Special Club Champagnes

The decision to attend this tasting was pretty easy as the opportunity to taste a group of Special Club Champagnes side by side is rare. On top of that Veronica Castro was able to secure a Berserkers discount so talk about a no brainer. The wines did not disappoint as they were all very good with unique personalities and tremendous overall cohesion. The wines from Gimmonet, Goutrobe, and Hébrart were my favorites as they tended to have the most character and potential for my palate. I look forward to exploring more Special Club Champagnes in the future as the general quality seems to be excellent. Thanks again to Veronica for the great deal.

• 2002 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Special Club Millesimé de Collection 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Superb complexity on the nose with pungent bready aromas of lemon curd, flowers, and raspberry. Laser like acidity on the palate with crunchy minerals and juicy texture to the dense fruit. The flavors tend towards yellow and white fruits with complicating notes of nuts and honeydew. What a way to start the tasting as this wine is stunning with a gorgeous nose, substantial persistence, and deft balance.

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• 2002 A. Margaine Champagne Blanc de Blancs Special Club 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  More delicate on the nose here with a great bouquet of bread, white currant, stones, citrus, and pear. The palate follows that theme with tremendous elegance and balance to the sweet flavors of citrus and stone fruits leading into a lovely lingering finish of minerals and nuts. I am probably being a bit hard on this wine and I wouldn't be surprised if there is lurking density that pops with age.

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• 2000 Gaston Chiquet Champagne Special Club Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Attractive baked stone fruit texture to the nose with additional aromas of apple and mint. The palate is very different with a fatter texture and almost cheesy flavors of saline, nuts, spices, and yellow fruits. The structure is softer than the other wines but the wine is balanced with really unique character. I am assuming this wine sticks out so much because of the characteristics of the 2000 vintage.

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• 2002 Henri Goutorbe Champagne Grand Cru Special Club 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Wonderful zingy freshness on the nose with aromas of nutty bread, herbs, and minerals. The palate has a stoney nuttiness to the flavors of citrus and white fruits that build through the finish. The texture is supple but quickly builds due to the structure from the radiant fruit, acidity, and minerality. This wine is one of the most promising of the tasting due to the effortless balance and coiled density. 93+

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• 2005 Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Special Club 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Tremendous complexity to the nose here with delicate yet intricate yellow and green aromas of toast, preserved lemons, stalk, and craft paste. The minerality is simply staggering on the palate with complex chalk and slate interplay buttressed by white fruits. The texture has wonderful tension due to the acidity and fruit density and that perception lingers through the long finish. This wine is quite structured at this stage but the complexity and cohesion already present is pretty special.

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• 2004 Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Special Club 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Soft restrained aromatics emerge on the nose with notes of saline, flowers, white fruits, and pink berries. The palate is more expressive with sweet floral flavors of white fruits and minerals. Structured and racy with great poise due to the balance of fresh acidity and rich fruit. This is another superb wine from Hebrart which is noteworthy as they come from less heralded vintages than 2002.

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• 2004 Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Spécial Club Rosé 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Pure and indicative on the nose with gorgeous aromas of crushed berries, cherries, and underlying citrus. Very attractive on the entry with a suave mouthfeel leading to juicy flavors of strawberry, nuts, and spices. The fruit flattens out somewhat across the palate yielding a wine that is more reserved than anticipated through the finish. I was hoping this wine would show better but it is obviously young and cryptic, hopefully with time some additional complexity and focus reveals itself. 92+?

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