Agrapart Terroirs 2018 base dis. March 2022. Benefitted from another year plus in the bottle. Chalky, minerality, but more than any other descriptor I would say “pure.” Delicious.
1 Like
I opened a 169 750ml a couple weeks ago and it was absolute perfection. I feel like 169 gets some mixed reviews (lemon note too strong), but I could find nothing to complain about this bottle. Complexity was off the charts and made me question buying another vintage Krug.
1 Like
Last night with @rob_klafter @Mike_Evans @bradkaplan @dcornutt we tried to answer the - ‘what wine goes with oysters question’ (muscadet), but we had some Champagne, too.
Three excellent and different expressions. 90 Pommery was oxidative and floral on nose, but so lively on the palate. 08 Dom was regal, but still so young. 17 Bereche was lights out good. Vinuous. A great wine that happens to have bubbles. Bit of a revelation.
15 Likes
Had this yesterday, was a very nice wine. A fun mix of barrel and steel aging meant for relatively young consumption. Am very interested to see how her wines evolve, I know a few producers are excited about these wines.
1 Like
I love how each Champagne was outstanding in a different way. The Dom was even better after being open a few hours, but I still can’t pick a favorite. We also had a Savart that brought yet another style to the table. Just a great night!
5 Likes
I used to buy cases of the Savés Rosé for song! There was a time when all sorts of fine rosé champagnes were available for under $40. Camille Savés, Marc Hebrart, Ployez-Jacquemart, Dethune, Paul Bara, Rene Geoffroy, Henri Goutorbe, Hughes Godme… I’ve seen some offers for Hebrart that are still in that range. They all age well too. I’d be wise to bury a few cases if those prices roll around again.
6 Likes
I left off the Savart! Good one. Still half a bottle of that left to try again tonight.
1 Like
Envoyer frequently sells the Saves rose for $44.
1 Like
Yes, and Hebrart for $39.99!
2 Likes
Thanks for the heads up on the Camille Saves rosé - I’ve enjoyed their house wine; I need to look out for the rosé (we’re big fans of rosé fizz in general).
2 Likes
The Hebrart Rive Gauche has been phenomenal this Champagne season!
And it is mighty fine at that price, although I rarely want a rosé Champagne.
Rose isn’t really my thing either, with a handful of exceptions.
Had a Krug rose recently, and I’ve tossed any of those feelings by the wayside 
6 Likes
It’s funny, for the longest time I really didn’t find any rosé Champagne that I thought was worth it, and then some point I started liking it quite a bit.
1 Like
Hey I was pimping this wine! It’s really, really good.
2 Likes
I’m still not quite there. I think ones that wow me are few and far between. 2008 Billecart Salmon Elizabeth Salmon is the last one I’ve had that made me raise my eyebrows and say wow, this is a sensational wine.
2 Likes
Wedding anniversary was Friday. I was married in 2008, which is basically the stars aligning given how much my wife and I enjoy champagne. We opened 2 bottles over the weekend, both of which were exceptional:
2008 Bollinger RD - I’m not usually a Bollinger RD fan, to be honest, but buy one or two bottles each vintage and am often underwhelmed. This, however, was really a beautiful bottle of wine in an oxidative but fresh and lively style. More fresh and lively than usual, anyway, which is a good thing for my palate. The nose is beautiful and complex but so well knit together that it’s tough to specifically identify flavors. There is citrus, with a hint of orange, but it presents as brightness, there is breadiness here without a big yeast note, there is a mineral edge, but without chalkiness, there is a nuttiness that I cannot nail down. It’s not almond, but it’s not quite pecan because that makes me think of sherry and it’s not really that. It’s more like when you have a pastry crust made with ground pecan. There is spiciness, but not quite ginger and not quite baking spice. There is a richness of fruit, but it’s not quite apple and not quite apricot and not quite peachiness. I love wines like this. There is just so much going on and it’s so finely integrated. It’s a marvelous wine, and probably the best RD I’ve ever had. Frankly it’s probably the best Bollinger I’ve ever had. This is in that 97+ range of spectacular, and among the top three champagnes I’ve had all year, with 2004 P2 and 96 Dom Oeno, but what a totally different style.
2008 Billecart Salmon Nicolas Francois - Champagne is such a fun trip. This has many similarities to the Bollinger RD. It’s a similar blend of 60-40 pinot-chard, 3g/L just like the Bolly, 150 months on lees so like Bolly, long lees aging. Sees wood. This is so dense and packed with energy and verve and might be better with a few more years under its belt. It’s bright and citric, but carrying apple tart and a touch of apricot, spicy and bright, with a leesy finish and a hint of fresh ground coffee or some slightly bitter aromatic spice on the back end that adds some lift and complexity to the nose. It’s really quite delicious, albeit a little raw. It’s just not quite up to the RD. 94-95 range for me.
12 Likes
1996 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon
Last year’s bottle was superb but showed signs of advancing maturity, prompting me to open this one before it surpassed its peak. Tonight’s bottle, however, was remarkably fresh, suggesting it could easily age another 10 years. Purchased upon release (Costco $99), this was the original disgorgement, opened for our 28th anniversary.
The champagne was ambrosial, with vibrant notes of sweet orange, ginger, and lemon, and warm bread. It balanced power with grace, and had a perfect bead and a luscious mouthfeel. Sadly, my last bottle, but I still have 1996 Krug, Dom Pérignon Champagne Oenothèque, and Taittinger Comtes for future anniversary celebrations. I had the Comtes on hand for a back-up, but it’s safely resting in the cellar until next year.
14 Likes