Champagne and Sparklers

This was a Champagne/Sparkling theme with Joe putting all the wines together for the tasting. 12 attended on a beautiful night out on the patio enjoying the splendid food and views of the garden.

• NV Philippe Prié Champagne Cuvée Coeur d'Ebene Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light gold color. Drank a 2oz pour over 20 minutes plus. 50C/50PN, Showing apple and yeast on the nose with the palate being sour apple, briny, light and fresh, toasty, yeast, saline, citrus zest palate, leesy finish. This was good, dancing between 89 and 90pts; maybe not quite as good as some of the other Prie blends I'd say. 89+ to 90pts.

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• NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light gold color. Disgorged 6/13. 2oz pour, drank 1 glass over 30 minutes. Nicely toasty and with more richness and body than the Prie, apple, mineral. Very good, but just not what I've come to expect from Bollinger SC. Maybe this was just one of those "only good" bottles. 90+pts.

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• NV Henri Goutorbe Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 88 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Light medium salmon color. 75PN/25C, 2oz pour over 30 minutes next to the Camille Saves. I like the nose here, yeast, raspberry, minerals much more than the palate which seems on the bitter side to me. Raspberry, toast, yeast, light-medium body, dough, tangy, more sour, bitters on the finish. No contest with the Saves winning hands down. 88+pts.

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• NV Camille Savès Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 91 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Light-medium salmon color. 2oz pour over 30 minutes next to the Henri Goutorbe, 60C/30PN/10Bouzy Rouge. This was a honey from the start, showing a fine nose with bright fruit, freshness, yeast, leesy. The palate offers bright red fruits, vibrant, fuller, crisp acids, pretty fruit, very clean and balanced. Coming together nicely, this clearly out shined the Goutorbe. 91+pts.

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• 2004 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut 91 Points

  USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

  Pale gold color. 2oz pour over 20 minutes. A lovely young L'Hermitage this is only going to get better. Youthful and fresh with plenty of pear, apple, and lively sea air on the nose, the palate is light, primary, pear, lemon, and long on the finish. Very good. 91(+)pts.

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• 2006 Domaine Carneros Le Rêve 89 Points

  USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

  Light gold color. 2oz pour over 20 minutes. Citrus, chalky, woody, spiced, green on the palate and chalky on the finish. This fell just a bit short on the overall impression with the green fruits and chalk detracting a bit.

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• 1999 Vranken Champagne Diamant Bleu Blanc de Blancs Brut 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Medium gold color. 2oz pour over 30 minutes. Beautiful nose with marzipan, honey, nuts, lemon. The palate is light and fresh, yeast, nutty, candied almond, citrus, deep and fuller with a lovely texture. My and group #2 WOTN.

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• 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light gold color. 2oz pour. 70C/30PN. Taking the WOTN by storm this was the not at all unexpected class of the evening. Wow, a crystalline minerality on the nose, yeasty, slightly earthy, toasted; wow, long and deep on the penetrating palate, power and depth, but no lack of finesse either. I continue to be impressed by this Champagne, and i can't help but think we are just seeing the infancy of a great wine.

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• 2002 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Elisabeth Salmon 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light orange color. 2oz pour over 30 minutes. 50C/50PN. Minimal bead. Much more subtle on the nose out of the gate, slowly opens after 15+ minutes to show hints of earth, strawberry, cream, creme fraiche, mineral. The palate has piercing minerality, sharp stones, berry and subtle cherry, leesy finish, long with some tannin showing. Improving with time in glass and more likely with time in cellar. I look forward to revisiting this with a bigger pour and more time. 92(?)pts with some coaxing.

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WOTN was a landslide with the '02 PH Cuvee Rare getting 10 of 12 first place votes (32pts). The '99 Vranken also was clear 2nd place(20pts) and the '04 Roederer L'Hermitage was third (12pts). Camille Saves Rose was 4th (7pts).