Cristal…It’s the Champagne I would love to hate, but it never disappoints. What’s yours?
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne. I’ve loved all the aged ones I’ve ever had. It’s just barely within a comfortable splurge price range, so I buy a few bottles with each release.
I’m with Ashish. The cost of these are still relatively good compared say with Sir Winston and some others. I do want to get some of my Vilmart CdCs open soon and maybe I would change my answer.
If price isn’t an issue, then vintage Krug. To varying degrees, I’ve liked every vintage I’ve tasted (82, 85, 88, 89, 90, 95, 96, 98, 00), except the 03. Some have been spectacular.
I am no longer sure what is actually a tete de cuvee. With the rise of grower Champagnes that rival or exceed the quality of the big houses the lines are completely blurred.
Grower Champagnes can have tete de cuvées: e.g. Pierre Peters’ Les Chetillions.
Understood, but there are so many different, and exclusive wines out there that I find the category is now meaningless.
You know, few weeks ago I held a mini bubbles tasting. I opened '05 Cristal, '02 Pierre Paillard, '02 Gosset celebris and '04 Bollinger Grande Année Rosé. We were five tasters and we all said (including the two that ranked the cristal at the top) that what stands for Cristal is also excellent marketing. I think two ranked the Paillard on top of the cristal, and one ranked them along side. By all means, I’d gladly drink more Cristal, but I have to say that QPR wise there are few/some additional very good options out there
Tasted Cristal up against Comtes de Champagne last weekend, and the CdC blew away the Cristal.
Impossible question. Today I’ll say Peters Chetillons. I also have a soft spot for Clos de Goisses
Comtes has rarely disappointed. Sir Winston Churchill is my favorite…even over Krug. However, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to justify it with the rising costs.
Which vintages of each?
'06
We really enjoy the Taittinger CDC. We have had both the '04 and '06 in the last three months and both were exceptional.
Thanks,
Ed
Salon, followed by Dom Ruinart.
If I had to pick one wine, it would be the 1979 Dom Ruinart Rose.
The '06 Taittinger Comte is really on another level compared to any other '06 I’ve tried.
Back to the original question: Taittinger Comte BdB. Even great vintages, while not inexpensive, are reasonably priced compared to top wines from other regions.
Cheers,
Warren
(if price is no issue):
SALON
- then Krug and Roger Winston Churchill …
That works for me.
Bollinger RD ’70 Jeroboam
Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame ’89 magnum
Dom Pérignon ’64
Salon ’73
Cristal Rosé ’82 magnum
I probably would have said Salon, but my wife and I have given up on it due to price.