Community Tasting Note
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sfwinelover1 Likes this wine: 96 points
April 16, 2024 - Brought by the ever generous MN—because what do ever generous people do? They bring wine to wine tastings!—to the kinda crazy Abreu tasting. I’ve only had one other Cristal, the ‘13, 2x, and this was a fairly different animal than what I remembered, more red and green apples and butterscotch, along with light florals and river rocks, less tart citrus, also definitely less oxidative than the Bond-Harlan Krugs. I don’t know how much of that is the respective vintages, how much the different amount of time they’d spent in bottles (or even if my perception is correct, because, as I’ve written elsewhere, I’m less confident in my champs than still wine critiquing skills. This tastes fuller and more mature for sure, as if it’s mid to late drinking window where the ‘13 was clearly at the dawn, but with the (relative) downside of a bit less frame, persistence and intensity. It’s still near the high water mark of bubbles I’ve had, would welcome drinking it anytime, anywhere, with just about anything(although my usual non-imaginative pairings of shellfish or dessert would come first to mind, and it would have shone with the night’s sushi more than the CdC did) or nothing at all. MN, thank you, thank you, thank you, again. 96+
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11 Comments
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Mark1npt commented:
4/29/24, 3:06 PM - Sounds like a grand time, sf! I have one bottle of this vintage sitting in the cellar and appreciate your notes on it. I don't think it would be smart to let it go too much longer, do you?
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sfwinelover1 commented:
4/29/24, 3:54 PM - I haven’t had really old champagnes, but my friends who are more knowledgeable about bubbles tell me they can age really well (as an aside, I get pretty nervous aging anything that’s not colored red, after blowing some significant $ on 3 highly oxidized White Burgs from the aughts). I think that this is mature, with the acidity much more measured than the ‘13. Was it a hotter year and always that way so that’s not a sign of where this is evolving? Beats me, but I’d drink in the next few years. And . . . Invite me!
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Mark1npt commented:
4/29/24, 4:10 PM - As always, I appreciate your info, sf! As a general rule, I'm not the biggest fan of really aged Champ. Just need to find a reason, soon. Unfortunately, Carol will never let me leave the state of FL with it in my bag.....lol.
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sfwinelover1 commented:
4/29/24, 4:13 PM - At some point when I’m finished my notes—I’m getting close—I’ll put them into a story. The Abreu tasting was pretty crazy, though, and I’ll have to (mostly) save that for in person.
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Mark1npt commented:
4/29/24, 4:30 PM - I bet it was crazy! I've never done stories, just individual notes. Maybe I'll change that going forward?
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sfwinelover1 commented:
4/29/24, 6:28 PM - We’re definitely getting some tasting stories out of your fall trip!
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Mark1npt commented:
4/29/24, 7:39 PM - Very much looking forward to trying!
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LiteItOnFire commented:
4/29/24, 11:25 PM - I have a 6 pack as it’s my daughter’s birth year … but when I tired it back in ‘19 I was less than excited about its long term potential. I LOVE great aged Champagne but based on my last tasting not sure this one has the stuffing to go the distance.
Sounds like it is in a great spot and an absolute pleasure to drink. Glad you got the opportunity to drink it
Mark- I have a bottle with your name on it when in AZ! -
Mark1npt commented:
4/30/24, 6:03 AM - Lite, much appreciated! I'll be in CA for a good 4-6 weeks in the Fall helping HMC make his first wines off his Howell Mtn property. Hoping there will be some time for a side trip down your way.
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LiteItOnFire commented:
4/30/24, 7:45 AM - Wow very cool! Can’t wait to hear all about it out it!! Please do.
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Mark1npt commented:
4/30/24, 7:57 AM - Will do! Not sure of the dates yet, we'll have to see how the growing season proceeds. I'm spitballing middle of Sept through October, right now.