Opened 4 hours prior to pouring. Ruby without lightening. Ripe blackberry and smoky aroma. Full, solid, chocolatey, and fruit driven compared to the 2 older vintages. Sappy but not heavy at all, a touch of green, excellent acidity, ripe tannins. How can I put this? Ripe for its time, but tame and elegant in today's terms. Monolithic and not ready-give it another 5 years anyway. On the second night, lacier, more herbal aromatics.
Opened 4 hours prior to pouring. About the same shade of ruby as the '99. This is much more developed with beautiful high toned perfume. Amazingly supple and perfect middle weight. More red fruited than the '99, a squeeze of citrus, leather and other savory bits, mint, fine acidity, and a long, gentle finish. This is the epitome of the Chave style-subtle, complex, and understated. An absolute beauty that made me swoon and far outshone the more heralded 1999. This lost some fruit and texture overnight, suggesting it may be pretty close to its apogee.
Opened 4 hours prior to pouring. A shade lighter than either the '99 or '98. Much more menthol aromatic profile. Thinner and lighter than the other 2 vintages. Oddly confected red fruit, higher acidity, dominant green and mineral notes. Largely the same as it was 2 years ago, this has nowhere to go but downhill. Pretty clearly the third place wine in this group of 3 consecutive vintages. Still very, very good, but likely to attenuate fairly quickly.
Golden. Heavenly botrytized, tropical fruit nose. Sweet, full, great acidity and length. A stupendous dessert wine in full bloom. Held up beautifully overnight.
A pleasure to open one of the half bottles purchased a few weeks ago. Light golden. Huge nose of sweet citrus and some petrol. Concentrated but lively and playful due to strong acidity. Great fruit and spice. This acquitted itself really well even though it followed an older, great late harvest Foreau. Even better the next night.
2006 J. Lassalle Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Really good, elegant Blanc de Blancs. Light, lemony, off dry.
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2006 Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Full, energetic, dry, yeasty. Tart apple and ginger flavors. Excellent and still taut and fresh the next day.
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