Low-key Tasting Group does Champagne at Le Pichet

Maybe it is the nature of bubbles, but rather than focusing on scores and notes I found myself enjoying the wines, the food and the conversation much more than I usually let myself at a tasting. I have eaten at Le Pichet a few times before, but with a group of 6 and a large assortment of Champagne this was heaven. Everything we tried matched well with the wines: frisee and radish salad topped with sauteed duck liver, pork pate with Cornichons and mustard, freshly grilled sardines atop a light tomato-based sauce, a fantastic spread of salt cod and cheese, and the best roast chicken I have ever tasted, served atop a morel/pea/cream sauce and pappardelle. Wow, great food and an INSANE bargain! Even with a greater than 30% tip we spent only $45/person.

• 1997 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  What a fantastic wine to start with. This has really changed since December. A very fine mousse greets you along with an initial nose of faint yeast and nuts. The palate was nice but a bit reductive at first. However, with more air this got more and more interesting and was one of the nicest wines of the tasting.

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• 1997 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé Flawed

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  At first this blew the Larmandier-Bernier away with a very expressive nose showing lots of mineral. The palate was vibrant and complex. However, with aeration this fell apart and showed a more mushroomy character on the nose. No one thought this was corked, but it didn't seem right.

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• NV Gaston Chiquet Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d'Aÿ

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  This was my favorite wine of the night for sheer drinkability, although it will likely be outpaced by some of the other wines eventually. Gorgeous and etherereal, this was so light and precise, utterly effortless to drink. Every time I went to visit this glass this was empty. Impeccable balance and precision, a very pretty example.

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• 1988 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Vintage Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Both corked and oxidized.

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• NV Jacques Selosse Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  This is brawny and impressive but also not terribly pleasant to drink right now. Lots of charcoal and oak with aggressive carbonation. Judgment reserved.

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• NV Hugues Godmé Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  At first this took some getting used to, as the Blanc de Noirs style was clearly much heavier with more palate weight and intensity. However, this had a creaminess and intensity to it that made it hard not to like. Shawn referred to this as a "jacuzzi wine" and I understand why. Probably my 3rd favorite of the tasting.

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• 1985 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé Vintage

  France, Champagne

  This was much, much better than a bottle I tasted back in December. Strawberry with a hint of sherry on the nose. The palate is very nice, clearly aged, pleasant to sip. I don't usually love Rosé Champagne, but this is in a nice spot.

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• NV Laurent-Perrier Champagne Demi-Sec

  France, Champagne

  This was just too sweet, too weighty, fairly awkward. What does a Demi-Sec match well with?

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Thanks everyone for another enjoyable tasting!