Fete de Champagne Grand Tasting

Astor Center, NYC.
Tasted Saturday, October 18, 2014 by Seth Rosenberg with 763 views

Flight 1 - Delamotte and Salon table (3 Notes)

  • NV Delamotte Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 90 Points

    France, Champagne

    Green apple, yeast, minerals on the nose. This has bright acid and a rough assertive mousse on the palate with green apple, lemon and yeast. Nose - 4.5/6, Palate - 4.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 15/20.

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

  • 2004 Delamotte Champagne Blanc de Blancs Millésimé 91 Points

    France, Champagne

    Stony on the nose with lemon - powdered and chalky. Similar on palate with minerals and chalk, green apple and lemon. More lean and cut than the NV. Nose - 4.5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 15.5/20.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    Taste #1: Very tight - complex nose, sharp, lemon, stones, steel and flint, some bread, a bit of vanilla creme or malt. Gripping on the palate with pear, lemon, steel. This is clearly very young and only showing a fraction of what it has. It seems somewhat small, almost elegant, but one can feel it humming beneath the surface. Forceful, yet focused. Very good, not great. Definitely not great QPR. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 17-17.5/20.

    (Taste #2 - at the end of the day: Light, malt, lemon, spice. Very light but one can see it goes deep. Lean and cut with lemon, spice, great nerve. But again, not super wow. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5/6, Finish - 5.5+/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.)

    Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 2 - Selosse table (4 Notes)

  • NV Jacques Selosse Initial 96 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Disgorged 12-23-13, a blend of wine from 02, 03, and 04. 1.5% dosage. Classic Selosse nose - pears, lemon peel, cidery - ox, minerals, chalk, spicy, soaring, green apple, pear. Huge and gripping on the palate with apple, pear, spice, chalk, and a touch of vanilla. Great showing for the Inital. Better, IMO, than the 02 Salon I just had before this. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 18/20.

    Read 2 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 95 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    (Forgot to write down the disgorgement date, but this is a blend of 02, 03, and 04, just like the Inital. No dosage and one year longer in barrel than the Initial.) Really cut on the nose - lemon, flint, minerals, ox, cidery, deep, yellow-brown flavors, spice, pear. Huge grip on the palate: lemony, spice, minerals, very sharp and explosive. This is more focused and laser-like than the Inital, but not as complex. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Lieux-dits Extra Brut Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Les Carelles 95 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Disgorged 4-10-13. (Solera - the Lieu-dit from Mesnil). Light nose - hugely spicy, minerally, lemon, almonds, ox. More supple on the palate and velvety (then the previous 2 Selosse wines) with textural folds, spice, cream, brown, lemon. More ox shows on end. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2002 Jacques Selosse Millésimé 98 Points

    France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

    Another chance to taste this? Hell yes. Quiet and deep and creamy. Golden apple, cider - ox, nuts. Not as explosive at the Initiale or the V.O. but soooooo deep. Really singing. The bottle in Chicago was amazing, but very brutal in its power and youth. This bottle is singing - almost sweet. Large on the palate - cidery and apples but with great drive, minerals and chalk. Actually showing fairly well and open. This tastes like golden power - rich and full of flavor, but energetic, acidic, and alive. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 6/6, Finish - 6/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5-2/2 = 19-19.5/20.

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

Flight 3 - Agrapart table (4 Notes)

Flight 4 - Pierre Peters table (1 Note)

Flight 5 - Krug table (4 Notes)

  • 2003 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 88 Points

    France, Champagne

    Sweet on the nose with honey, nuts, flowers, more honey and brioche. Lemony acid on the palate. A little stark. Some nuts. Not impressive. Not a fan of 03 Champagne at all. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 4/6, Finish - 4/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 14/20.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 2000 Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    Now we are talking. Malty, lemon, flowers and sweet bread on the nose. Just great. Spicy and lemony on the palate, sweet bread, malt balls, light but good intensity. Very pretty and 2 steps up from the 03. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.

    Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    ID #421044: disgorged Autumn 2012. Big and powerful nose - spicy, bread, sweet. Just great on the palate: spicy, malt, ox, flowers, flint. Delicious. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5/20.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • NV Krug Champagne Brut Rosé 94 Points

    France, Champagne

    Tight red berries and spice, yeast - long and focused nose. Very berry and bready on the palate with good minerals. Tight mousse. Finish drops off a bit. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 4.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17/20.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 6 - Philipponnat table (2 Notes)

Flight 7 - Pol Roger table (4 Notes)

  • NV Pol Roger Champagne Brut Réserve 90 Points

    France, Champagne

    Flint and stone on the nose, lemon and ginger. Nice bread and sweetness on the palate, spicy and young, clear and tight. Good for NV bubbly. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 4.5/6, Finish - 4.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 15/20.

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

  • 2004 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Tight and lean on the nose with minerals and lemon. Very focused on the palate: wicked and tight with lemon and spice - just delicious. Sweet pear, spice, ginger finish. I really like the 04's, but they may not be for everyone. Nose - 5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16.5-17/20.

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

  • 2006 Pol Roger Champagne Brut Rosé

    France, Champagne

    Young and tight. Creamy red berries and flowers. Steely. Didn't get a complete note.

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

  • 2002 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 95 Points

    France, Champagne

    This wine had one of the most distinctive noses of the day: deep, perfumed, nutty - creamy-herbal? something like soap, lavender or marzipan. Sweet pear, big, rich, good acid, lemon, stones. Very young on the palate with an assertive mousse - huge. Lemon, herbs, spice. The finish is big and long with lemon, ginger, minerals and a touch of sweet malt. Excellent with superb potential. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5-5.5+/6, Finish - 5+/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5-18/20.

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Flight 8 - Moet & Chandon table (2 Notes)

  • 2004 Dom Pérignon Champagne 93 Points

    France, Champagne

    Very DP on the nose: malt balls, vanilla, lemon, creamy, sea spray. Very tight on the palate - lemon, minerals. This needs time. Some malt hiding in the lemony finish. I really like the 04 Champagnes. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 4.5+/6, Finish - 5+/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 16.5+/20 (with 17.5/20 potential.)

    Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

  • 1998 Dom Pérignon Champagne P2 90 Points

    France, Champagne

    Very complex on the nose - just great with malt, vanilla, lemon, apple, sea spray and minerals. However, the palate doesn't match the nose - it's very wound, but also somewhat dumb and feels harsh and bony - bitter lemon, stone, but not in balance. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 4.5/6, Finish - 4/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1/2 = 15/20.

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

Flight 9 - Chartogne-Taillet table (4 Notes)

Flight 10 - Roederer table (1 Note)

  • 2002 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 91 Points

    France, Champagne

    Creamy nose of vanilla, nutty - marzipan. Can really smell the Pinot Noir here. Creamy and rich on the palate - spicy, but not all that impressive. Bitter, spice and lemon finish. No detailed scores, but in the 15-16/20 range.

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

Flight 11 - Bereche table (2 Notes)

×
×