Which Champagne are you drinking?

Pet peeve noted and I agree. Best to call this something other than vintage. That Bara Special Club Rose seemed to really resonate well, didn’t it. :clap: :clap:

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:clap:

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The Bara was like “Aw, come now…lets forget those oxidizing bottles. Let me hold you and make you feel yummy!”

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As much as I collect, drink, and study Champagne, I only learned this fairly recently: Oeil de Perdrix translates to “eye of the partridge.” It refers to delicately colored rosés, typically showing a copper or salmon tint. If I’m not mistaken, it describes the appearance rather than the method used to achieve it. These wines can be made by saignée—bleeding juice off red grapes after brief skin contact—or by blending in a small amount of red wine.

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Copied from another post:

2012 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année

I’m liking this house more and more, and this bottle reinforces that impression. Dense and energetic, with the Pinot Noir taking the lead over the Chardonnay. Fresh dark berries, stone fruit, and a touch of almond. Long, luscious finish. I loved this bottle. It feels early in what should be a long and rewarding drinking window.
65% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay from 21 crus, with the Pinot sourced primarily from Aÿ and Verzenay, and the Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oiry. Fermentation in 228-liter barrels and 400-liter casks, some up to 40 years old, where the wine undergoes both alcoholic and malolactic fermentation. It’s bottled under cork, not crown cap, and is hand disgorged.
The 2012 vintage spent over 7 years on the lees and was finished with a dosage of 8 g/L.

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As close to a perfect bottle of Champagne as I can recall drinking. Absolutely delightful from first sip to last. I took a leap on one bottle for around $90. How I wish I had more!

JL Vergnon 2012
MSNL ‘Chetillons & Mussettes’ Grand Cru Extra Brut

  • Practicing organic
  • 100% Chardonnay
  • From two lieux-dits in Les Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru
    • 70% Les Chétillons
    • 30% Mussettes (borders Chétillons to the south)
  • 50 year old vines
  • Fermented and aged in stainless steel
  • No malo
  • Aged 104 months on the lees
  • Dosage: 2g/L
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Thanks for the notes! Looking forward to opening my bottles with my daughter when she’s old enough.

A perfect choice for a birthyear wine—La Grande Année, a grand year indeed. I picked this one last night partly because of the name. We were invited to a last-minute gathering with friends, and I found myself reflecting on what a great year it’s been: both kids graduating from college, and my retirement just days away. Politics aside, 2025 has truly been a grand year so far.

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I’ve been wanting to try a Pol Roger and a vintage sparkler, and this is exceeding my expectations. Clearly a step up from the NVs I’ve dabbled in to date. Light gold color. Rich brioche, lemon zest, chalk dust tones. More pronounced fruit than expected, somehow dense and light at the same time. I dig it.

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That’s great to hear — I love Pol Roger too.
I think I own more vintage Champagne than NV or MV, but some of my all-time favorites are multi-vintage: Krug Grande Cuvée, Laurent-Perrier Grand Siècle, André Clouet’s “Un jour de 1911,” several Egly-Ouriet cuvées, Ployez-Jacquemart’s “Cuvée Granite 90eme Anniversaire,” Charles Heidsieck’s “Champagne Charlie,” Selosse “Substance,” and De Sousa’s “Caudalies,” to name a few.
There’s some seriously great MV Champagne out there — definitely worth exploring.

Cheers,
Warren

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Thanks Warren. I seem to have been bitten by the Champagne bug, and I’m enjoying the journey!

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Welcome to the club!

NV Baron-Fuenté Champagne Esprit Brut

34% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 33% Pinot Meunier. Opened over Memorial Day weekend. Disappointing. Medium yellow color. This had a slightly musty taste and seemed older than it should be. I purchased it a month ago. Overripe apple notes. Luckily only paid $20. 83 points.

VM

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2008 Philipponnat 1522 Rosé.
This lived up to the reputation of both the house and the vintage. Salmon-copper in color, it was pure and balanced, energetic. Pinot expresses itself more clearly than Chardonnay, with strawberries and cherries, then a slightly savory orange note. Floral elements, a touch of sweet spice, deeply mineraled. A beautiful, expressive bottle. I loved it.


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I love this wine Warren. I actually convinced my partner to cut margins on this one because more people need to drink this :laughing:!

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X-posted

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Haven’t had the 08 but I LOVE this wine!

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Extracted from a thread just posted: A special friend's birthday dinner: 2012 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rose, 1996 Colin-Deleger En Remilly, 1996 Sauzet les Perrieres, 2004 Giroud Corton-Charlemagne, 1988, 1989, 1995 and 2000 Mouton and 1986, 1990 and 1995 d'Yquem

2012 VEUVE CLICQUOT LA GRANDE DAME BRUT ROSE- the makeup of this rose is quite unusual in that 13% is comprised of red wine sourced from Bouzy; additionally, there is a total of 92% Pinot Noir from Äy, Verzenay, Verzy, Ambonnay and Bouzy, 8% Chardonnay from Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger; it was dosed at 8 gpl and disgorged 10/ 2019; it had a amber copper red color and aromatics that included fresh strawberry and red cherry that continued on once tasted and was enhanced by a nice streak of spice; it was fruit forward, had a soft, almost cotton candy like mousse and was a delightful treat to start out the evening.

Cheers,
Blake

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Christophe Mignon Champagne ADN de Meunier Brut Nature NV

A suggestion from Jacqueline to have a glass of wine out back impromptued up a notch. This was our second of two bottles of this Champagne and my impressions matched. Maybe a little stark and hiding some of the ebullient fruit that Meunier can offer and that I enjoy when balanced by lively acidity (e.g. “Vignes de Vrigny”) . But I wouldn’t turn down a glass.

carpe vinum

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I had a bottle last fall and it was great, although overshadowed by how much the Suenen we had next to it wowed us.