I haven’t had the ‘13, have some ‘15s and have popped a few that have been well received. Is it vintage variation or do you think something else?
Had these 2 Champagnes over Valentines Day. Didn’t take notes on the Vesselle but preferred it over the Margaine.
NV A. Margaine Champagne Premier Cru Brut Rosé
45% MLF. 79% Chardonnay. Disgorged 6/23. 9g/l dosage. Rather effervescent and foamy. Medium pink. Slightly sweet. Cherry nose. Strawberries and cream. A did not detect a lot of depth in this bottle. 89 points.
VM
- NV Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Latitude - France, Champagne (2/21/2025)
2020 base wine, disgorged November 2022. Initial leesy nose blows off showing grapefruit and crushed stones on the nose along with brioche, lemon and Granny Smith. The brioche transfers to the palate where there’s a nice bit of tension and minerality. Tiny frothy bubbles acting like mini sugar bombs distributing the sweet apple and quince fruit. Tart steely finish keeps it well balanced lean and mean.Great showing tonight.
Posted from CellarTracker
Small world, I’m drinking the same tonight!
Brilliant stuff, as usual. So good, I feel a little guilty I have a whole bottle for myself.
Can’t add (much) to your excellent note, except to say to combo of lemon oil, stony notes and smarties is irresistible, so long and tangy.
Drinking solo as well, no guilt whatsoever!
Opened the Laherte Ultradition Brut and Rose bottles I posted about upthread tonight. Both had disgorgement dates in 2020. The seller actually gave me a gift cert for the full price of the four Laherte bottles I bought (between the wrong bottle on the blanc de blancs and the long past current disgorgement dates) which I thought was a very fair resolution.
The Brut was the better of the two with some developing nutty/oxidative character but both felt basically entry level and neither particularly impressed me. The rose was crisp and pleasant but did not strike me as anything special. At the price point (or in the neighborhood) a recent bottle of Chartogne Taillet cuvee Ste Anne was well ahead of these two.
Of course this may be due to the older disgorgements - may be that there are better fresh.
Rat, been a long minute since I had Latitude. I think when the 2019 base came out, I did a few bottles of it. Looks like the 2020 base suits you, and @Pat_Martin . Where did you pick up the bottle?
@JustinP, that seems like an outcome that went well in light of the purchase. If they seemed entry level then you can feel at least congruent that this is where the winery has them defined in their range. Perhaps now try one or two of the cuvees that are further up in the range. For one, I’d appreciate that work because it provides another POV about how the range differs (intent v outcome).
@Frank_Murray_III yep, I’ve got a bottle of the rose de muniere extra brut that I’ll try sometime soon, and then my local higher end shop has a couple of the single vyd offerings. I’ll eventually give one of those a try and post here.
Thanks a lot, that helps enrich the stuff we talk about here. On the RdM you will drink, it’s got a lot of acid–for me a blood orange and grapefruit. You may get watermelon and strawberry too. If you remember, drop the disgorge date with your note so we can compare like things.
@Frank_Murray_III I’m pretty sure it was Bottle Barn.
70% Chard; 10 years on the lees. This is rather intense aromatically with Kit Kat and Marzipan notes. Any notions of this being a confected wine, however, are murdered after the first sip. The palate is dense but zingy, bursting with tart yellow fruits and minerals. The texture has a roundness in defiance of the acidity, and the oak aging is apparent with the subtle Vanilla and tannins. This is not dissimilar to Grand Cellier d’Or, but has some extra oomph from the extended time on the lees. I’m ecstatic that I have more of these!
Finally, something you have more bottles of to enjoy! Good on you!
80% Pinot, 20% Chardonnay. 11.16.23 disgorgement. Pale golden color, dough/yeast, citrus fruit and mineral on the nose, and the same appealing flavors, all in harmony. Terrific stuff.
Picked this one up in Ukrainian village with some Eastern European goods for Sunday brunch.
NOt the worst thing I’ve put past these lips, but hard to get past a plasticky nose? After that well ok, good thing we have 3 oranges left and to the rescue!
I tried to find the grapes used but no luck. Ahh well fun to try and support.
Back up bottle coming for the Pierogis and Paczki.
Pinot, Chardonnay, Riesling, Aligote, with at least 60 months of age, according to…
Winery was destroyed, btw. It was in Bakhmut.
-Al
I just had Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut and it was gorgeous.
If we talk about Varietals: 30-40% Pinot Noir, 30-40% Pinot Meunier, 20-30% Chardonnay.
ABV: 12%
Oudiette HSS 2019 base - from a restaurant list in Osaka at a reasonable $166 price tag. Quite young, but lots of body, density and salinity. Fresh but has slight oxidative elements which gives it character. Better with air as it became more balanced.
Sabering champagne open on your birthday is the only way to do it.