Surdyk's Holiday Champagne Tasting
Surdyk's, Mpls, MN
Tasted Thursday, December 5, 2013 by rocknroller with 758 views
Introduction
This was the annual holiday champagne tasting. There was a decent mix of domestic and French sparklers along with some very tasting appetizers.
Addendum- updated to include wines tasted on 12/12/13 as well.
Flight 1 - Tasted 12/5/13 (14 Notes)
Closing
Highlights were the '03 Dom and the Bollinger Special Cuvee.
12/12/13 highlight was the '05 Pierre Peters Chetillons
2003 Dom Pérignon Champagne 93 Points
France, Champagne
Light-medium gold color. Tasting pours. This was delightfully nutty with almonds and walnut mixed with distinct earth and minerality, followed by more subtle green orchard fruits. The palate had very nice depth and good acids with consistent notes from the nose. I found this nicely complex and refreshingly distinct. 93+pts.
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NV Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut 89 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. This was good, not quite as vibrant as bottles over the last couple years though. I believe these are fairly recent released bottles. Never bad, and sometimes can be quite rewarding.
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NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut 93 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. This was my other favorite of the night, equally wonderful, and quite different from the '03 Dom, with bright fruit, elegance, great acid and good energy. Certainly from a QPR standpoint this wins hands down. Outstanding stuff.
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NV Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial 90 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. This was a nice bottle. I definitely like this more now that they have toned down the RS significantly. More crisp and defined, apple, and mineral, yeast. Probably not on my go to list, but a good option at the right price (sub 35).
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NV Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier 90 Points
France, Champagne
Consistently good, bright, elegant, yeast, mineral, pear, clean. 90+ to 91 pts.
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2003 Roederer Estate L'Ermitage Brut 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Tasting pour x 2. This bottle was good, not great as it has been in the past. Might have been open for a bit. Just didn't quite have the depth and power of previous bottles. Could be time to move on these. 90+pts.
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NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Tasting pour. This bottle seemed a tad on the sweeter side, candied apple, straight forward. This has been better.
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NV Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Anderson Valley 90 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Tasting pour. Showing much better than the Brut this year, pear, apple, mineral, light berries. Probably the most consistent and best QPR domestic sparkling rose.
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NV Scharffenberger Brut 88 Points
USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
Tasting pour. No details, a nice dough note, a very solid sparkler year after year that drinks well beyond its price point.
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2010 Argyle Vintage Brut 87 Points
USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Tasting pour. This was an underwhelming bottle today, surprising for the 2010 vintage, and maybe it needs some time. This had more grapefruit and lychee on the nose and palate than typical, a little pear on the palate too. The 2009's are drinking much better.
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NV Domaine des Baumard Crémant de Loire Carte Turquoise 88 Points
France, Loire Valley, Crémant de Loire
Usually a solid and straddles the line between good domestic sparkling and Champagne. Sometimes it really hits nicely. This was pretty good. Fresh and crisp.
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NV Delamotte Champagne Brut 89 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour, no details. Solid, but there are some better values out there.
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NV Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Brut 92 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour x 2. Showing well with nice yeast, fresh, good body, bright, tart apple, pear, slight toast, medium plus finish. 91+ to 92pts.
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NV Taittinger Champagne Brut Réserve / La Française 91 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour x 2. This had a very nice elegance to it, a bit creamy, fresh, nice acid, pear, baked dough, citrus, medium plus finish.
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