Served blind. April 2015 disgorgement, so either this was held for sale over a few years or my friend held onto it for the same. Pear, lemon rind, leaner pineapple and stony. With air some peach and pear flesh pop through, along with cherries in the finish.
Second bottle this month of the June 2021 disgorgement. Served blind, and different from most of the other wines we had for our tasting, I was able to taste this bottle over 3 nights, so I got a real good look at it. On the first day, this showed golden apple, pears and mineral. And despite the sans dose, the wine still reflects plenty of texture. Mint and citrusy finish, along with some brown spice aroma. On the second day, a hint of caramel comes through the aroma. The structure has held up very well, with good presence driven by a cool beam of mineral and acid, along with a kick of ginger and lime zest. The pear has stuck around, helping to frame the balance of the wine. On the third day, with the last few ounces, the wine has really fleshed out and just drinks what I call 'delicious'. Of note, this bottle does not show the mango or green banana quality of the bottle from a few weeks ago.
My second of two bottles, and in candor, this one tastes as weird and kinda disappointing like the first one back in 2021. Burnish/salmon color, with blood orange, cinnamon and cedar. Universally around the table people just kinda scratched their heads at this wine. It just doesn't reflect any grace or verve, but just comes off with a strange expression.
Served blind. This showed me a distinctive aroma, what I first called reduction but later arrived at more of a smoky, barrique-driven toastiness. It's very present, even with air when I retasted it the following day. Pear, kumquat (kinda jammy), cut pineapple, green apple and structure. Richens up with air, showing some lime candy chew. On the second day, along with the enduring toasty aroma, there is a green apple/pear pastry tart, which reminds me of the Pop Tarts here in the US I ate as a kid. There is some heft in this wine, and for me it's a bigger, oak-driven style that is like a meal. Haven't had one of these in a while, appreciate Cris W sharing this with us.
Served blind. Bright and stern with citrus, lime zest, green apple. Finishes with a saline and dried raspberry note, both providing a clean kind of finish. Second bottle in the past month, this bottle was as good as the first.
Served blind. August 2021 disgorgement, base of 2019, made from Meunier and Chard. Faintly rose in color. Strawberry, orange citrus and nice inflection of spice. This is a fresh wine, lively and given the middle weight, I really enjoyed it.
Served blind. I have liked and rebought some of the Nowack wines but never got around to trying this one. Disgorged January 2021, 2 grams of dosage, Meunier and Chard, not sure of the base but had reserves from 2012-2017. Spicy and taught, with bitter citrus and a touch of cinnamon. Yellow apple, orange flesh, wet slate, light licorice and saline/drying finish.
Served bind. This seemed richer in style to me, more in the vein of 7-Up in taste, which I don't typically like to drink (that drink for sure, and wines that express that same essence). Pastry tart, candied apple, brown spice and apple pastry. Overall not my style.
First bottle of the batch I bought of the 2017. I knew the wine (as I provided it) but served it blind. September 2021 disgorgement, 100% Chard, no dosage. Juicy is what I have underscored in my notes. Green apple and lime. When I was tasting it, a sense popped into my awareness of the dessert from my childhood called 'orange creamsicle'. As this warmed up some more in the bottle, it showed a purity, good length and what to me drank really well. Not as structured as the 2014 or 2016.
Served blind from my cellar. Like the bottle we had last month (also blind), there is no disgorgement etching to be found. I do know this is Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc from Vertus, too. Last month's bottle was a bit of a let down, not bad but didn't wow me as I had wanted it to. Yet, the bottle from this past weekend to me showed a bit better than last month's. Peach colored. Red apple, crushed berry, mashed apple, stone fruit (I had this underscored in my notes) and a finish of limey citrus. Delicate in style. I did hang onto the bottle and tasted over three days, too. It didn't hold up to the third day, and like the bottle from last month, I just feel like this vintage is missing a gear.
Served blind. Disgorged March 2021, with 1.5 grams of dosage. Concentrated with a floral character, what I listed as lavender in my notes, although Ramon called out 'jasmine' which I thought was an ever better core descriptor. Creamy too. I should have given this another pour later in the day but never got around to it so my notes here aren't great.
January 2018 disgorgement, from the bottles sourced from B-21 last Fall. The usual 80/20 Chard/Pinot Noir for those who may not know the composition. Kumquat, golden apple, apricot and lime. Finishes with a chalky, tense presence with orange jam/lime. Saved the remainder and enjoyed over two additional days. The wine remained fresh and zesty with green apple, lime and tangerine. Best way I can describe it is from my third day note which says 'concentrated'. There is just a zesty tang that marries to the concentration, creating a long finish. I really like the 2013 Vilmart cuvees, and for those who either don't know the wine well, or have been thinking you want to try it, go grab some of this 2013 GCdO while it is still around. You get 10 years of age already achieved, for a wine that has no signs of reaching its ascent yet.
NV Savart Champagne Premier Cru l'Ouverture Brut
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Served blind. April 2015 disgorgement, so either this was held for sale over a few years or my friend held onto it for the same. Pear, lemon rind, leaner pineapple and stony. With air some peach and pear flesh pop through, along with cherries in the finish.
Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Terre de Vertus
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Second bottle this month of the June 2021 disgorgement. Served blind, and different from most of the other wines we had for our tasting, I was able to taste this bottle over 3 nights, so I got a real good look at it. On the first day, this showed golden apple, pears and mineral. And despite the sans dose, the wine still reflects plenty of texture. Mint and citrusy finish, along with some brown spice aroma. On the second day, a hint of caramel comes through the aroma. The structure has held up very well, with good presence driven by a cool beam of mineral and acid, along with a kick of ginger and lime zest. The pear has stuck around, helping to frame the balance of the wine. On the third day, with the last few ounces, the wine has really fleshed out and just drinks what I call 'delicious'. Of note, this bottle does not show the mango or green banana quality of the bottle from a few weeks ago.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 Déhu Père & Fils Champagne Cuvée La Rue des Noyers Extra Brut Rosé de Saignée
France, Champagne
My second of two bottles, and in candor, this one tastes as weird and kinda disappointing like the first one back in 2021. Burnish/salmon color, with blood orange, cinnamon and cedar. Universally around the table people just kinda scratched their heads at this wine. It just doesn't reflect any grace or verve, but just comes off with a strange expression.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2002 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare
France, Champagne
Served blind. This showed me a distinctive aroma, what I first called reduction but later arrived at more of a smoky, barrique-driven toastiness. It's very present, even with air when I retasted it the following day. Pear, kumquat (kinda jammy), cut pineapple, green apple and structure. Richens up with air, showing some lime candy chew. On the second day, along with the enduring toasty aroma, there is a green apple/pear pastry tart, which reminds me of the Pop Tarts here in the US I ate as a kid. There is some heft in this wine, and for me it's a bigger, oak-driven style that is like a meal. Haven't had one of these in a while, appreciate Cris W sharing this with us.
Read 2 Comments / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2015 Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Nature Cuvée Starck
France, Champagne
Served blind. Bright and stern with citrus, lime zest, green apple. Finishes with a saline and dried raspberry note, both providing a clean kind of finish. Second bottle in the past month, this bottle was as good as the first.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
NV Dehours Champagne Œil de Perdrix Extra Brut
France, Champagne
Served blind. August 2021 disgorgement, base of 2019, made from Meunier and Chard. Faintly rose in color. Strawberry, orange citrus and nice inflection of spice. This is a fresh wine, lively and given the middle weight, I really enjoyed it.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
NV Domaine Nowack Champagne Assemblage SA
France, Champagne
Served blind. I have liked and rebought some of the Nowack wines but never got around to trying this one. Disgorged January 2021, 2 grams of dosage, Meunier and Chard, not sure of the base but had reserves from 2012-2017. Spicy and taught, with bitter citrus and a touch of cinnamon. Yellow apple, orange flesh, wet slate, light licorice and saline/drying finish.
Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
NV Fallet-Gourron Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Served bind. This seemed richer in style to me, more in the vein of 7-Up in taste, which I don't typically like to drink (that drink for sure, and wines that express that same essence). Pastry tart, candied apple, brown spice and apple pastry. Overall not my style.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2017 Marie Courtin Champagne Eloquence Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
France, Champagne
First bottle of the batch I bought of the 2017. I knew the wine (as I provided it) but served it blind. September 2021 disgorgement, 100% Chard, no dosage. Juicy is what I have underscored in my notes. Green apple and lime. When I was tasting it, a sense popped into my awareness of the dessert from my childhood called 'orange creamsicle'. As this warmed up some more in the bottle, it showed a purity, good length and what to me drank really well. Not as structured as the 2014 or 2016.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2014 Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Rosé de Maturation
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Served blind from my cellar. Like the bottle we had last month (also blind), there is no disgorgement etching to be found. I do know this is Pinot Noir and Pinot Blanc from Vertus, too. Last month's bottle was a bit of a let down, not bad but didn't wow me as I had wanted it to. Yet, the bottle from this past weekend to me showed a bit better than last month's. Peach colored. Red apple, crushed berry, mashed apple, stone fruit (I had this underscored in my notes) and a finish of limey citrus. Delicate in style. I did hang onto the bottle and tasted over three days, too. It didn't hold up to the third day, and like the bottle from last month, I just feel like this vintage is missing a gear.
Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue
2012 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Brut Millésimé
France, Champagne
Served non-blind. Polished, refined style, good density.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2018 Elise Bougy Champagne Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Chetillon de Haut
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Served blind. Disgorged March 2021, with 1.5 grams of dosage. Concentrated with a floral character, what I listed as lavender in my notes, although Ramon called out 'jasmine' which I thought was an ever better core descriptor. Creamy too. I should have given this another pour later in the day but never got around to it so my notes here aren't great.
Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue
2013 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier d'Or
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
January 2018 disgorgement, from the bottles sourced from B-21 last Fall. The usual 80/20 Chard/Pinot Noir for those who may not know the composition. Kumquat, golden apple, apricot and lime. Finishes with a chalky, tense presence with orange jam/lime. Saved the remainder and enjoyed over two additional days. The wine remained fresh and zesty with green apple, lime and tangerine. Best way I can describe it is from my third day note which says 'concentrated'. There is just a zesty tang that marries to the concentration, creating a long finish. I really like the 2013 Vilmart cuvees, and for those who either don't know the wine well, or have been thinking you want to try it, go grab some of this 2013 GCdO while it is still around. You get 10 years of age already achieved, for a wine that has no signs of reaching its ascent yet.
Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue