My bowl of Champagne caps outgrew its old home. It moved into a new bowl this afternoon. No idea how many are in here…maybe 800? More?
the bowl is 3 inches high, about a foot long.
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I’m usually not a fan of 100% Pinot Meunier in champagne, but I find Prevost to be quite charming, especially when young. This 21 base “&” is grassy and edgy as most other Meunier-driven wines, but is set apart by a fresh acidic backbone and tremendous umami/salinity that makes the whole wine taste well, somewhat like organic ketchup. Kind of weird by itself but fun and enjoyable when paired appropriately with rich & savory food.
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From another thread:
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Thank you. It’s missing the date and my guess is you got an older disgorgement as I have never seen it missing from the back label.
I really like this bottling. I’ve had so many pver the past recent years…it never disappoints me.
Stopped by the Wine Library yesterday to pick up a couple of new BS releases, specifically the '12 Louis Salmon and '12 Elisabeth Salmon. I am a fan of the '08 version of both of these so I was looking forward to trying. We opened the Louis Salmon last night and really enjoyed it. This is nothing like the citrus filled '08. This is a much bigger champagne with less acidity, more chalk, red fruit flavors with a touch of baking spices. I would have guessed this was the NF blind. I had already bought some magnums prior to tasting this, but I will be buying some 750’s as well now.
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Extracted from a thread just posted on Wine Talk re Nick Christie’s first night’s visit to Santa Barbara:
2002 TAITTINGER COMTES de CHAMPAGNE BLANC de BLANC BRUT- I’ve been loving the 2002 vintage almost across the board for the past year or so and was delighted to find this was one of the 2 bottles my friend brought, especially since I brought the 2006 in magnum; it was superlative; the yellow gold color suggested a bit of maturity and there was some, but it only served to enhanced the wine; aromas of honeyed and ginger accented yellow apple were most prevalent and then joined by a really nice twist of lemon zest on the palate; it was delivered in a creamy, feel good texture which added to its allure along with it amazing richness and depth; it was nicely balanced and seemingly in a great place begging the question, how much better can it get?
In order to do the taste comparison, we poured the 2006 next and I was super surprised as to which one was the best:
2006 TAITTINGER COMTES de CHAMPAGNE BLANC de BLANC BRUT in magnum- I’ve had well over 150 bottles of this bubbly, but only a few in magnum and now I’m looking to get many more; this was maybe the best champagne I’ve had in the last few years and that includes many superlative bottles; I was shocked it even overshadowed the esteemed 2002; everything the ‘02 had, this had more; it was richer, creamier and tastier with greater acidity; even in the nose and beyond and unlike the ‘02, it had a perfect mild accent of toasty brioche and the lemon fruit was more like lemon oil extract, and yet it was still in balance with all of the other components. Once poured around the table and after a few minutes, it received raves upon raves with one claiming it was his best ever 2006 Comtes and some of us concluding magnums are by far the best way to go. I’m extremely motivated to hunt for more.
1996 KRUG BRUT- I’ve had many bottles of this vintage and early on was so enamored with them, but the last 3 of my 2nd 6 pack were oxidized beyond my level of appreciation as have been a few others from other sources; the gold color with a slight brown tinge suggested here we go again, but this one was nicely viable and easier to like; yes, it did have some advanced notes of maple, butterscotch, caramel and almonds, but they were mild and easily complimentary to the orange zest, yellow peach and apricot fruit; as a friend opined a few years ago when we were drinking a similar aged wine, “it’s oxidative, but not oxidized”; after the 2002 and 2006 Comtes, it did not compare as favorably; it’s a different animal; I did keep going back to it and enjoyed each sip.
2002 CHAMPANGE BOLLINGER R.D. EXTRA BRUT- 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay; I also have had quite a few of this wine and being a fan of the Bollie style, enjoyed this one; enhanced from the stellar vintage gifts, this was really good, gracing us with toasty and honeyed yellow apple from the nose through the tail; it was super rich and full bodied even possessing some weight and crescendoed on and upward for a grand finish.
Cheers,
Blake
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Great to hear about the 06 comtes mags. Daughters’ birth year so I bought a lot. Will crack a few for her 18th in november.
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Yeah, I couldn’t find the disgorgement date, but I thought the label might be worth showing.
With a little digging, I think I acquired this bottle in 2015 from a certain famous west coast retailer shortly before it went bankrupt. And who knows when they (he) got it, but if we assume it was disgorged in 2015 or earlier, that’s pretty impressive for a NV to be holding so well nearly 10 years on (or maybe NVs last longer than I think).
That bottling consistently is choked with bright acid and energy so I am not surprised that it bangs right along for a decade. If there was some way that disgorgement info was more readily shared within retail offerings then we would probably learn that there are some older bottles like yours hanging around still in some shops. I do though recognize that it’s likely never going to happen that we get this level of detail from retail.
Not sure what you paid for that wine back in 2015 but one can still get this cuvee in the low $50s in places, which is what I paid for my last batch I bought in April. Just an FYI if you want to get more.
@Blake_Brown seems you are crushing right through another wave of stuff you love. 
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Excellent. May all your bottles be as good.
I like crushing through waves of stuff you love as well brother.
OK, that’s just showing off! We had something similar, though quite a bit smaller, where I collected Champagne caps over a number of years. Sadly, my wife threw them out.
I drank this six months ago and it was promising but a bit neutral, owing to its recent disgorgement. It has filled out nicely in the last six months. Supple with floral, pineapple, peach, and salty notes. The acidity is high, hiding the dosage, and it finishes with a surprising level of persistence. I am not excited by this bottle but it’s a solid Champagne for $40. Stood up well to some poached salmon.
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Blake - Love those '02/'06 Comtes, especially from magnum. Sadly my experience with '96 Krug matches yours, too many off bottles.
Frank - I am with you on collecting caps, but I am more of hoarder as I keep the cages and the capsules as well.
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96 Krug gave salon a run for its money recently for us.
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I thought about you after the first taste of the 2006. knew you would have loved it.
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That is badass. And great vessel for them, too.
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