. I’ve got 375s of each of the 169eme and 170eme. The 169 (2013 base) half bottles are drinking much better to me now. Wish I had more.
1 Like
Me too!
This wine sits perfectly within my wheelhouse. Full throttle flavors and texture, yet elegant and balanced. The aged and fresh components are in perfect harmony. Great earthy complexity on nose and palate, with toasty apple and other white orchard fruit, subtle nuttiness. Spicy pickled ginger-like note adds to its energy. I really love this cuvée in 2000.
5 Likes
Last night during a quick weekend trip to Highlands. Always reliable- Sep 21 disg. could have used a wee bit more dosage. Quite lean right now. Mostly elbows.
5 Likes
We opened an Egly-Ouriet Les Vignes de Bisseuil to cap off last night. July 2021 disgorgement, 48 months on lees, and 3g/l dosage… and the most pronounced ginger note on the palate of any wine I’ve ever had. I quite enjoyed it, but think it would have been even better with food.
2 Likes
Vilmart Grand Cellier:
An absolutely arresting bottle of wine. The contrast between the power and elegance is remarkable. It’s delightfully creamy, round and mouth filling on entry with a brilliant purity of citrus and peachy fruit and an elegant and seamless transition in the mid-palate to smoke and mineral notes. An acid driven finish drives it all home with length and authority. Vivid and alive.
It took a lot of air to open up, as did my previous bottle, which probably explains why I didn’t like this the first time I tried it 10 years ago. I wish I had bought more than two bottles.
6 Likes
Disgorgement info?
April 2022
2 Likes
I have a Dec. ‘15 disgorgment sitting in the fridge, waiting for a moment.
1 Like
Eager to see your note on that. Bet it’s outstanding.
1 Like
As I follow this thread more, I have noticed we have been popping more bubbles. I think y’all are influencing us 
For Champagne Day I popped open a Dourdon-Vieillard La Réserve de Germaine - this was the grower that de Negoce imported last year and sold at $32. Recently they closed them out at $20 a bottle and I picked up even more of them since this blows away any of the under $30 bottles I recently tried. It always hit the spot for that rich champagne style.
Yesterday, we popped open a Bollinger Special Cuvee. Bought a bunch early '22 disgorgements last year form Costco - and a year of cellar time has really helped them. Just a benchmark bottle for a NV Grand Marques. But it’s getting harder and harder to justify the price of them as they creep above $55/btl now.
4 Likes
Blake,
I opened a bottle of '14 Cristal last night and it was drinking very well. There is a lot going on here, I mean a lot. I picked up on the flavors you noted as well as some pear and tangerine. There was still about 1/4 of the bottle leftover that I am finishing now (I did not put a stopper on it) and I get some pineapple, rhubarb and a bit of sour apple. There is more chalk now whereas there was more acidity last night. This showing very well for a young Cristal. Btw, the '04 was from Friday night and it is in the zone at the moment, showing just the right amount of aged characteristics balanced by the wonderful Cristal acidity.
10 Likes
I had a '13 with leftovers Friday, but I put the Coravin Sparkling on it
But before I saw your post about the '14 and '04 I was going to post that the '13 Cristal is drinking very well too! Every pop and pour has been excellent and a crowd pleaser. It didn’t require any time to open up really.
This is my 3rd out of a 3 bottle order. I have a half case of 2012 arriving (which I’ve never tried) and wondering if I should have just ordered more 2013! [I need to try the 2014 as well.]
1 Like
I think '13 is a stellar Cristal. I don’t think the '12 is as good, but it is still very good. It will be fun to see how '08/'12/'13 drink over the coming years, and not just for Cristal, but DP, Comtes, etc. '14 Bollinger and Cristal are both very good, but I don’t know if the other big houses will be producing them.
I don’t have the Coravin Sparkling as we usually finish a bottle the same night or the next day at the latest, so I would just put a stopper in it. With these last two bottles of Cristal, I had switched to red and left the Champagne for my wife, being the gentleman that I am. I assume she had finished it, but bonus when I saw these leftovers. I was concerned they might be flat, but they were still sparkling and fresh. I wonder if the flat bottoms somehow help keep the freshness relative to bottles with punts?
1 Like
This bonus is a non-occurrence in my house.
2 Likes
I’m late to respond. Those were a screaming deal. I’m glad you were able to get them. At that price, I bought extras as breakage insurance, although we’ve yet to have one break, and I’ve used them for two years. I wash them in the dishwasher. I used to break other glasses washing by hand, but the dishwasher works great.
Cheers,
Warren
1 Like
You wash these in the dishwasher? I am afraid to breathe on them.
Louis Roederer Rose 2015:
I want to love this wine, t’s concentrated, round, mineral, and smoky with a spine of electric acidity, it’s just a little too ebullient with it’s strawberry and cherry rose flavors. Someone who likes roses more I do would probably like this a lot more. Certainly enjoy sipping on it, but it just doesn’t quite hit the high notes for me.
4 Likes
Pierre Baillette Le Village Montagne de Reims 1er Cru Extra Brut Parcelles De Trois-Puis
Assemblage: 20% Pinot Noir (2020), 60% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Meunier de Vin de Réserve
Dosage: 4g/l
Dégorgement: June 2023
I don’t know how relevant being the husband of Alexandre Chaillot has to do with the quality of this champagne. However, I have never had the epiphany moment with Chartogne-Taillet’s champagne, but Pierre Baillette champagnes, made by Perrine Baillette, are delivering epiphany moments one after the other.
The Le Village needs about 15 minutes to find its stride. On the nose, red fruits tending towards raspberries are noticeable. The champagne is still very young and will definitely need some time. The red fruits and a hint of orange are up front, but there is a piercing chalky acidity coming from the Chardonnay, and the Meunier gives depth. This champagne has what I would call the “Vouette factor.” Normally, I try to drink a champagne over two days, but this bottle was so good that I finished it in less than an hour.
3 Likes
Great news and thanks for taking one for the troops. Hopefully, our 2 bottles are a trend and this is as stellar as our limited experiences. My last 2004 was fantastic which was not expected, but appreciated. How wonderful to have lots of vintage options for great Cristal.
Cheers,
Blake
1 Like