New Years Day: Vrai Champagne, Fourth Annual Edition
Brad & Marcia's Place, St. Paul, MN
Tasted Wednesday, January 1, 2020 by rocknroller with 226 views
Introduction
This was the fourth annual New Year's Day Champagne event hosted by Brad and Marcia. Always a highlight of the holiday celebrations. We had around 30 people this year. There's a bottle of "vrai" Champagne from everyone and a dish to share. The food is always fantastic and we just graze all afternoon. And of course there's the Champagne: three stations are set up with one each for N/V, Vintage, and Rose. If you can't find a Champagne you like, you don't like Champagne.
This is a social and culinary blast, so there are not much to my notes, as they are more random thoughts and impressions - your mileage may vary. But nonetheless, here we go....
Flight 1 (23 Notes)
Closing
Thanks again to our gracious hosts, Brad and Marcia!!
NV Ruinart Champagne Brut Rosé 90 Points
France, Champagne
Pale pink color. Small pour. Strawberry fruit, light, cream: I liked it, but some were underwhelmed. 90+ to 91pts.
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NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé 91 Points
France, Champagne
Light pink color. Small pour. Can't remember the last time I had this. Very good, red fruits, strawberry, ripe, light and delicate style, just a little sweetness. Tasty. I preferred the '08 vintage rose, but others thought this was better.
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NV Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Medium copper red color. Drank a glass over 20 minutes. 65PN, 35C. Nicely dry and mineral driven, red fruits, chalk, the pinot fruit shines, very precise.
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2008 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé Vintage 92 Points
France, Champagne
Light pink color. Small pour. Very fresh and lively. Good balance of power and grace. I thought this was impressive and clearly better than the NV, but a few thought the reverse. 92+(+)pts.
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NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Réserve Flawed
France, Champagne
Deep yellow color. This bottle had the old B-S label on it. IT was OLD - and VERY TIRED.
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NV Montaudon Champagne Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne
Small glass. Wow, haven't had this in 5 years. Very consistent with that note though. Green fruits, ginger, yeast.
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2008 José Michel & Fils Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 89 Points
France, Champagne
Small glass. Apple, chalk, somewhat bitter, apple peel, sour citrus.
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NV Henriot Champagne Brut Souverain 91 Points
France, Champagne
Small taste. Mild toast, pear, dough, mineral. Very solid again. 91+pts.
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NV Bérêche et Fils Champagne Brut Réserve 92 Points
France, Champagne
Small pour. Just another super bottle of this, great energy, focus and balance.
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NV R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Had this a week ago too, maybe a bit better bottle. Only had a small taste though and solid as usual. 90pts.
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NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée de Réserve Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Small taste. Tart green apple, chalky, good. Still prefer the Bdb by a god margin.
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NV Françoise Bedel Champagne Origin' elle 89 Points
France, Champagne
Small taste. No notes, a little more angular.
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NV Pommery Champagne Brut Royal 91 Points
France, Champagne
Small glass late in the party. Maybe it wa the all the Champagnes talking, but I was pretty impressed by this wine; very toasted, pear, lemon, pastry dough.91+pts.
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NV H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Small taste. No notes, good, red fruits.
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NV Charles Mignon Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Comte de Marne 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Small pour. Consistent with my last bottle in October. Yeast, citrus, lemon, a bit of grapefruit.
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2012 Vazart-Coquart Champagne Grand Cru Grand Bouquet 91 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Small glass. Well, I liked this infinitely more than the last bottle. This was much brighter.
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NV Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Brut Rosé 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Small taste. More chalk, strawberry chiffon, citrus, citrus pith. Struck me as slightly bitter on the back end, but didn't have much either. Usually a big fan of this.
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NV Déhu Père & Fils Champagne Initiation 92 Points
France, Champagne
Another new producer for me. Pinot Meunier (something like 70-80% I think) with the balance Pinot Noir. I was quite taken by this. It is was penetrating, mineral driven but with distinct red fruits and just the slightest hint of pink tinge to the sullen gold color. This is brut nature and you get that sense, but without any lack of balance. I'd seek this out. 92+ or better.
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2006 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Grand Cru Vieille Vigne de Cramant 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Light medium gold color. Pear, filberts, structured and deep, this carries some weight, firm but still round and yeasty. 92+pts.
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2002 Lanson Champagne Gold Label Brut 93 Points
France, Champagne
This was the third year in a row that this wine has made an appearance at the New Years Day Champagne Fest. And that is a good thing. This bottle was very energetic. The Lanson style is there with mild oxidative notes, but its complimentary. Very consistent with the bootle last year: mature, golden fruits, mushroom and stone. 92+ to 93ts.
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NV José Michel & Fils Champagne Cuvée du Père Houdart 88 Points
France, Champagne
Just not my favorite producer. Very few of the JM bottlings seem to appeal to me.
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2006 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 95 Points
France, Champagne
Drank a glass over 20 minutes plus. This was splendid, piercing and powerful and still maintains that finesse.. Autolytic and brioche infused, fresh sae breezes abound, spiced pears, roasted almond, creamy, speedy bubbles, lemon custard, elegant and poised, loved it again. This was so easy as to be dangerous. Wow, wasn't thinking too hard here, but this is easily 95pts or better.
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NV Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Cuvée de Réserve 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Small pour. Lemon, toast, crisp, nice chalk, bright and focused. Excellent tonight.
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