Blind holiday Champagne Tasting at Brian's (with wives)
Chappaqua, NY
Tasted Saturday, December 3, 2011 by overhill with 761 views
Introduction
Brian and Dawn were the gracious hosts for our group's holiday Champagne blind tasting at their home in Chappaqua. Each person brought a bottle of vintage champagne and the host included a ringer bottle of NV. The food and company were amazing for this event and it was great to include our wives in the fun.
Flight 1 - Champagne blind tasting (7 Notes)
Backed-up by some amazing hors d'oeuvres we blind tasted seven champagnes and sparkling wines. We enjoyed a wonderful selection of cheeses and also bacon-wrapped dates and chestnuts
Flight 2 - Dinner (1 Note)
We brought the champagne to the dinner table and opened a bottle of 2005 Marcassin Three Sisters Chard. We started with a seasonal mushroom soup and then enjoyed herbed lobster rolls. The main course was rack of lamb with glazed carrots and creamed spinach. Amazing.
Flight 3 - Desert (1 Note)
As if we needed more, next came the flourless chocolate mousse with fresh raspberries.
2004 L. Aubry Fils Champagne Premier Cru Sable Rosé
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Initially not much on the nose but then opened after thirty minutes. Vibrant and very lush on the palette with a full blast of lemon and cantaloupe mousse. It fills the mouth and then finishes clean. This was the group's #4 with two people ranking this third out of seven.
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1996 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Saint-Vincent
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Yeasty nose, coarse bubbles, dried sour cherries. Long, mouth coating finish. I was extremely surprised to see this was a blanc de blanc since it seemed to have all of the markers of pinot based wine. This was the group's #3 (behind the '96 Krug and '00 Argyle Extended Tirage) with two people ranking it second out of seven.
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1996 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 94 Points
France, Champagne
Started very yeasty on the nose but became strawberries and honey after an hour. Zesty and acidic in the mouth with lemon, green apples, brioche, and crushed rock minerality. Austere for the first hour but then opened and became more plush. This wine had the finest and most layered bubbles which formed a delicate mousse on the palette. Structured to age. This was the group's #1 and it received four first place votes.
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2000 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Buttered popcorn, autumn fruits and yeast on the nose with a hint of oak. Lush and lively in the mouth with anjou pears, brioche, melon, and custard on a bed of relatively fine bubbles. Long creamy finish. Not nearly as dry as the others, one person described it as a bit slutty. All in balance and a definite crowd pleaser. Was in decline by the end of the night, so don't put it too deep in the cellar. Group's #2 out of seven (behind the '96 Krug) and it received two second place votes and one third place vote.
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2002 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année
France, Champagne
Sparkling apple cider, some thought this was a "ringer" bottle of Martinellis. Sweetness was almost too much and this had an undistinguished, relatively short finish. Maybe this will improve with time, but in this tasting it was universally ranked near the bottom.
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2002 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage Rosé
France, Champagne
Cherries and strawberries. Big mouthful of bubbles finishes long with a fine mousse of dark fruits. This was the group's #5 out of seven and received on third place vote.
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NV Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne Blue Top Brut
France, Champagne
This was the "ringer." The NV Heidsieck was slightly bready on the nose and had tart rhubarb and cherries in the mouth. Many guessed it was the ringer based on the rough bead.
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