The nose is excellent - some butteriness, but also a very enticing herbal, almost minty note.
The palate is very clean, refreshing; crisp green apple, a little citrus; but somehow a bit thin. The finish is crisp and slightly drying. The overall feel is of a good, but rather unmemorable wine. It would make a decent aperitif if you didn't want it to divert the conversation.
I've previously tried the 2012, 2014 and 2015 vintages. For me this sits around the middle of the range. But at the ~US$48 that I paid for this I don't find it great QPR (3 years ago I was buying the 2012, a much better wine, at ~US$38). (88 points)
This was the nicest wine my floor ever drank. I lost my balance getting up and knocked both the glass and the bottle on the floor, which shouldn’t have been the end if the world, but the pressurized contents of this bottle sent it violently spinning across the floor while spraying its contents all across my apartment. When I was finally able to grab it, there was maybe two ounces left in the bottle and no more carbonation. But what a two ounces it was! Lemon Curd, butterscotch, salted caramel, orange, and hazelnut over a full bodied frame. Opulent, reasonably complex, and hedonistic. I sure hope Pergo enjoyed it.
3rd and final bottle of this. This drank with considerable richness tonight, in a way my previous bottles did not. Apple compote, candied lemon, melon, and finishing with hints of lime, salt, and chalk. Light bodied and rather delicate. All three bottles have been of decent quality, none of them were exciting, and I won’t be buying them again. This is such a departure from the rest of his wines, and it isn’t good enough to be a great example of Cote de Blancs terroir, so I wonder about its raison d’etre. Not sorry I tried it, but I didn’t need three bottles.
This evening one of the more elegant rosés that I open occasionally: the Pertois-Moriset Grand Cru Rosé-Blanc Extra Brut. Still just in my daily drinking range at ~US$42.
(I’m not convinced that the Brut is actually a different wine - some bottles of this come labelled Extra Brut on the front and Brut on the back; the dosage is generally 2.5g/l; maybe @D_Pennet can offer some insight on this producer)
This batch is pretty much in line with the Feb 2022 disgorgement as in my previous TN. It's crisper and more minerally than many rosés; lighter and perhaps more elegant on the palate. It doesn't force its roséness on you but leaves you savouring the red fruit and minerality in a very nice way.
When cool this works as an aperitif, but as it warms it works best with food and pairing well with tuna/salmon sashimi with a light wasabi dressing this evening.
It's towards the upper end of my daily drinking fizzes at ~US$42 but is certainly an occasional repeat buy. (90 points)
1997 Pierre Peters Cuvee Special (the Chetillons, not labeled as such yet). Had a touch of funk on initial pour, but that blew off into a very nice crisp bottle of wine. Changed quite a bit during the course of dinner (we started and finished with it) and developed some pretty pear notes by the end. In a very nice spot.
The Stroebel was excellent. Great finesse, very pretty at first with nice layering of nuances around a soft core of orchard fruits, rainier cherry, and modest leesy notes. It really gained as time went on and we really enjoyed this quite a lot.
The Philippe Lancelot Blanc de Blanc was also very good. Very much in my wheelhouse for Blanc de Blanc on opening. Great tension and drive. Mineral but not austere. As it was open it seemed to flatten out a bit and become a little more monochromatic and the leesy notes really became fairly dominant. Still an excellent bottle.
Edit: I’m not sure why the photos won’t load but I’ll try and sort it out tomorrow…
1995 Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millenaires - gorgeous golden color, beautifully mature champagne. Lovely toffee notes, baked red apple with a bit of spice, lovely acid on the finish. Just a dream to drink. This continues to be a perfectly complete wine, unfortunately my last bottle.
Side bar: anyone know the history of this paper label vs. the later release screen printed bottles? @Brad_Baker ?
They actually did make a 1996 Blanc des Millenaires, but most of it was never released and became reserve wine. A small amount was used for International first class on an airline that I can no longer recall. Same thing happened with 2000 Clicquot Grande Dame.
Interesting, every time I asked I was just told not produced. Wonder how it was? The 1995 was so delicious for so many years but the last I had was getting tired. I pulled so many samples of that wine to taste with customers then finish with somm/directors at last stop.
now they can buy tickets themselves.