A Champagne tasting (and a Sherry)

Last night, my tasting group met to try to find some Champagnes for the upcoming holiday season. For the most part, we are looking for values and the price limit was $65. The wines were served blind and consumed over a couple of hours. Breads and cheeses were served. In general, this is a price point that delivers for Champagne. Nothing rocked our world, but there were plenty worth drinking IMO.

• NV Emilio Lustau Jerez-Xérès-Sherry Palo Cortado Peninsula 89 Points

  Spain, Andalucía, Jerez-Xérès-Sherry

  Iced tea in color. The nose is gorgeous with caramel and nuts and a hint of citrus rind. Medium bodied. On the palate, this is different. Dry. Slightly nutty. The flavors intensify as it gets closer to the finish. Long nutty finish. There is some alcohol on the finish. Worked better with nuts and dates and Manchego cheese than on its own. Still, I thought an interesting starter for a Champagne tasting.

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• 2000 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé Flawed

  France, Champagne

  On opening, there was no pop. The bottom part of the cork was soaked but there was no expansion at all. No mousse on pouring although there were slight bubbles in the glass. The wine was oxidized. Shot. Was this a cork failure or a storage failure?

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• NV Champagne Lallier Champagne Grand Cru Grande Réserve 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  OK, this was one of the least expensive wines in the tasting. A run away winner as WOTN with 5 first place votes, 2 seconds and a fifth. Just lucky? I don't know, but this was great. Light gold in color. The nose is really nice with green apples, some ginger. On the palate, great acidity. Quince and limes. Layered. A long finish. For about $35, this wine rocked.

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• NV Pol Roger Champagne Brut Réserve 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Another wine that performed above expectations. The #2 WOTN. Light gold in color. Nice ginger ale notes on the nose. Much softer in texture. Less acidity. Light cherry flavors with some light oranges. A mineral sort of background. Long finish. Very easy to drink.

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• 2011 Roses de Jeanne / Cédric Bouchard Champagne Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  I had higher hoped for this one. I am a big fan of Bouchard, and this was outstanding, but at $65, there isn't the value here. Light silvery gray in color. The nose has a seltzer quality to it, which is not bad but more mineral and less fruit. On the palate, quite frothy. Seltzer and lime flavors. Slightly clipped finish.

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• NV Moutard Père et Fils Champagne Brut 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  Light copper gold in color. Not much of a nose. A bit of ginger. On the palate, tart red apples. Nice finish. A very nice Champagne and for $36, it is pleasant if not outstanding.

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• NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut 91 Points

  France, Champagne

  Always a nice wine for my tastes. Medium gold in color. The nose is big. Toasty with limes and some orange. Frothy. Young on the palate. Very nice. Orange rinds with some lime and seltzer. Long finish. The biggest wine on the table.

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• NV Gosset Champagne Brut Excellence 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  Golden in color. The nose is big, toasty with seltzer. Big and fruity to drink, but not much complexity. Still, there is so much fruit here, it makes it interesting. Nice finish.

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• NV Pierre Moncuit Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Pierre Moncuit-Delos Blanc de Blancs Brut 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Light gold in color. The nose has a Vernor's soda pop aroma (a bit like ginger ale). Complex on the palate, but there is also this tutti-frutti gum flavor that makes it seem cheap. Overall though, this is very nice with enough acidity to support the fruit.

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