Fried Chicken and Champagne Event

Leslie Fisher generously opened her lovely home to everyone on a fine Saturday afternoon. There was an ample amount of fried chicken (Popeye's, Korean fried chicken, Raising Cane's, etc.) and even more Champagnes. After a tour of her stunning home cellar, a few of us (namely, Charlie's friends) opened some Burgs and other special wines. What a special and unforgettable time.

• NV Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut 93 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  I was really impressed with this wine’s showing (2012 blend). My previous bottle in August offered a completely different experience. That bottle was tightly coiled and only fairly expressive towards the end, but it was still crisp and elegant.
  
  This bottle had a white Burg feel to it, making it unlike all the other Champagnes I had that evening. It had a moderately smoky nose, but had a very crisp, balanced, and energetic body with lean notes of white fruit and lemon. It was just drinking beautifully and really left this signature expression that resonated with me.
  
  If all Vilmart GC bottles were like this, I’d buy cases.

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• 2012 Famille Moussé Champagne Terre d'illite Blanc de Noirs 87 Points

  France, Champagne

  Perhaps I loved Mousse’s Rosé too much and I came in with too many expectations, but this bottle just didn’t do it for me. There wasn’t much funk (at least, compared to what I’d expect) and while the body was fairly rich with that salinity I love with Mousse, it just wasn’t anything special. This bottle was fairly pedestrian in the sea of Champagnes we had. Disappointing, I had much higher hopes for this, especially given the praised vintage.

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• 1990 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon 92 Points

  France, Champagne

  Fairly oxidized honeyed and nutty notes. It was a bit tired on the palate, but still had that creamy and hazelnut flair that I love in aged Champagne. Wish we could have let this get some more air and come alive more. It was gone within minutes, if that.

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• 1990 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année Flawed

  France, Champagne

  Oxidized, dull, and flatfooted. I’m not convinced this would have been a moving bottle, even if it were healthy.
  
  My bad luck with Bollinger continues... :(

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• 1988 Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé La Grande Dame 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  A bit oxidized, but damn, I LOVE aged Grand Dames. This was just insanely sharp and candied on the palate with a unique nose that was a bit too nutty for comfort. However, this wine just really performs and you can tell that if it’s in peak condition, it’ll be an absolute show stopper and easy candidate for WOTN.
  
  Aged Grand Dames are really something special. Damn.

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• 2002 Pol Roger Champagne Vintage Brut 87 Points

  France, Champagne

  I like it, but this bottle of 2002 is still drinking so young. Was this stored in a fridge? That’s how it seemed.
  
  It has some signature Pol Roger characteristics, but it just didn’t have the energy, concentration, depth, complexity, or nuance of the other 2002 Champagnes I’ve had. It was fairly weak, really. Not sure how much upside this bottle has, but if you have any, I certainly wouldn’t open any for several years. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

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• 2006 Paul Bara Champagne Grand Cru Comtesse Marie de France 88 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  This was completely overshadowed by other Champagnes of the night. For $80, this did not leave a single memorable note. It had great balance, but at this price point, you'd expect that. Unfortunately, I don't sing praises for this bottle the way previous scorers have. It just lacked distinction. Wish I used the money elsewhere this.
  
  The $50 NV Vilmart Grand Cellier (2012 base) I also brought was immeasurably better, much to my surprise-- I gave it 93 points.

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• 2008 Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanée 94 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Vosne-Romanée

  Wow. What a marvelous wine.
  
  Just pure elegance and grace. You get those high toned red fruits on the palate with classic Vosne spice. It’s drinking so well with this seemingly effortless balance and a long finish. The complexity and purity is just so compelling. What a bottle. So memorable.

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• 2016 Clos Saint Joseph Syrah Côtes de Provence 93 Points

  France, Provence, Côtes de Provence

  Now this is a Syrah I can get behind. I had no clue about this wine coming in, but damn, was it special. Completely unlike anything I was expecting.
  
  An absolutely lovely and alluring color of inky purple. It was just pure elegance on the nose. Wondrous, sultry aromas of strawberry and pure, luscious red fruit on the nose with this rich, joyful, and velvety mouthfeel. It tasted so approachable and so resolved for a wine so young. This is what drinking wine is all about-- finding that one special wine that just gives you some kind of paradigm shift and/or ethereal pleasure.
  
  What a find. Big ups to Ryan at Golden 8 Wines for discovering this beauty.

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• 2016 Domaine Dujac Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières 95 Points

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru

  Holy smokes, this wine is insanely great. Instantly, you know you’re drinking world-class white Burg at the highest levels.
  
  This was such a layered, precise, and energetic wine that had tons of lemon, lilies, white fruit, and lasered minerality. Crazy length and compelling flavors that just make you imagine what a beast this wine will be with some cellaring.
  
  A real wow experience.

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• 2011 Alain Hudelot-Noëllat Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots 92 Points

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

  A fantastic bottle that was overshadowed by the 2008 Mugneret-Gibourg, but Hudelot-Noellat still never disappoints.
  
  Still quite primary with a heavier body than the Gibourg and less Vosne spice coming through, but still enough going on to give you a sense of place. Lovely bottle. I’d love to revisit this years down the line.

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• 2016 Walter Scott Chardonnay Freedom Hill Vineyard 93 Points

  USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

  Bottle #22 out of 30 ever released, magnum format.
  
  This is as close to white Burg as it gets with domestic producers. You get that matchstick on the nose with this laser-like precision on the palate that immediately takes you to old world France.
  
  I’m sold. Walter Scott is legit.

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I was unable to make a tasting note for every Champagne and wine (I had way more than the 12 shown here), but there were some very clear highlights.

My favorite Champagne: 1988 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Rosé

My favorite red wine: 2008 Mugneret-Gibourg Vosne-Romanée

My favorite white wine: 2016 Dujac Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières