Extracted from a thread just posted: 5 wines tasted blind at dinner: a taste off with NV Kirkland Brut vs 2006 Cristal, 2020 Lamay En Remilly, 2016 Dutton Manzana Pinot Noir and 2007 Mascarello Monprivato Barolo
My better half has rarely purchased wine on her own, but when she does, it is usually a good QPR from Trader Joes or Costco and one that I probably would not have purchased, but always have liked.
A year or so ago, she bought a Kirkland champagne from Costco and we had it at home and I had to admit, it was pretty decent. Since then, I had been harboring the idea of blind tasting the group with one of their champagnes and chose this night to do so. Since it cost $20 and most of the wines we take are valued much higher, I threw in a Cristal and advised the others to bring an extra sparkling wine glass.
I poured both blind for the others since the clear glass of the Cristal was a dead giveaway. It was somewhat humorous to hear the table talk while the others kept tasting and comparing and it seemed the Kirkland was much more preferred, but not recognized by some as a Brut and calling it a recent vintage new world sparkling wine. I was sort of laughing to myself, but realizing I have not been doing so well with wine identification of late which was even more evident in the flight of the 2 reds.
Here’s some notes:
NV KIRKLAND SIGNATURE BRUT- poured blind for the others; this is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier sourced from the grand cru village of Verzenay; it spent at least 15 months on the lees and was made by Manuel Janisson who also makes champagne under his own label, Champagne Janisson; the color was a very light yellow suggesting a kind of wimpy wine here, but that was quickly dispelled when exploring the aromas which included some rich citrus and honey dew melon notes with a biscuity accent; the initial taste turned up a definite black pepper note that reminded me of Piper Heidsieck Rare although that is where the comparison ended; this had a frothy, cotton candy like mousse and a bit of an unexpected lemon flavored acidic finish; I found it to be very pleasant and certainly drinkable and as Roelanda would remind, a good QPR.
2006 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL- served blind to the others and compared blind with a NV Kirkland Brut; initially this seemed fragmented and each and every note was separate from the rest; following its mid yellow color came a kaleidoscope of aromas and flavors including honeyed white peach, apricot, lemon and orange zest delivered in a super creamy texture with a bit of weight; it was big, rich and fully loaded albeit in this somewhat fractured manner with everything coming one note at a time; about 45 minutes later, I re-visited and it was an entirely different champagne that had marinated, melded and blended and now was expressing as one complete, harmonious, balanced beauty; it was truly amazing how much it had improved and another in our group noticed the same thing; we then talked about the advantage that we have with this group in being able to hang out with wines for a lot longer than what we are afforded at most other wine related dinners and follow them as they go though their transition once exposed to air and temperature change as well as our palate changes.
Cheers,
Blake
. I was so engrossed with the conversation that I forgot to take pictures until it was time to taste.
