit appeared, but the mouthfeel softened to a creamy state and the taste profile shifted to a more pleasant one of honeyed yellow apple and lemon that actually prevailed from that point on; it had a nice streak of underlying acidity and finished with a bit of spritz; within 30-45 minutes, this went from a toss out to a pour more state; I wondered if the bitter grapefruit was related to a Chardonnay component and wrongly assumed it was a Blanc de Blanc when in fact, this was comprised of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay; also, I guessed it to be 1990 Taittinger Comtes after first suggesting 1995 or 1996; one had it as 1995 Cristal, how good is that?
Cheers,
Blake
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2016 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Les Crayères - France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru (5/20/2023)
Chilled and poured into GGG stems, allowed to warm in the glass over about 2 hours. Very pretty apricot and savory notes on the nose, chalk and some herbs, a touch of citrus. In the mouth, it is more rich than many brut natures, though still lean and focused, with emphasis on chalk and citrus. The quality of the fruit is clear, and I enjoy the classic BdB start, followed by hints of the exotic Asian elements. Perhaps the oak treatment keeps it from sliding too far into the austere and thin, weedy texture that I get on most brut nature. Still.....it's not my style. It was pleasurable to drink, and I will be interested to see what development happens over the next few years, but it lacks the roundness and bass notes I want in my champagnes, and which I find zero dosage struggles to produce. The price is also a challenge, as at around $100, there is a lot of champagne I like more.
Posted from CellarTracker
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Laherte Frères Ultradition Rosé NV
Brought this to a BYOB Japanese restaurant last night. This was really good. Bready, yeasty while having some of the wild raspberry and fresh fruit. Helped tame the spicy beef don and refresh my palate.
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This has become my favourite thread on WB. Lots of great notes & impressions which are being added to constantly and crucially, always positive.
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Well, not always positive about the wines… 
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NV Laherte Frères Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature - France, Champagne (5/20/2023)
Bought this today and decided, what the hell, let's take it to dinner. Celebrated 23 years of marriage today with my wife, I'm damn lucky. This is the November 2022 disgorgement, and it continues to remain consistently good. Still under $50 US for 100% no dose Chardonnay that is farmed organic. Impressive how Aurelien Laherte keeps cranking out such great quality for the price. There was just a touch of austerity in this bottle, exhibited by some citrus pith character. Just enough to show up in the palate, yet as a contributing quality. And to me this disgorgement seems more refined, the acidity brightening with air, but like the pith note, it's in balance with the wine. Pippin apple and lemon, with some tangerine, which I don't recall in past disgorgements. Just enough of it here to play a supporting role. Finishes with fennel and some light minerality. People talk about a house wine, and this could be mine as it's a great bottle year after year.
Posted from CellarTracker
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This is well said. I’m glad Steve started this over 6000 posts ago.
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Suenen Cocluette, from Oiry, 94 year old vines, all 2013. 2 g/l. Disgorged 2019.
Very chalky, grippy, has a little roundness on the mid palate. Still very young, lemon and a bit of mandarin. Probably needs a bit of time but not a great showing today.
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I’ve never had the upper-level/vintage Suenen wines - just the C&C and Oiry, which I’ve enjoyed quite a bit but have never quite been truly moved by - but the price increases this year were eye-watering. I understand from the importer here that the cause was basically a huge emergency loan that needed to be taken out to save the business after other family members decided to sell their shares of the land, but it was almost double last year’s prices which were already creeping up to the higher side.
Congrats on the 23rd Frank! May the rising bubbles bring forth another 23 more. Cheers! 
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sounds like she is also. Congrats.
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2012 Bollinger LGA last night - classic Bolly richness with nicely lifted acidity and purity of fruit. Salty, chalky, notes of apples, lemon, brioche. Absolutely delicious after an hour of air, feels like the very early stages, but maybe perfect if you enjoy fresher champagnes.
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Thank you. I’d be happy to do 23 more with my wife. Every day is a gift.
@alan_weinberg we have a tradition of celebrating it at https://marchemoderne.net/. I don’t know if you have been lately but Florent and Amelia have not lost any momentum in all of these years being open. Even Larissa, who used to serve us when they were located on the 3rd floor at South Coast Plaza, she is still with them. The food and service continues to be top shelf.
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Hey Sean, Sorry about the Leafs. Not sure if you are a puck fan or not…but if so, I predict that Mr Tkachuk will be carrying Lord Stanley over his head here in about 3 weeks.
When I was last in Paris for my trip to Champagne, I grabbed some Suenen Cocluette and brought it back with me. Even at that time, which was May 2022, there were high demand and high prices for all the parcelle cuvees. Won’t be long I imagine before Oiry and C+C are over $100 here in the US. I like the wines, but given the pricing, I don’t seek them anymore. I’d rather just keep filling my cellar with Laherte Freres, which is about 15 mins away.
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The Panthers deserve it! Played a great series and thoroughly outpointed the Leafs on every front.
(I actually work as a somm at Scotiabank Arena during the season so not only is it a bummer from a personal perspective, when they’re done for the year it’s also a professional one! But that’s my cross to bear for taking a job that depends in any way on the Toronto Maple Leafs.)
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I think I’ve learned the most from this thread out of all WB - and that is saying a lot.
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Un Jour de 1911:
Too many recent notes weakened my already soft resolve to keep my hands off these.
I liked this bottle better than my previous bottle, which was no slouch, but had comparatively softer acidity. The significantly increased energy in this bottle kept it from feeling as ponderous. It was more open knit, allowing me to more easily perceive it’s complexities of dried figs, apricot, brown sugar, creme brulee, cherry, scones, freshly shaved cinnamon, espresso beans, and bakers chocolate. Very concentrated. Another 4-D wine, but I wouldn’t call this one psychedelic. The energy isn’t quite right. Can’t, unfortunately, think of another worthy metaphor. Reducing the wine to a few flavor descriptors feels kind of insulting.
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