Glen Ellyn, Illinois
Tasted Tuesday, December 15, 2009 by Vino Me with 1,527 views
Binny's in Glen Ellyn held their Champagne tasting last weekend. The cost was $15. They had over 80 sparkling wines to try including the champagnes i tasted below. They also had cheese, cavier and some other snacks out from their deli with food from some other local restaurants. It was an excellent event with some outstanding wines. Here are my notes:
VM
NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Demi-Sec 86 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. Obviously a sweeter style sparkler. Notes of apple and pears. Found the balance a little off. Pricey at $45. 86-87 points.
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NV Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut 88 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. No formal notes. Same as when I had it a week ago. 88 points.
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NV Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut 86 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. Not the best Brut out there but the price is less than the others at about $27. One dimensional with citrus notes. 86 points.
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NV Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut 90 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. I normally like the wines from this house and this Brut was no exception. 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Charconnay. Nice round sparkler. Notes of lemon and lime. 90 points.
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NV Duval-Leroy Champagne Cuvée Design Paris 89 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. 3rd time I have had this sparkler with the last 2 times being in 2005. I was told that Duval Leroy is going to be discontinuing this line. This is a brut. I have always scored it 89 points. A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Simpler than the regular Brut which I also had. 89 points.
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NV Comte Audoin de Dampierre Champagne Grand Cru Grande Cuvée Brut 89 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Retailer tasting. 2nd time I have had this wine in the last 2 weeks. I have been given different blend information each time so I do not know what is correct. This is a fruity sparkler with a sharp steely finish. 89 points.
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NV Joseph Perrier Champagne Cuvée Royále 91 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. Made from all 3 champagne grapes No formal notes but I thought this was outstanding. 90-91 points.
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NV Marguet Champagne Blanc de Noirs Brut Tradition 92 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. This is the new name for Marguet-Bonnerave I was told. This is a grower champagne but is labelled as an NM (negociant) wine because the owner of this estate decided to purchase some Pinot Meunier grapes from a friends neighboring vineyard to include in the blend. This was 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Pinot Meunier. A full bodied beauty of a wine. Lush red fruit notes with a fine bead and long finish. A great deal at $34. 92 points.
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NV Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Retailer tasting. This is a slightly older bottle with the old label. 100% Grand Cru fruit from a grower/producer. The blend is 60% Pinot NOir and 40% Chardonnay. White fruit notes with a yeasty rich texture. Tart clean finish. I liked the Brut Blanc de Noirs from this producer better. 90 points.
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NV Michel Arnould & Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Retailer tasting. 100% Grand Cru fruit from the Verzenay region. The blend is 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. I had this grower champagne from magnum earlier this Summer with consistent notes. Notes of peaches, toast and citrus fruit. 89-90 points.
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2002 Taittinger Champagne Brut Millésimé 90 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. A Chardonnay based wine. 1st time I have had this. Yeasty with citrus and some cherry notes. 90+ points.
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NV Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve 90 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. This bottle had a skunky nose and would have scored higher if not for that fact. The skunkiness is a trait which is too common in Reserve champagnes and is something I am not fond of. On the palate this wine was fine. Solid bead. Crisp flavors which included berry notes. 89-90 points.
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NV Pommery Champagne Brut Royal 84 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. Probably my least favorite at this event. Skunky nose. Notes of ash in this industrial and manufactured wine. 84 points.
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NV Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne Blue Top Brut 88 Points
France, Champagne
Retailer tasting. 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Meunier. No formal notes. 88 points.
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