2002 Champagne and Burgundy dinner with Eric

Eric was in town and David W organized an impromptu dinner. The theme was the 02 Champagne and Burgundy. Chez Billy Sud did a good job hosting us.

• 2002 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Excellent freshness and elegance. Fresh apple, a hint of brioche, strong presence of mineral and strong floral note. Fine mousse, airy yet decadent palate and very precise clean finish. It is very enjoyable but will improve at least for another decade adding denser yellow fruits, honey and sweet spices.

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• 2002 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 93 Points

  France, Champagne

  Much denser and riper than the CdC. Riche yellow pit fruit, also red fruits, honey and sweet spices. I didn’t notice much mineral presence. Fine mousse, sweet and sour yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and sweet deeply toned finish. This is a very rich and dense champagne. Not as good as the last bottle but still really nice.

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• 2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Mildly corked.

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• 2002 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Coeur de Cuvée 92 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  For me very interesting and unique champagne. Very ripe sweet fruits that reminds me Pieropan passito without sugar, sweet spices, brioche, toffee, sour candy and honey. Sweet and sour yellow pit fruit driven palate impression, good density, bright acidity and sweet and sour medium finish. Very enjoyable but pretty much ready to go. Not showing much precision.

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• 2002 François Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Chablis, Chablis 1er Cru

  Expressive nose displaying citrus fruits, oyster brine, butter, white flowers, spicy spices, delicate perfume and wet stone. Incredible purity and mineral expression, saline, very precise and linear. Incredibly enjoyable. This is why people get hooked on white Burgundy. Very consistent with the last bottle from a different source.

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• 2002 Domaine / Maison Vincent Girardin Corton-Charlemagne 93 Points

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

  This was a pleasant surprise. Initially a bit ripe and clumsy. It becomes fresher with air. Yellow pit fruits, lemon curd, honey, sweet spices, steel and mineral. Good concentration, masculine steely palate impression, yellow fruits, good acidity, mineral and medium finish. Very CC and really enjoyable. Not a bad idea to decant this wine.

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• 2002 Domaine Roulot Meursault Les Meix Chavaux 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Meursault

  Ripe candied fruit, custard and strong presence of mineral - more steel than limestone. Excellent concentration, dense yet youthful, sweet yellow fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, mineral and clean medium finish. Not terribly precise and a bit heavy due to dense and ripe fruit. Very good but not exceptional.

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• 2002 Domaine Joseph Roty Mazy-Chambertin 96 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru

  Expressive nose of fresh blackberries, raspberry jelly, cappuccino, a strong note of wild flowers, mineral and earth. Exceptional concentration, quite dense, opulent dark fruits, bright acidity and noticeable tannins. Some tasters thought the palate was a bit disjointed. For my palate, very impressive and on the right track as it displayed ample fruits and noticeable structure via bright acidity and strong presence of tannins. The nose is already very hedonistic but the palate could come together more with another five to ten years of cellaring. Lovely wine that I highly recommend.

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• 2002 La Pousse d'Or Volnay 1er Cru Clos des 60 Ouvrées 93 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Volnay 1er Cru

  Lovely red fruits, cherry dominates, sweet spices, a hint of caramel, mineral and earth. Very good concentration, round yet good precision due to mineral/earth presence, red fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, noticeable but nicely integrated tannins and very pretty clean finish that lingers. Very singular and pure, very Volnay.

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• 2001 Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru

  Intense ripe sweet red and black fruits, clove and other sweet spices, mushroom and earth. Excellent concentration, round and warm, sweet red fruit driven palate impression, good acidity, nicely integrated tannins and seamless finish with sweet spice as the end note. Definitely ready and more mature than all 02s. Drinking really nicely at the moment.

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• 2002 Domaine G. Roumier / Christophe Roumier Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Clos de La Bussière 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru

  Rousseau has Charmes Chambertin and Roumier has Clos de La Bussière. Very youthful tart red fruits, animal, a hint of sous bois and mushroom. Excellent concentration, sweet red fruits, earth, good acidity and nicely integrated tannins. For my palate, very Morey, ie very good concentration, masculine and straightforward. Still quite enjoyable. If this is a good representation, this will require another ten years of cellaring.

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• 2002 Nicolas Potel Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Gaudichots 92 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru

  Medium expressive nose of red and black fruits, blackberry, baking spice and earth. Good concentration, youthful red fruit driven palate impression, mineral and nicely integrated tannins. However, almost no resemblance to La Tache. Still a good wine.

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• 2002 Bouchard Père et Fils La Romanée 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, La Romanée Grand Cru

  Sweet dark fruits, blackberry, blackberry jelly, sap, strong floral note, a hint of vosne spice, tree bark and earth. Excellent concentration, crushed blackberry driven palate impression, good acidity and noticeable tannins. Not quite up to the level of Louis Michel’s but still very good. Still need another ten years of cellaring.

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Have a safe trip back Eric!