Birthday Grower Bubbles

My place, Chicago IL
Tasted Sunday, May 19, 2013 by KeithAkers with 386 views

Introduction

After a crazy weekend, I needed to kick back with a few friends and drink some bubbles (along with plenty of beer). We convened at my place before several people went up to Northbrook for more bearserkerfest activities.

Flight 1 (7 Notes)

  • 2002 Marie-Noëlle Ledru Champagne Grand Cru Brut Nature 94 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Nose: Extremely complex and contemplative nose with tones of quince, roasted nuts, some oxidative tones, fresh white fruits, spices pears, and lemon zest. There is really good depth, and yet it feels like it's holding back a slight bit.

    Taste: Medium/full bodied with crisp medium/high acidity. The structure is very noticeable and shows off the youth of the wine. Behind the structure is a lot of complex and deep tones of roasted nuts, white fruits, white florals, quince, lemon zest, and some oxidative notes.

    Overall: This is easily one of the more unique Champagne experiences I've had. There is tons going on and it comes off as extremely young still.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2008 Marie-Noëlle Ledru Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée du Goulté Blanc de Noirs Brut 91 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Nose: Precise and fragrant nose of white fruits, peaches, acacia flowers, roasted nuts, and some brioche as well. There is nice depth to this, but it's wound a bit tight.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity. The structure is there, but it isn't overbearing. There are precise and balanced tones of white fruits, acaica flowers, brioche, and a touch of oxidative tones.

    Overall: This took a bit to open up, and it did so nicely. It didn't compete with the 02, but it was still a lovely champagne.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 R. & L. Legras Champagne Grand Cru Présidence Vieilles Vignes 89 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Nose: Nice and balanced nose with tones of bread, yeast, green apples, pears, and some baking spices. There is solid depth to this with a forward-ness to it as well.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium+ acidity. Well balanced with a classy feel and tones of bread, yeast, green apples, and baking spices. The feel is very good, but this is lacking a bit of depth that would really drive it.

    Overall: This was a very good champagne. It was well balanced with solid depth, but it was just lacking that extra bit.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2005 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons 91 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Nose: Nice and balanced with fresh and refined tones of pears, minerals, brioche, green apples, and some white florals as well. There is nice complexity and style to this along with solid depth.

    Taste: Medium bodied with crisp medium/high acidity. While there is nice structure, the feel is a bit thin, but with balanced tones of pears, minerals, white florals, and green apples.

    Overall: This bottle, while good, wasn't showing as well as a few months ago. Still, this showed real promise with very good balance as well. This will have to be a revisit in a few years.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1990 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne 92 Points

    France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru

    Nose: This needed a little bit to get going, but then gave way to balanced and mature tones of pain grille, custard, caramel apples, with some baking spices as well.

    Taste: Full bodied and very well balanced with very good medium acidity. there is a plushness to the feel with tones of pain grille, caramel apples, quince, and some custard tones as well.

    Overall: This needed a quick decant to open up. It was served slightly chilled as well and kept opening up with more air.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2006 José Michel & Fils Champagne Special Club 91 Points

    France, Champagne

    Nose: Aromatic nose right off the bat with fresh tones of bread, biscuits, green apples, minerals, crushed rocks, and white floral tones. There is nice depth to this with and expressive side as well.

    Taste: Medium bodied with medium/high acidity. The structure is fairly imposing and youthful. Beneath the structure are crisp tones of green apples, crushed rocks, white florals, bread, and minerals.

    Overall: This was a lovely young special club. This needs some time to fully come together and show what it really has.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV André Clouet Champagne Un jour de 1911... 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Nose: Rich and honeyed nose with balanced and fatter tones of honeycomb, sweet peaches, pears, nectarines, red apples, and some brioche tones. There is good complexity and layering on this, but it does seem to be holding back a slight bit.

    Taste: Full bodied with medium+ acidity. There is real good power to the feel with it being on the youthful side as well. Underneath the structure are layered tones of honeycomb, sweet peaches, pears, red apples, and brioche.

    Overall: I'm glad I finally got a chance with this. I've been wanting this for several years now and had to spring on a bottle when I saw it available. This is a very young champagne, but it's really damn good right now.

    Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Closing

I didn't include the beer notes, but there were some great beers open along with a lot of quality grower bubbles. This was the perfect laid back setting for what I wanted on my birthday.

×
×