The second of 4 magnums from the Zachy's auction in June 2021. Deep golden color with tiny bubbles gliding to the surface. Somewhat restrained on the nose at first. Within a 1/2 hour, a beautiful nose of grapefruit, brioche with a just a hint of mushroom emerges. Still amazingly fresh with plenty of life ahead. I purchased many bottles of the '90 Champagne vintage on release including a case of the "2000 Millenium Selection" Brut, which was fantastic. While delicious young, many '90 Champagnes have not stood the test of time in my opinion (e.g., 1990 Cristal was fabulous circa 1999, but not so much by 2010). In contrast, this wine has only gotten better with age. Looking forward to comparing my next bottle to a magnum of '96 Cuvée Winston Churchill.
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What treat a deep golden color with a soft bead. A wonderful balance. Elegant and very light on its feet. Notes of mushroom and almonds. Seemless and lasting finish. I better understand the " broad" quality they strive for in their wines. This bottle was appropriate as it was in honor of jeffs bday and Chris's anniversary of stopping smoking
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Opened by Mark from magnum. Disgorged in 1999. Clear yellow color. Herbally mushroom nose. This had a nice grip to it. Notes of vanilla, hazelnut , green apple and peaches with a creamy finish. Full bodied and lush. Very coherent and deep. Drinking well but will continue to show well. 96 points
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IWFSC 800th Dinner (The Raquet Club): Out of magnum to celebrate the societies 800th dinner. Great clean color, good nose, some citrus, lasting special.
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Celebrating Christine's birthday- with pics. (Christine's): From magnum, it's a deep gold color, darker than I would've expected. Apples and intense nuttiness dominate the nose and palate, with a bit of yeastiness on the back. Ripe, but with good acidity. The bead is just a bit more lively than I prefer and overall I find the nutty character too dominant. B+.
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30th Birthday Bash at Bern's Steak House (Bern's Steak House, Tampa, FL): My first ever vintage Champagne, and it did not disappoint. First of all, the bottle is pretty bad a$$; a big black magnum with gold etching. The wine itself had aromas of white chocolate mousse, lemon rind, wet stone, and some baked apple pie crust. The palate was full of so much life for a 21-yo sparkler. I got a lot of distinct citrus flavors from the palate. The finish was quite long, pushing nearly a minute, indicative of the excellent acidity that buttressed the flavors suggested by the nose and palate. Truly a wonderful wine. If I was scoring, 92-95, though I have -0- frame of reference for vintage Champagne.
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Who dumped a cup of expresso in this champagne? Bill Hebrank contributed this magnum to the Gardiner's NYE party. Bizarre yet compelling. Medium gold, faint mousse which died quickly. But the champagne is massively powerful, deep and impressive. Behind the coffee is some brown apple and toffee. It seems like a wine from the '60s - or a solera. Almost sweet from the intensity of fruit. Idiosyncratic and hard to score; you either like its originality or you hate it.
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IWFSC 738th Dinner (Ritz Carleton): Another great showing for this champagne from mag. Surprisingly youthful next to the 90 Bollinger I had a few days earlier - plenty of life left here.
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4/7/2023 - FreddieMoose Likes this wine: 95 Points
The second of 4 magnums from the Zachy's auction in June 2021. Deep golden color with tiny bubbles gliding to the surface. Somewhat restrained on the nose at first. Within a 1/2 hour, a beautiful nose of grapefruit, brioche with a just a hint of mushroom emerges. Still amazingly fresh with plenty of life ahead. I purchased many bottles of the '90 Champagne vintage on release including a case of the "2000 Millenium Selection" Brut, which was fantastic. While delicious young, many '90 Champagnes have not stood the test of time in my opinion (e.g., 1990 Cristal was fabulous circa 1999, but not so much by 2010). In contrast, this wine has only gotten better with age. Looking forward to comparing my next bottle to a magnum of '96 Cuvée Winston Churchill.
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5/12/2018 - starkravingmad Likes this wine: 99 Points
May 12 Wine Tasting among ~30 people. Smooth, Pleasing; Woody / flavorful; "Beautiful like a woman"
favorite.
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5/23/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Lovely. Enjoyed by all. A bit short finish but do what ? Pinot is focus here.
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3/21/2015 - mnoljo wrote: 95 Points
What treat a deep golden color with a soft bead. A wonderful balance. Elegant and very light on its feet. Notes of mushroom and almonds. Seemless and lasting finish. I better understand the " broad" quality they strive for in their wines. This bottle was appropriate as it was in honor of jeffs bday and Chris's anniversary of stopping smoking
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3/20/2015 - Vino Me wrote: 96 Points
Opened by Mark from magnum. Disgorged in 1999. Clear yellow color. Herbally mushroom nose. This had a nice grip to it. Notes of vanilla, hazelnut , green apple and peaches with a creamy finish. Full bodied and lush. Very coherent and deep. Drinking well but will continue to show well. 96 points
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12/9/2014 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 93 Points
IWFSC 800th Dinner (The Raquet Club): Out of magnum to celebrate the societies 800th dinner. Great clean color, good nose, some citrus, lasting special.
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12/16/2011 - BradKNYC wrote:
Celebrating Christine's birthday- with pics. (Christine's): From magnum, it's a deep gold color, darker than I would've expected. Apples and intense nuttiness dominate the nose and palate, with a bit of yeastiness on the back. Ripe, but with good acidity. The bead is just a bit more lively than I prefer and overall I find the nutty character too dominant. B+.
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6/4/2011 - caeleric Likes this wine:
30th Birthday Bash at Bern's Steak House (Bern's Steak House, Tampa, FL): My first ever vintage Champagne, and it did not disappoint. First of all, the bottle is pretty bad a$$; a big black magnum with gold etching. The wine itself had aromas of white chocolate mousse, lemon rind, wet stone, and some baked apple pie crust. The palate was full of so much life for a 21-yo sparkler. I got a lot of distinct citrus flavors from the palate. The finish was quite long, pushing nearly a minute, indicative of the excellent acidity that buttressed the flavors suggested by the nose and palate. Truly a wonderful wine. If I was scoring, 92-95, though I have -0- frame of reference for vintage Champagne.
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8/17/2010 - spacewrangler wrote: 94 Points
Gorgeous wine, still quite young, with fleshy pear skin and mushroom funk I often get in Pol Roger's with pinot in the blend.
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12/31/2009 - sdr wrote: 93 Points
Who dumped a cup of expresso in this champagne? Bill Hebrank contributed this magnum to the Gardiner's NYE party. Bizarre yet compelling. Medium gold, faint mousse which died quickly. But the champagne is massively powerful, deep and impressive. Behind the coffee is some brown apple and toffee. It seems like a wine from the '60s - or a solera. Almost sweet from the intensity of fruit. Idiosyncratic and hard to score; you either like its originality or you hate it.
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10/14/2008 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
IWFSC 738th Dinner (Ritz Carleton): Another great showing for this champagne from mag. Surprisingly youthful next to the 90 Bollinger I had a few days earlier - plenty of life left here.
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2/12/2008 - winefool wrote: 94 Points
IWFSC 732nd Dinner (Primehouse): (from mag) Incredible rich toasty yeasty yellow fruit with a long finish.
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