Pops for Champagne, Chicago, IL
Tasted Thursday, June 16, 2005 by basis with 1,006 views
$50 pp. My first wine tasting. I'm not sure if the procedure followed was standard, and this was by no means "high end", but I didn't think it was handled well. A tray of thick, narrow (thus all the "closed noses" below), dishwashered champagne stems, a couple baskets of bread (including some stuff that was tasty but had so much pepper on it I couldn't taste for a while after eating it), and some cheese and fruit. Six tables w/ 33 wines. At each table was a spit bucket and a warm carafe of water. We ended up just using two stems each and going and getting the wines we wanted, and then returning to the table for tasting and notes. We swallowed anything we enjoyed, and dumped from the stems that which we didn't. No rinsing of the stems in between. The highlight of the evening was probably when one of the reps poured wine all over my hand while joking with a friend. She didn't notice at any point. At least when I got the wine back to the table it was corked.
1997 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Grande Cuvée Rosé Alexandra
France, Champagne
100% pinot noir, and only the second vintage of this wine ever made. Closed nose of dark red fruit. No attack, with a tart, broad midpalate. Dry tannins outweigh the flavor.
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NV Duval-Leroy Champagne Rosé de Saignée
France, Champagne
Nose of strawberries and cream. Red berries on the palate, turning bitter on the finish.
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NV H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Nice nose of raspberries and roasted nuts, which followed through on the palate along with some spices. Broad, deep, and concentrated. Elegant but powerful, and very nice.
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NV Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Rosé
France, Champagne
Finally got to taste this, and everyone is right, it's lovely. Pale peach/pink, with ultra-fine mousse. Nose of sweet red fruits, but without being cloying at all. Elegant on the palate, concentrated without being overpowering, with a soft, focused finish. Very good!
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NV Philipponnat Champagne Réserve Rosée
France, Champagne
Yellow/pink, medium mousse. Closed nose. Rather nondescript.
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1996 Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut Millésimé
France, Champagne
As open for business as any 1996 I've had. Pale green, not much mousse. Nose of marzipan and honey. Broad, dry palate of chalk (?) and cream. Only complaint was a short finish, but this is nice.
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NV L. Aubry Fils Champagne Premier Cru Brut Rosé
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Nose of chalk and hay. Medium-bodied and quite spicy and complex. I think I actually got a fennel note out of this. Would be quite good with food.
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NV Gaston Chiquet Champagne Carte Verte Brut
France, Champagne
Closed nose. Pleasant enough, but totally unremarkable.
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NV Larmandier-Bernier Champagne Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Very light-bodied and effervescent. Closed nose, but pleasant, creamy, and primary, on the palate, without being overly apple/pear dominated. Great aperitif.
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NV Varnier-Fanniere Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée St-Denis
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Very pale yellow-green, medium mousse. Nose of overripe apples (I'm curious what the blend was) and cream. Broad, dry palate, turning a bit bitter on a long finish.
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NV Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Brut
France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
Closed nose of wet hay and a little bit of apple. A little bit unpleasant, for some reason. Very full-bodied on the palate. Complex, with fruits, nuts, yeast, and baking spices (nutmeg). Soft, diffuse finish. I've never had anything quite like this. Lots of personality -- very unique, and I liked it a lot.
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NV Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Reservé Blanc des Blancs Brut
France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Nose of marzipan, nice acidity, but one-dimensional.
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