'95/'96 Champagne Celebration

Casa Gill
Tasted Saturday, November 10, 2018 by Aravind Asok with 184 views

Flight 1 - '95/'96 Champagnes (5 Notes)

We drank these one by one with various courses, starting with crab in lettuce, baked oyster, zuchini and garlic with scallop, and baked fish en papillote (the two enchantaleurs were both served with the baked fish.

  • 1995 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill

    France, Champagne

    Very good, but drank more like an 85 than a 95. The bubbles were extremely soft. However, absolutely stunning nose with a touch of sweet tangerine, coconut, caramel and nice toast. Great acidity, and everything on the nose comes through on the palate..richly textured and just wonderful.

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

  • 1996 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année

    France, Champagne

    Wow. Amazingly rich, loads of toast and a hint of coffee, some nuttiness and a touch of oxidative character. On the palate, rich, but so much energy. Seemed fairly young still, but carries that richness so well.

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

  • 1996 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame

    France, Champagne

    Glad we drank this after the pol and before the bollinger and and henriots. Always a touch darker in style, and again nicely expressed richness, showed more in the grapefruit portion of the fruit spectrum with some bitterness. Good acidity, and maybe slightly less intense than the Bollinger, but still excellent.

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

  • 1995 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut

    France, Champagne

    This improved the more it opened. I think in-so-far as big house/very richly styled champagne is concerned, this probably fits my palate the best (once it is sufficiently aged, maybe, since I had an 00 last year that didn't really move me). We had this side by side with the 96 this time (and after the Pol, Bollinger and Veuve) and it was just fun to enjoy them side by side. Wines to just bask in. Wonderfully rich, with some nuttiness, some caramel, loads of citrus and toast, and great acidity carries the flavors well, so vibrant. Maybe a touch less put-together than the 96, but who cares. I cannot imagine what else I would want in aged champagne.

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

  • 1996 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut

    France, Champagne

    Beyond what I wrote for the 95, this was an essentially perfect btl of aged champagne for my palate. So good, and, just like last year, one of my favorite wines of the year.

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

Flight 2 - The reds (6 Notes)

We drank the reds with a rabbit stew.

  • 1995 Pierre Damoy Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru

    Maybe needed more air than the 1.5 hrs slow ox it got. Very pretty clos de beze, but more red fruity than showing any chambertin earth, so came off as slightly simple. Expanded with time open. Lovely sweet red cherry, a touch of coffee, some floral notes...on the palate, excellent energy, and very soft, almost completely attenuated tannin on the finish.

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

  • 2001 Domaine Philippe Charlopin Charmes-Chambertin

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru

    So good. I love that slight funk that seems to be house style..different than the Charmes earth underneath, but blends seamlessly with the sweet cherry nice oak framing. Beautiful acidity, and more tangy cherry on the palate. Soft and supple on the finish.

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

  • 1999 Louis Jadot Echezeaux

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Echezeaux Grand Cru

    A wonderful Echezeaux, and very representative. Loads of spicy vosne red fruit on the nose, with well integrated oak and a touch of coffee. On the palate, vibrant acidity and everything melds. Excellent.

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

  • 1996 Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

    Ok, but seemed slightly past prime. Muted red fruit, and seemed a rouch simple. Maybe an off btl, so I'll leave it at that.

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

  • 2004 Poderi Aldo Conterno Barolo Romirasco

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    A year since I had this, and my note is much the same. Gorgeous blood orange and tar on the nose, with dark red fruit. Still very young, and dark, brooding and a bit rough on the finish. But loads of potential.

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

  • 2009 Kosta Browne Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    What a change of pace from the burgs. Candied red fruit, and loads of spice. Very new world, but pretty good for the style. Very ripe and ok acidity.

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

Flight 3 - Dessert (1 Note)

d'Yquem with tiramisu and meringue with fresh berries.

  • 1989 Château d'Yquem

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    This was an essentially perfect dessert wine. Honey, apricot, a touch of riesling petrol, caramel...On the palate, amazing acidity balances the sweetness. Just a treat and the best Yquem I've ever had.

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

×
×