2007 Champagne Tasting (part 2)

I attended another retailer tasting last Friday of some Champagnes at Binny's. Allred and his fiancee were also there. The tasting was $25 this time but that was still a good deal considering the quality of the wines poured. They were pouring some excellent wines. Here are my notes on the 25 wines I tried at this tasting:

• NV Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut L.P. 87 Points

  France, Champagne

  Not one of my favorite Champagnes. 44% Chardonnay. A little sweeter with a moderate bead. Notes of burnt toast. About the same score as the bottle I had last year. 86-87 points.

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• NV Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut 87 Points

  France, Champagne

  I like this producer but their regular Brut has never stood out. Always a solid and consistent sparkler though which is worth a buy if you can find it on sale. $22 at this tasting. A blend of 50% Chardonnay and 50% Pinot Noir. This tasted a little fat with a low bead. Not sure how long the bottle was open. 87-88 points.

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• NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  This was one of my top Champagnes from this event. Better than the last Krug Grand Cuvee I had in 2004. A satin texture. This had a wonderful sweet sour component that made it stand out from the other wines. Notes of green apple and a long finish. 94-95 points.

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• NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  A wine which consistently scores 90 points or higher when I try it. 4th time I have had this sparkler in the last 5 years. The cepage is 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier. Good bead. I like the chalkiness here. Citrus and green apple notes on the palate. 90 points.

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• NV Drappier Champagne Carte d'Or Brut 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  80-90% Pinot Noir with the rest being Pinot Muenier and Chardonnay. Very interesting flavor profile filled with blood oranges and red fruit. This was a full bodied sparkler. 89 points

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• NV Pommery Champagne Brut Royal 88 Points

  France, Champagne

  Not as good as the bottle of this I had in 2003. Round texture with lemon/lime notes. 88 points.

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• NV Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  3rd time I tried this in the last year. This bottle was slightly below the other 2. Clean with a good solid fizz. Notes of lemon and slate. 89-90 points.

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• NV Deutz Champagne Brut Classic 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  I've had this several times and found it to be a very steady sparkler. A sharp bead with almond and apple notes. 89-90 points.

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• NV Joseph Perrier Champagne Brut 86 Points

  France, Champagne

  Medium bodied. A rather dry wine with nutty flavors. 86-87 points.

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• NV Moët & Chandon Champagne Nectar Imperial 85 Points

  France, Champagne

  Normally 70-80% Chardonnay. Not a fan of this wine. It seemed to be a little flat on the palate. 85 points.

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• NV G. H. Mumm & Cie Champagne Joyesse Demi-Sec 86 Points

  France, Champagne

  2nd time I have had this. The last being about 4 years ago. Not a fan of this demi sec. A little too sweet for what I like. Apple notes. 86 points.

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• NV Drappier Champagne Blanc de Blancs "Signature" 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  First time I have had this champagne. Drappier is a larger producer. This was a brut. Leaner than expected. Notes of bread dough and citrus fruit. 90 points.

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• 1998 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut La Grande Dame 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  One of the standouts of this tasting. Selling for $130 at this event. A full bodied sparkler. Very doughy with notes of peanuts and citrus fruit. Creamy texture with an underlying chalkiness that stood out for me. 94 points.

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• 1995 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  $240 at this tasting. I was debating whether I liked Krug Grand Cuvee or this wine better. In the end I liked the Grand Cuvee slightly better. Nutty and almond paste notes. Very deep and complex. This had a solid bead and a long vibrant finish. 94 points.

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• 2000 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  First time I have had this wine from Moet. At $38 this seemed like a good value for a vintage Champagne. The blend is mostly Chardonnay. Bisquit notes with the fruit centering around lime and pear nectar. Some sourness on the finish which added to the depth. 91-92 points.

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• 1999 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  I think this was Allreds favorite at this event. I did not like it quite as much as he did. For me, this was not as good as either the 1996 or 1997 vintages of this wine. Still excellent though. A sharp and focused wine which was very youthful. Defintitely some complexity waiting to make its appearance with time but not there yet. Some nuttiness on the finish. 91-92+ points.

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• 1998 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Cuvée Fleur de Champagne 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  About the same quality as the 1996 that I had 2 weeks ago. 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. Selling for $100 at this tasting. Loaded with red fruit notes. Very floral with a sharply focused almost stinging bead. 91 points.

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• 1999 Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage Brut 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Much better than when I had this last year. A richer champagne. Full bodied with a lush creamy texture. Notes of marzipan and toast. 91-92 points.

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• 1999 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  tried this at anothe retailer event. Same notes and score as 2 weeks ago. 92+ points.

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• NV Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Rosé 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Much better than the bottle I had 3 years ago. This had a cheesy whiff of sulphur on the nose but it blew off. A round sparkler with a very nice chalkiness and notes of raspberry. Good full mouth feel. 92 points.

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• NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Slightly better than the bottle I had a year ago. This was a beautiful bright pink color. Notes of strawberry. Very dry finish that left me smacking my lips. 92 points.

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• NV Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Rosé 88 Points

  France, Champagne

  At $42 this was not a good value. Pretty floral nose. Sweet red fruit notes with some sour cranberry flavors. 88 points.

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• NV Drappier Champagne Brut Rosé Val des Demoiselles 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  $32 at this tasting. 100% Pinot Noir I believe. This is a Brut Rosé. Pretty floral nose. Notes of freshly baked bread and watermelon. A little sweet for a brut. 91 points.

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• NV Pommery Champagne Pink POP Extra Dry Rosé 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  I think this had the highest bead of any of the wines at this event. Only a hint of sweetness. Notes of fresh strawberry and citrus. 88-89 points.

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• NV Pommery Champagne Brut Rosé 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  3rd time I have had this in the last 5 years. Consistent Rosé. My favorite of the 3 Pommery's at this tasting. Some smoke notes with rasberry thrown in. Solid bead. 91 points.

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