Not as much gas escaping on opening, but pours with abundant, medium bead and bright yellow color. 2015 disgorgement. Aromas of ginger, citrus, jasmine, and chamomile. Palate shares these flavors with a bit of biscuit in the background. Finish is dominated by ginger and chamomile. Ready now for my tastes; structure to develop breadth but love the freshness.
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Very nice balance between youthful freshness an emerging mature complexity. Bread, apples and citrus on the nose with just hints of marzipan and orange peel. On the palate very fine, fresh mousse and lots of stuff going on fruitwise: apples and citrus dominand but also light red berries, peach, mango and honeydew melon. Good minerals with iron and chalk. Very good lenght. Super!
Another very good bottle of this. However a bit richer than I remember. Seems to develop that with air, out of the gate it is more precise and to my style. I think I'm just not as partial to special clubs. Although this could also be in a bit of a dumb phase.
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3rd time I have had this wine. Light yellow color. This had a fine bead. Aromas of warm brioche. This seems to have put on a little weight since the last time I had it. Fuller body. Creamy white fruit notes. 94 points..
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Disgorged July 2015 Medium-bright yellow color. Fine mousse. Aromas of biscuit, lemon, ginger, and grapefruit. Palate has a lot going on. Jasmine/chamomile/grapefruit seemed to be lurking under that lemon-ginger note from the nose. The bread/yeast/biscuit notes are not yet showing up with all of the up-front fruit notes going on. This was a better showing than the first bottle from this batch, sampled closer to original purchase date. Leftovers the next day were not as dynamically flavored, but still pretty good. I think this improves with some more time on the cork. Drink if you have a few; otherwise hold.
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Enjoyed with some outstanding raw oysters from Wescott Bay (San Juan Island, WA). This is right in a great drinking window, straddling the line of aged and youthfully vibrant. Big, yeasty, cheesy nose and a rich palate full of fruit. Drink now or over the next...say, 10+?
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Gaston Chiquet Special Club Vertical: The 2008 vintage was just fantastic. Even on the first sip it seemed a lot better than the other wines we had tasted up to this point.
This is also the only wine of the bunch where the blend was changed. 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay.
The richness and savory qualities of the Pinot were apparent from the get go. Though the acidity made it quite lithe. Definitely the most alive of the bunch.
Certainly could age it for much longer but really lovely now.
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Gorgeous Champagne showing the intensity and classic acidity of the vintage with delicious flavors of yeasty bread and chalky minerals. The finish is intense and satisfying with complex notes of brown spices, baked bread and caramel.
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Good expression from a great vintage. This bottle was slightly more precise than the last but still quite consistent. Peaked at around 30-45 minutes open. Faded slightly at the 1.5-2 hour mark. Probably not as long lived as some other 08's.
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Very good special club, with the right amount of age on it. 2016 disgorgment. Possibly just past its apex. But have 5 more bottles to track and see. Subtle, balanced. Only gripe is that it doesn't quite match up to the 08 BDB.
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Soft, fine mousse. Rich and layered on the palate. Hazelnuts, almonds, brioche, stone fruit. Beautiful aged Champagne that still has some fruit and is still on the early end of the drinking spectrum. Finishes softly with good acidity to balance out the weight on the body.
Congrats, Joe and Kamala!
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Domaine BYO feat. Charles Heidsieck (Chicago, IL): Pretty much in line with how I remember it -- lots of tension and while the acidity is high, there seems to be enough overall material to balance things out. A touch of stone fruit and a mild hint of bread help round things out.
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Vinetasters: Special Clubs (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. A very slight lactic thing going on with the nose on this wine, which seems a little odd overall. The palate is much brighter than the first two wines, and the acidity is more prominent as well. Likely the youngest of the lineup, but there's a really compelling chewiness to this wine. Good balance between development and youth here for my palate. My 4th, group's 2nd.
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This was truly delicious. An excellent 2008, which is a vintage I like very much. Despite having plenty of structure and material, the wine had superb balance and floated in the mouth. Great with pre-dinner foods, like thin crust pizza slices with mushroom, caramelized onions, fresh cheese, etc. Not a waste at all to pop one of these now, though it shows just the tiniest hint of development yet...if you like your Champagne aged, then this one should go quite some distance!
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2nd time I have had this. Similar notes as before but even better this time around. A truly excellent Special Club bottling. This bottle also had some caramel aromas on the nose and licorice on the palate. Full bodied. 96 points.
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The 2008 Gaston Chiquet Special Club is flat out delicious. Beautiful, ripe fruit, both yellow and green, cream, marzipan and some toast. Some chalk and smoky flintstone. Very well balanced. Third time I have this and it’s only getting better.
A new producer for me: Gaston Chiquet. This is the 2008 Special Club. Quite rich on both nose and palate with cream, almond and a touch of brioche. Gorgeous ripe fruit, but also refreshing notes of granny smith apples and lime. Fine mousse. A chalky minerality lingers underneath. Really a lovely wine, perfectly balanced. 70% C 30% PN
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Raiding City Winery (Chicago, IL): This needs a lot of air to be accessible right now. It was tight, coiled, and not expressive at first. As it aired out in the glass, this started filling out on the palate as well (it was quite austere and thin to begin with). This shows a nice vein of crisp acidity and minerality, especially since the fruit isn't too fat here. It's mostly one of those white-hot wines, but the more important thing is that this needs a lot of time to settle.
Purchased for $60. Disgorged March 2016. 70% Chardonnay from Aÿ (Grand Cru) and 30% Pinot Noir from Mareuil (Premier Cru). Terry Theise called this the best Chiquet wine in the last 20 years. Drank this alongside the 2000 Chiquet Special Club. Pale straw color. Very lively and fresh with fine bubbles. Notes of lemon zest, chalk and brioche. Will probably show even better in another year or two. 94 points.
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Courtesy of VM. Bright apple fruit with limestone/mineral elements underneath. Fine bead. Flavors of green apple, citrus, almond and limestone. Bright and lively; youthful.
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David White lead Champagne dinner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Complex nose displaying golden delicious, lemon, marzipan and brioche. Medium concentration, the fines mousse of the night, good freshness as well as richness, good acidity and a long rich finish. Very enjoyable.
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This was the finishing bottle of the 9 champagnes we tasted in the flight. However, like the Clouet 08 Brut, this bottle comes off a bit rich for me. My notes say a 'custard' note and also '7-Up', which in the US is a lemon-lime soda. Smooth drinker but too forward for me. And PS, I dislike these special club bottles--they are a real PITA to store. Have they always been made in this style?
3/24/2024 - fredb Likes this wine:
Not as much gas escaping on opening, but pours with abundant, medium bead and bright yellow color. 2015 disgorgement. Aromas of ginger, citrus, jasmine, and chamomile. Palate shares these flavors with a bit of biscuit in the background. Finish is dominated by ginger and chamomile. Ready now for my tastes; structure to develop breadth but love the freshness.
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4/8/2023 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice balance between youthful freshness an emerging mature complexity. Bread, apples and citrus on the nose with just hints of marzipan and orange peel. On the palate very fine, fresh mousse and lots of stuff going on fruitwise: apples and citrus dominand but also light red berries, peach, mango and honeydew melon. Good minerals with iron and chalk. Very good lenght. Super!
Drink now or hold for up to 10 years.
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8/13/2022 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another very good bottle of this. However a bit richer than I remember. Seems to develop that with air, out of the gate it is more precise and to my style. I think I'm just not as partial to special clubs. Although this could also be in a bit of a dumb phase.
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4/2/2022 - Vino Me wrote: 94 Points
3rd time I have had this wine. Light yellow color. This had a fine bead. Aromas of warm brioche. This seems to have put on a little weight since the last time I had it. Fuller body. Creamy white fruit notes. 94 points..
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1/4/2022 - fredb Likes this wine:
Disgorged July 2015
Medium-bright yellow color. Fine mousse. Aromas of biscuit, lemon, ginger, and grapefruit. Palate has a lot going on. Jasmine/chamomile/grapefruit seemed to be lurking under that lemon-ginger note from the nose. The bread/yeast/biscuit notes are not yet showing up with all of the up-front fruit notes going on. This was a better showing than the first bottle from this batch, sampled closer to original purchase date. Leftovers the next day were not as dynamically flavored, but still pretty good. I think this improves with some more time on the cork. Drink if you have a few; otherwise hold.
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12/16/2021 - BRR Likes this wine: 93 Points
Enjoyed with some outstanding raw oysters from Wescott Bay (San Juan Island, WA). This is right in a great drinking window, straddling the line of aged and youthfully vibrant. Big, yeasty, cheesy nose and a rich palate full of fruit. Drink now or over the next...say, 10+?
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7/11/2021 - WhatsSamSipping Likes this wine:
Gaston Chiquet Special Club Vertical: The 2008 vintage was just fantastic. Even on the first sip it seemed a lot better than the other wines we had tasted up to this point.
This is also the only wine of the bunch where the blend was changed. 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay.
The richness and savory qualities of the Pinot were apparent from the get go. Though the acidity made it quite lithe. Definitely the most alive of the bunch.
Certainly could age it for much longer but really lovely now.
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4/19/2021 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous Champagne showing the intensity and classic acidity of the vintage with delicious flavors of yeasty bread and chalky minerals. The finish is intense and satisfying with complex notes of brown spices, baked bread and caramel.
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12/31/2020 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Good expression from a great vintage. This bottle was slightly more precise than the last but still quite consistent. Peaked at around 30-45 minutes open. Faded slightly at the 1.5-2 hour mark. Probably not as long lived as some other 08's.
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11/7/2020 - Jd6725 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very good special club, with the right amount of age on it. 2016 disgorgment. Possibly just past its apex. But have 5 more bottles to track and see. Subtle, balanced. Only gripe is that it doesn't quite match up to the 08 BDB.
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11/7/2020 - dpolivy Likes this wine:
Soft, fine mousse. Rich and layered on the palate. Hazelnuts, almonds, brioche, stone fruit. Beautiful aged Champagne that still has some fruit and is still on the early end of the drinking spectrum. Finishes softly with good acidity to balance out the weight on the body.
Congrats, Joe and Kamala!
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8/5/2019 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Domaine BYO feat. Charles Heidsieck (Chicago, IL): Pretty much in line with how I remember it -- lots of tension and while the acidity is high, there seems to be enough overall material to balance things out. A touch of stone fruit and a mild hint of bread help round things out.
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6/2/2019 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Vinetasters: Special Clubs (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. A very slight lactic thing going on with the nose on this wine, which seems a little odd overall. The palate is much brighter than the first two wines, and the acidity is more prominent as well. Likely the youngest of the lineup, but there's a really compelling chewiness to this wine. Good balance between development and youth here for my palate. My 4th, group's 2nd.
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9/26/2018 - Blair Curtis wrote: 93 Points
This was truly delicious. An excellent 2008, which is a vintage I like very much. Despite having plenty of structure and material, the wine had superb balance and floated in the mouth. Great with pre-dinner foods, like thin crust pizza slices with mushroom, caramelized onions, fresh cheese, etc. Not a waste at all to pop one of these now, though it shows just the tiniest hint of development yet...if you like your Champagne aged, then this one should go quite some distance!
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8/16/2018 - christyler wrote: 92 Points
Drinks like a prestige cuvee - very nice texture. Needs time.
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2/17/2018 - Vino Me wrote: 96 Points
2nd time I have had this. Similar notes as before but even better this time around. A truly excellent Special Club bottling. This bottle also had some caramel aromas on the nose and licorice on the palate. Full bodied. 96 points.
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2/16/2018 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 93 Points
The 2008 Gaston Chiquet Special Club is flat out delicious. Beautiful, ripe fruit, both yellow and green, cream, marzipan and some toast. Some chalk and smoky flintstone. Very well balanced. Third time I have this and it’s only getting better.
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9/2/2017 - Puteljen! wrote: 92 Points
A new producer for me: Gaston Chiquet. This is the 2008 Special Club. Quite rich on both nose and palate with cream, almond and a touch of brioche. Gorgeous ripe fruit, but also refreshing notes of granny smith apples and lime. Fine mousse. A chalky minerality lingers underneath. Really a lovely wine, perfectly balanced. 70% C 30% PN
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8/30/2017 - acyso wrote: 90 Points
Raiding City Winery (Chicago, IL): This needs a lot of air to be accessible right now. It was tight, coiled, and not expressive at first. As it aired out in the glass, this started filling out on the palate as well (it was quite austere and thin to begin with). This shows a nice vein of crisp acidity and minerality, especially since the fruit isn't too fat here. It's mostly one of those white-hot wines, but the more important thing is that this needs a lot of time to settle.
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7/11/2017 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 92 Points
See note from 170902
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12/27/2016 - Vino Me wrote: 94 Points
Purchased for $60. Disgorged March 2016. 70% Chardonnay from Aÿ (Grand Cru) and 30% Pinot Noir from Mareuil (Premier Cru). Terry Theise called this the best Chiquet wine in the last 20 years. Drank this alongside the 2000 Chiquet Special Club. Pale straw color. Very lively and fresh with fine bubbles. Notes of lemon zest, chalk and brioche. Will probably show even better in another year or two. 94 points.
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12/26/2016 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Courtesy of VM. Bright apple fruit with limestone/mineral elements underneath. Fine bead. Flavors of green apple, citrus, almond and limestone. Bright and lively; youthful.
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10/18/2016 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
David White lead Champagne dinner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Complex nose displaying golden delicious, lemon, marzipan and brioche. Medium concentration, the fines mousse of the night, good freshness as well as richness, good acidity and a long rich finish. Very enjoyable.
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10/17/2016 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Light yellow color with abundant, steady, tiny bubbles; appealing, autolytic, almond cream nose; tasty, creamy textured, floaty, autolytic, almond cream palate; medium-plus finish 92+ points
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8/21/2016 - Frank Murray III wrote:
This was the finishing bottle of the 9 champagnes we tasted in the flight. However, like the Clouet 08 Brut, this bottle comes off a bit rich for me. My notes say a 'custard' note and also '7-Up', which in the US is a lemon-lime soda. Smooth drinker but too forward for me. And PS, I dislike these special club bottles--they are a real PITA to store. Have they always been made in this style?
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7/23/2016 - Mlermontov wrote: 91 Points
Riesling and Piedmont - Summer Throwdown; 7/23/2016-7/25/2016: Young. light nose of citrus and toast. mid is like biting into a fresh yellow apple. zesty back and finish. mouth-filling and refreshing.
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