K&L Champagne Tent Tasting
K&L, San Francisco
Tasted October 23, 2016 by aagrawal with 572 views
Introduction
Another excellent experience to taste through all these great champagnes, though it was very crowded at times around the popular tables.
My take-aways:
- Comtes de Champagne is still one of my favorite high-end champagnes, though it may need time to integrate based on this 2006 young.
- Krug is always a treat. I was hoping they would bring a vintage Krug, but they didn't this year.
- Cristal is actually a very nice, elegant experience. Even more so from magnum. =)
- Amaury Coutelas is one of my favorite value wines, especially the Cuvee Louis Victor. Their vintage champagne is excellent as well.
- Arthur Marc was one of my discoveries at this event. I've liked their Pinot Meunier red wine in the past, but their champagnes were stars at this event. The Perla Nera was as good as any other champagne here.
Flight 1 - Krug (2 notes)
Always a treat, though just as with my taste a few weeks ago at the W&S Top 100 tasting, the grand cuvee beat out the rose by a large margin.
Flight 2 - Taittinger (2 notes)
I've had a good variety of aged Comtes de Champagne that I've loved, though when young it can be a little unintegrated. I think this follows the same mold. I've bought some to cellar on its reputation of longevity alone, though it's not drinking at its best today.
Flight 3 - Louis Roederer (1 note)
This is surprisingly good, though still pricey. Wonderful elegant wine, and even better than my last taste 2 years ago.
Flight 4 - Egrot (2 notes)
Flight 5 - Amaury (4 notes)
A producer that I've loved for their Cuvee Louis Victor as my best buy <$50. It didn't show as well in this lineup, though I did like their vintage cuvee quite a bit. I will continue to buy their cuvee louis victor and perhaps their vintage when the pricing is right.
Flight 6 - Charles Heidsieck (2 notes)
Flight 7 - Arthur Marc (2 notes)
This is another excellent producer, one that I wasn't familiar with beforehand. I've had their dry Pinot Meunier based red (which they also had at this event, not retasted) which is good, but both of these champagnes were excellent as well. The Perla Nera was fabulous and, tasted blind, I would have guessed was a rose. Would be an excellent wine with almost any meal.
Flight 8 - Billecart-Salmon (2 notes)
Flight 9 - Fleury (1 note)
A very nice rose, especially for the price. Elegant, floral, delicate, but also has good red fruits.