A Mix of Champagne

Ray and Teresa's
Tasted Saturday, December 5, 2015 - Sunday, December 6, 2015 by galewskj with 368 views

Introduction

12 people met at Ray and Teresa's home to drink a nice mix of champagne.

Flight 1 - Champagne (9 Notes)

  • 2011 Argyle Vintage Brut 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    (12/6/2015)

    Our generous hosts opened this as we waited for people to show up at a tasting. Drank a good sized glass over about 40 minutes. This is drinking quite young, no surprise there, but it already has a crisp toasty complexity to it. The fruit is more white, apple, pear, orange pith. I know this wine has a long life ahead of it and hope to try one with some bottle age.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut 89 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/5/2015)

    Pop and pour, a small glass at a tasting. A lighter style of champagne, but still has some champagne character. It is more citrusy on the palate. This is better than I remember it from years past.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Vintage 88 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/5/2015)

    Pop and pour, drank a small glass at a tasting. Extremely pale yellow. This was served ice cold, and it never seemed to open up. It improved slightly as it warmed, but seemed extremely shy. Surprisingly, the NV Veuve served right before it was the better wine tonight. Maybe in a dead spot?

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cuvée de Réserve 88 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    (12/5/2015)

    Pop and pour, drank a small glass at a tasting. This wine was quite straight-forward, fruity and simple. It reminded me more of a sparkling wine from California than a champagne.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2004 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 91 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/5/2015)

    Had a small glass at a tasting. As my friend said, this is a metrosexual wine. It is a little masculine but well-balanced with some feminine characteristics. This bottle was not as good as the 2 times I've had it before. Everything was muted. Spending more time with it may have helped it open up, but that wasn't possible tonight.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2000 Mailly Champagne Grand Cru Exception Blanche 92 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    (12/5/2015)

    Drank a small pour at a tasting. The nose is rich, deep, toasty, musky, lots of earth. The palate does give away it's 100% chardonnay character with lemon oil and golden fruit. The palate is a little more linear and simple compared to the nose. Still, a fine champagne.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Taittinger Champagne Nocturne Sec 89 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/5/2015)

    Pop and pour, had a small pour at a tasting. This was not nearly as sweet as I was expecting. It was just slightly sweeter than a Brut. Good correct champagne flavor, middle of the road stylistically.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Taittinger Champagne Brut Réserve / La Française 89 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/5/2015)

    A small pour at a tasting. This is a good entry-level NV. Toast, brioche, well-balanced between toast and citrus.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Gardet Champagne Brut Millésimé 92 Points

    France, Champagne

    (12/6/2015)

    This bottle was added to the end of a tasting for fun. I felt it stacked up quite well against several bottles double the cost. Of course, this was a 1/2 price closeout, so that makes sense. There has been a little bottle variation here, this is my 5th bottle, the last 3 have all been exceptional, the first 2 not nearly as good. This definitely differentiates itself above standard NV quality, but it doesn't match the expectation for 2002 from a good producer. Still, when factoring in the price, this is one of the best champagne purchases I've made so far.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 - A couple stickies - really sticky this time (2 Notes)

  • 2011 Inniskillin Vidal Icewine Gold Oak Aged 89 Points

    Canada, Ontario, Niagara Peninsula, Niagara Peninsula VQA

    (12/5/2015)

    My first Inniskillin. Had a small pour at a tasting. Golden raisins, concord grape, sweet stone fruit. The nose has great complexity of fruit. The taste is mostly cloying golden raisin, lemon, a little acidity but it could use more.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2012 Adelsheim Pinot Noir Deglacé 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Yamhill County

    (12/6/2015)

    Imagine cotton candy that was made out of ripe red fruit and caramelized sugar. As sweet as this is, it seems somewhat elegant with flashy red fruit of strawberry, red raspberry, red cherry along with creme brulee and baking spice. Quite complex. I didn't know what to expect, frankly was a bit apprehensive. But this is different and very enjoyable. 92-93

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

×
×