Not overly acidic and racy or super bready, but just a nice mineral middle with small subtle bubbles due to the age. A very nuanced wine and not showing the age on the palate much at all. Good body all the way into the finish. I think it's ready to go, but will be at this stage for several more years.
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Awesome aged champers, in great shape, aromatic notes of sourdough, yeast, brioche; aged and well-integrated with hazelnut, fruitcake; good depth in mid-palate, med+ finish, mouthwatering, delish. Probably not the perfect bubbly with sushi but did the trick. S&L
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Just terrific. Maturing, deep champagne with a laser focus. So winey - coasts the palate. Yellow fruits and wet stones. Floral purfume. Complex. Wonderful. (95)
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Out of mag. First time trying this wine, and was pleasantly surprised. Old school style with crisp acidity, lots of concentration with a honied note developing. Really lovely fruit fills out the palate. Pretty delish.
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Excellent but not up to the level of the last bottle. Medium bodied and floral. White flowers, melon and chalk on the distinctive and fine nose - probably this bottle’s best feature. There is nice punch initially yet I wish the flavors lingered a bit longer. I’m disappointed as the last bottle was stellar but this is a fine bottle of champagne. (91)
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Sunday hangout (Chicago, IL): This is a very concentrated champagne, and there is a lot of extraction here. The nose shows a hint of marzipan. The palate is where this shines, with all the fruit and mineral components playing very nicely with each other. Slightly sweet (perhaps that's the dosage?) but this is balanced quite well overall.
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Excellent shape, medium gold-yellow with slight fading to light amber; nose was mineral with wet clay, dirty chalk, slight earth tones and button mushroom, apricot pit; lovely entry, fuller on the palate, clear Pinot heavy character with fine bubbles, high acidity, tart and tangy finish but not bright flavors, more earthy dark mineral notes. Good serious election coverage wine, a wine to ponder. W/ not so good pairing--jerk chicken wings ;)
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What an amazing bottle. Ployez-Jacquemart pride themselves in using very little dosage and relying on the 'natural fruit and sugars'. This is a 21 year old champagne and yes, there's the fruit. It has the biscuity undertones but none of the 'burnt' aldehydes you sometimes get with older vintages. A real tribute to the winemakers.
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Oozing of yellow apples, some pears, lees and toast. Elegant mousse and ok balance but lacking layers and finish. Overall strongly disappointed in this otherwise well tasting champagne. Had simply expected more judging from ratings such as the current Vivino rating of 4.5
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Dinner at S.K.Y. (Chicago, IL): Brilliant champagne -- I really do think my palate has converged on preferring the ripe vintages and this wine is a case in point. It's very close to the style that I like -- mild biscuity qualities and a good chalkiness, but most importantly, all balanced by a really generous amount of fruit. Chalky texture with clean minerality as well.
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This was nearly great. With no malolactic, but 12 years on lees and barrel-fermentation, it provides racy citrus tanginess but such countered with a full body richness and depth, with yellow fruit and nuttiness. The nose was especially alluring. Maybe, just maybe, these elements could be a bit more seamless and one, so to speak. While not completely sure, do not see it improving, but on the other hand does not seem to be in any danger of falling off.
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Simply gorgeous champagne. I have a great affinity for wines from this house. Mineral and precise yet also full and complex. Super depth. Youthful. Will drink well and improve for years. (95)
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No detailed notes but an exceptional Champagne. Layered, mineral depth, tons of briskness but richer, youthful elements as well. This will age so nicely for a long time. I won't forget sharing this bottle - an awesome time.
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A very exceptional and impressive Champagne. Not much to add to prior CT descriptions of the aromatic and flavor profile; suffice it to say, this bubbly is very complex and layered, extremely aromatic, youthful in appearance and texture, and wonderfully elegant and nuanced. Excellent effervescence and medium mousse. The color displays a medium gold hue, but not nearly as dark of a deeper “old gold”, as I would normally expect from a Champagne of this age and vintage.
Based on information gathered from the producer website the wine is comprised of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir / Pinot Meunièr, barrel fermented without malolactic fermentation. Bottled after 6 months and aged on its lees in the bottle for 12 years before disgorgement. The lack of cork “narrowing” substantiates this was disgorged within the last 2-3 years; from the lot code on the bottle, this appears to have been disgorged in March 2015. The lack of malo supports zippy acidity which shines through on the very, very long finish. This is the second time I’ve had the privilege to enjoy Champagne from the 1999 vintage (the first Vranken Diamant Bleu) and both were outstanding.
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This was my 4th or 5th experience with this wine from this vintage: A very calm "whoosh" on opening, the C02 very much tamed here is the only evidence of age as there are no oxidative qualities noted. Modest bead, very soft textured, some breadiness, nice minerality, orchard rather than citrus driven fruit. Very gentle, "ethereal" with calming and yet quite complex notes. Paired beautifully with oysters and crab cakes.
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For me this was the highlight of the wine part of this special evening, with its wispy texture, autolytic range, and subtle power, emphasizing pear, nectarine, and cherry in an elegant melange. I was happy to drink this now, with food, but would be hesitant to hold 5+ years given the hint of oxidation wafting up with baked brioche nose which contributed to its present complexity instead of becoming a noisy distraction.
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20+ Year Old Nebbiolo Dinner (Osteria Langhe): A revealing contrast in styles tasting this side-by-side with the '02 Pol Roger Brut, with the Ployez-Jqcquemart showing much more acid zip and crisp fruits. The aromatics show a nice combo of depth and power -- largely staying in the white fruit and citrus spectrum, with just a trace of biscuit. On the palate the acidity is so bright and pronounced, that the wine just dances across the palate. A finely chiseled bubbly.
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In which 20+ year old Nebbiolos were consumed (Chicago, IL): There's such a stark difference on this next to the 2002 Pol Roger. This is a much leaner and more acidic champagne, and despite the fact that this sees a bit heavier oak treatment, there's a lovely freshness and minerality to this it. Very linear, with some white fruit showing. The oak (and what I presume is a slight bit of dosage) serve to round out this lovely champagne.
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Tasted blind: medium straw with hints of maturity on nose, baking spices, apple pie; very softly textured with tame, medium bead; "middle aged"; striking balance of caressing texture/evolution and "still very much alive" class and breeding. A delight to drink!
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Slightly deeper medium straw color than the '99 Philipponnat Clos de Goises tasted alongside of; deeper, more complexity that comes in waves; vinosity the likes of a red burgundy. I feared it was the sentimentality of having stayed there a few years ago during a trip to the region, but this was unanimous choice of all tasting this match-up.
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Nose: The nose is deep and layered with baked apples, vanilla, baking spices, Meyer lemons, fresh baked dough, honeydew, acacia flowers, quince, with a real attractive mineral base.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity. The feel is larger, but refined and layered with baked apples, quince, acacia flowers, meyer lemons, loads of minerals, and a touch of fresh baked dough on the back end.
Overall: This is gorgeous. It's drinking great now, but it has a lot of life on it for further development.
1/1/2024 - portman63 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not overly acidic and racy or super bready, but just a nice mineral middle with small subtle bubbles due to the age. A very nuanced wine and not showing the age on the palate much at all. Good body all the way into the finish. I think it's ready to go, but will be at this stage for several more years.
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5/21/2023 - Diane (LI) wrote:
A real beauty. Subtle Granny Smith apple, pear, a bit nutty, with lemon pith on the lovely finish. Enjoyed at Gramercy Tavern at the start of dinner.
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12/31/2022 - peternelson Likes this wine: 93 Points
Awesome aged champers, in great shape, aromatic notes of sourdough, yeast, brioche; aged and well-integrated with hazelnut, fruitcake; good depth in mid-palate, med+ finish, mouthwatering, delish. Probably not the perfect bubbly with sushi but did the trick. S&L
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4/16/2022 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
Just terrific. Maturing, deep champagne with a laser focus. So winey - coasts the palate. Yellow fruits and wet stones. Floral purfume. Complex. Wonderful. (95)
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1/31/2022 - mye wrote:
Out of mag. First time trying this wine, and was pleasantly surprised. Old school style with crisp acidity, lots of concentration with a honied note developing. Really lovely fruit fills out the palate. Pretty delish.
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12/18/2020 - Adamsmt25 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Crisp. Tart apple.
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11/25/2020 - dbkitc wrote: 91 Points
Excellent but not up to the level of the last bottle. Medium bodied and floral. White flowers, melon and chalk on the distinctive and fine nose - probably this bottle’s best feature. There is nice punch initially yet I wish the flavors lingered a bit longer. I’m disappointed as the last bottle was stellar but this is a fine bottle of champagne. (91)
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11/8/2020 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Sunday hangout (Chicago, IL): This is a very concentrated champagne, and there is a lot of extraction here. The nose shows a hint of marzipan. The palate is where this shines, with all the fruit and mineral components playing very nicely with each other. Slightly sweet (perhaps that's the dosage?) but this is balanced quite well overall.
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11/3/2020 - peternelson Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent shape, medium gold-yellow with slight fading to light amber; nose was mineral with wet clay, dirty chalk, slight earth tones and button mushroom, apricot pit; lovely entry, fuller on the palate, clear Pinot heavy character with fine bubbles, high acidity, tart and tangy finish but not bright flavors, more earthy dark mineral notes. Good serious election coverage wine, a wine to ponder. W/ not so good pairing--jerk chicken wings ;)
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10/4/2020 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 89 Points
Scores without notes from a nice night of drinking.
97 2009 Giovanni Chiappini Bolgheri Superiore Guado de' Gemoli
96 2013 Schrader Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon RBS Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard
96 2009 Paul Hobbs Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard
95 2014 Realm Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Houyi Vineyard
94 2013 Morlet Family Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Cœur de Vallée Beckstoffer To-Kalon Vineyard
94 2007 Two Hands Shiraz Ares
94 2016 Domaine Georges Vernay Condrieu Coteau de Vernon
93 1994 Graham Porto Vintage
93 2002 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut
89 1999 Ployez-Jacquemart Champagne Liesse d'Harbonville
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5/23/2020 - jmoore431 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another great bottle of this!
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4/19/2020 - shallIshantI Likes this wine: 93 Points
What an amazing bottle. Ployez-Jacquemart pride themselves in using very little dosage and relying on the 'natural fruit and sugars'. This is a 21 year old champagne and yes, there's the fruit. It has the biscuity undertones but none of the 'burnt' aldehydes you sometimes get with older vintages. A real tribute to the winemakers.
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12/6/2019 - sortiarius Likes this wine: 91 Points
Oozing of yellow apples, some pears, lees and toast.
Elegant mousse and ok balance but lacking layers and finish.
Overall strongly disappointed in this otherwise well tasting champagne. Had simply expected more judging from ratings such as the current Vivino rating of 4.5
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7/10/2019 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at S.K.Y. (Chicago, IL): Brilliant champagne -- I really do think my palate has converged on preferring the ripe vintages and this wine is a case in point. It's very close to the style that I like -- mild biscuity qualities and a good chalkiness, but most importantly, all balanced by a really generous amount of fruit. Chalky texture with clean minerality as well.
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7/9/2019 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Casual dinner at S.K.Y.: Sweet spot. Great, maturing white fruit with nice toast. Love the robustness of the fruit combined with the energy and zip.
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1/4/2019 - cadamson Likes this wine:
This was nearly great. With no malolactic, but 12 years on lees and barrel-fermentation, it provides racy citrus tanginess but such countered with a full body richness and depth, with yellow fruit and nuttiness. The nose was especially alluring. Maybe, just maybe, these elements could be a bit more seamless and one, so to speak. While not completely sure, do not see it improving, but on the other hand does not seem to be in any danger of falling off.
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10/22/2018 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
Simply gorgeous champagne. I have a great affinity for wines from this house. Mineral and precise yet also full and complex. Super depth. Youthful. Will drink well and improve for years. (95)
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6/2/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 95 Points
No detailed notes but an exceptional Champagne. Layered, mineral depth, tons of briskness but richer, youthful elements as well. This will age so nicely for a long time. I won't forget sharing this bottle - an awesome time.
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12/30/2017 - wmccone54 wrote: 95 Points
A very exceptional and impressive Champagne. Not much to add to prior CT descriptions of the aromatic and flavor profile; suffice it to say, this bubbly is very complex and layered, extremely aromatic, youthful in appearance and texture, and wonderfully elegant and nuanced. Excellent effervescence and medium mousse. The color displays a medium gold hue, but not nearly as dark of a deeper “old gold”, as I would normally expect from a Champagne of this age and vintage.
Based on information gathered from the producer website the wine is comprised of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir / Pinot Meunièr, barrel fermented without malolactic fermentation. Bottled after 6 months and aged on its lees in the bottle for 12 years before disgorgement. The lack of cork “narrowing” substantiates this was disgorged within the last 2-3 years; from the lot code on the bottle, this appears to have been disgorged in March 2015. The lack of malo supports zippy acidity which shines through on the very, very long finish. This is the second time I’ve had the privilege to enjoy Champagne from the 1999 vintage (the first Vranken Diamant Bleu) and both were outstanding.
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9/19/2017 - jmoore431 wrote: 94 Points
This was my 4th or 5th experience with this wine from this vintage: A very calm "whoosh" on opening, the C02 very much tamed here is the only evidence of age as there are no oxidative qualities noted. Modest bead, very soft textured, some breadiness, nice minerality, orchard rather than citrus driven fruit. Very gentle, "ethereal" with calming and yet quite complex notes. Paired beautifully with oysters and crab cakes.
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4/7/2017 - Tudz Drkl Likes this wine: 93 Points
So good. Yeast and lemon give this a push and pull/lush and bright contrast that make it so compelling. I could drink this all night long
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1/28/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprisingly delicious. And balanced in the context of the vintage
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12/10/2016 - silton Likes this wine: 94 Points
For me this was the highlight of the wine part of this special evening, with its wispy texture, autolytic range, and subtle power, emphasizing pear, nectarine, and cherry in an elegant melange. I was happy to drink this now, with food, but would be hesitant to hold 5+ years given the hint of oxidation wafting up with baked brioche nose which contributed to its present complexity instead of becoming a noisy distraction.
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5/29/2016 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dinner at Trelio (Clovis Ca.): (mag) Super sipper here...creamy mousse, zippy fresh acidity...little nuttiness...reminded me of Krug a bit.
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5/19/2016 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
20+ Year Old Nebbiolo Dinner (Osteria Langhe): A revealing contrast in styles tasting this side-by-side with the '02 Pol Roger Brut, with the Ployez-Jqcquemart showing much more acid zip and crisp fruits. The aromatics show a nice combo of depth and power -- largely staying in the white fruit and citrus spectrum, with just a trace of biscuit. On the palate the acidity is so bright and pronounced, that the wine just dances across the palate. A finely chiseled bubbly.
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5/19/2016 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
In which 20+ year old Nebbiolos were consumed (Chicago, IL): There's such a stark difference on this next to the 2002 Pol Roger. This is a much leaner and more acidic champagne, and despite the fact that this sees a bit heavier oak treatment, there's a lovely freshness and minerality to this it. Very linear, with some white fruit showing. The oak (and what I presume is a slight bit of dosage) serve to round out this lovely champagne.
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3/31/2016 - jmoore431 wrote: 92 Points
Tasted blind: medium straw with hints of maturity on nose, baking spices, apple pie; very softly textured with tame, medium bead; "middle aged"; striking balance of caressing texture/evolution and "still very much alive" class and breeding. A delight to drink!
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12/8/2015 - jmoore431 wrote: 95 Points
Slightly deeper medium straw color than the '99 Philipponnat Clos de Goises tasted alongside of; deeper, more complexity that comes in waves; vinosity the likes of a red burgundy. I feared it was the sentimentality of having stayed there a few years ago during a trip to the region, but this was unanimous choice of all tasting this match-up.
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5/19/2015 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Nose: The nose is deep and layered with baked apples, vanilla, baking spices, Meyer lemons, fresh baked dough, honeydew, acacia flowers, quince, with a real attractive mineral base.
Taste: Medium/Full bodied with medium/high acidity. The feel is larger, but refined and layered with baked apples, quince, acacia flowers, meyer lemons, loads of minerals, and a touch of fresh baked dough on the back end.
Overall: This is gorgeous. It's drinking great now, but it has a lot of life on it for further development.
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