New Years Day: Vrai Champagne, Seventh Annual Edition
Brad & Marcia's Place, St. Paul, MN
Tasted Monday, January 1, 2024 by rocknroller with 60 views
Introduction
This is always a great way to kick off the year and actually is always one of the highlight tastings of the year as well. We had around 30 people with an elevated group of fun Chamapgnes this year. The food is always fantastic, so it is a great party. Thanks to Brad and Marcia for doing this every year and to everyone else for their wonderful contributions. The enotes as always are short, choppy, and from memory only as I don;t take notes at this. Doesn't help when you don't have time to right them for 3 weeks either, but here you go.
2009 Penet-Chardonnet Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Coline & Candice Verzy 92 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Small tasting pour. Brief note: Never had this producer which is always fun. Lively and bright, laser minerality and acid, but not too brisk, pear, fine chalk. 92+pts. As others noted, would love to have more to examine.
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NV Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Les Parcelles 91 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Small pour. Consistent with my note form November. Solid.
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NV Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Rosé Extra Brut Les Terres Roses 90 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Pretty consistent with previous bottles. A bit funky, mushroom, underripe berries, minerally
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2000 Lanson Champagne Noble Cuvée de Lanson Brut 93 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. Happy to see this make another appearance this year and to drink with the 2002 BdB as well. This is still spot on, and might be better than last years bottle. Lemon, toast, balanced, toffee, hazelnut, toasty, almost no oxidative notes. 93+pts.
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2002 Lanson Champagne Noble Cuvée de Lanson Blanc de Blancs Brut 94 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. Had this back in late September when we brought a bottle to The Strand at Lutsen. That bottle was brilliant and this was right there with it. Classy, elegant, dulche de leche, caramel creme, pear, toasted, lemon paste, limestone. Great.
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2006 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Rare 95 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. First time with the '06 and it is everything you'd expect, deep and intense, bright orchard fruit, toasty and evocotive. I'm all in.
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2002 José Michel & Fils Champagne Brut Millésimé 90 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. I hadn't had this in years. I like the Special Club, but I'm not much of a fan of the rest, but this was showing well, much better than a bottle a number of years ago.
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2015 Jean Michel Champagne Blanc de Meunier 90 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. Never had the producer. Showed well, and was a pleasant surprise. BdM.
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2013 Pierre Callot Champagne Grand Cru Les Avats 91 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Tasting pour. This showed well, more citrus and lemon, good acid, and the minerality is nice, with a fairly elegant style. I like the balance and there's a pleasant yeastiness showing. 91+ to 92pts.
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2012 Taittinger Champagne Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut 96 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. Thrilled to get another shot at this after tasting at Taittinger back in September. Thi really does have it all, and for being so young, it already delivers big time. Classic in the CdC style. See my note from September for details. Just wish it would have been more :). Damn, this is gonna be just great. 95+ to 96(+)pts.
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2007 Ruinart Champagne Dom Ruinart Brut Rosé 94 Points
France, Champagne
Light medium strawberry color. Drank a glass over 20+ minutes. Brought this for NYD Chamapgne party. We had a bevy of rose Champagnes and this was only exceeded by the '09 Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon. This had more power and weight than the ethereal CES, but doesn't venture into what I think of as a big wine. There's a mix of apple, apple, peel, red raspberry and red currants, with a nice mix of spice, chalk, and toastiness. Maybe better in a year or too yet.
93+ to 94pts.
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2015 Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage Brut Rosé 92 Points
France, Champagne
Same bottle as galewskj. I love the Roederer style and this was right there stylistically to the '14 which has a lot of chalk and minerality right now, apple, red berries and fairly yeasty. A bit taught at the moment, give this a couple years to shine. 92(+)pts.
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NV Bollinger Champagne Brut Rosé 92 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. That's two in a row now that have impressed me. The one we had at Bollinger in September impressed and this one even more. I think Joe's notes suggest this has some cellar age which would make sense. I found this very balanced with a good blend of chalk, fruit and yeast. An easy 92pts for me.
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2004 Dom Pérignon Champagne 96 Points
France, Champagne
Light gold coor. Drank a glass over 20 minutes plus. This was Champagne of the night for me just edging out the young but divine '12 Comte and the equally impressive '06 Rare. The '04 Dom continues to impress and really does have it all. The elegance is there for sure, but the intensity, harmonious feel and overall complexity is impressive. See my last couple notes for details. It's clear why the '04 P2 is so outstanding.
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NV Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Réserve Exclusive Rosé 90 Points
France, Champagne
Tasting pour. Strawberry, lemon, orange peeel, yeast, bigger. Solid.
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NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Grand Cru Brut Blanc de Blancs 93 Points
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Tasting pour. This always seems to kick it up a level from the regular Brut Reserve. This bottle was right on point again. Well balanced, finesse, creamy, delightful. 92+ to 93pts.
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