High end Champagne 2012 vs 2013, tasted blind

This tasting over an extended lunch in the restaurant Rössli in Bad Ragaz was organized by Roger Bischof and Roger Zysset of Secli Weinwelt who typically host 3-4 Champagne blind tastings annually. Wines were served in flights of four. I always like these thoughtfully curated events of Roger, both from a hedonistic and learning aspect. This lunch was no different. The wines showed exceptionally well, accompanied by wonderful food.

2012 and 2013 Vintage description
2012 is considered a very good vintage, together with 2008, 2002 and 1996 among the best in the last 30 years. The style of 2012 is generous and charming, yet with a lot of freshness and structure. 2013 is lighter with a touch more acidity. On paper it should thus not be too difficult to distinguish between the two. In reality, during the tasting, we often struggled pinpoint which wines were from which vintage. It was often easier to call the producer than the vintage. That is a testament of the quality of the at times overlooked 2013 vintage.

• 2013 Famille Moussé Champagne Special Club Les Fortes Terres 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  100% Meunier, non-Blind. Served as aperitif. Fresh lemon with some white flowers, green apples, chiseled and racy without being lean. Does not feel like a typical Meunier, much less spices and bruised apples as with Chartogne-Taillet, Gamet or Bedel. Almost like a Blanc de Blanc with a touch oxidative wine making like in Jacquesson. Great purity.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  60% PN, non-blind. Medium yellow, Wonderful nose, lots of brioche, generous. Very complex and generous, ripe yuzu, apricot, pineapple, cinnamon spice, brioche. A crowd pleaser that will also appeal to the connoisseur. Ripe and rich, but fresh enough. 96pt

  Post a Comment / 8 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Bollinger Champagne Vieilles Vignes Françaises 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  100% PN, Served blind. Medium yellow. Strict, a bit closed, needs swirling to come alive. Very rich, savory, aristochratic with lots of structure, excellent phenolics on the finish. finish. Feels young with a lot of power and reserve left. Impressive, but one to lay down further. . Still hides a lot of structure and aromas. A great murmur filled the room when the bottle was revealed. Rare bird, a very generous contribution of R.B.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Agrapart Champagne Grand Cru Avizoise Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Production, 3g dosage. Light yellow, Discrete nose, quite closed, lemon on the attack, some bruised apples on the finish. Racy, medium complexity. Needs some more cellar time.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Agrapart Champagne Grand Cru Avizoise Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut 96 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  5g dosage. Light yellow, expressive nose of lemon with a touch of saffron, attractive and complex. Generous palate with bruised apples, dry, low dosage feeling. Lingering finish.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Millésimé 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  0g dosage, Light yellow, muted nose, very clean with ice bonbon, mineralic palate, subtle and complex, restraint, intellectual wine with lots of power.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Millésimé 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  0g dosage. Medium yellow, riper nose here with spices, red apple, stone fruit. Richer riper the rest, reminds me of Jacquesson. Lots of bruised apples on the palate. Very good to drink today. No need to wait longer. 94+

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée du Clos Notre Dame 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  3g dosage. Light yellow, Expressive nose of lemon, Boscop apple, generous and complex on the palate. Very good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée du Clos Notre Dame 95 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  3g dosage. Light yellow, red apples, yellow fruit, riper than the generous palate, very good, especially with a bit of air, so you may want to give this a decant.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Clos Sainte Sophie 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  0g dosage, medium yellow. Ripe nose of cinnamon spice, rich palate, some oxidative notes. Dry, sappy finish.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Jacques Lassaigne Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut Nature Clos Sainte Sophie 99 Points

  France, Champagne

  0g dosge, dark yellow. Expressive nose, Very complex aromas with lots of gun flint, minerals, extremely precise and racy. Like a Coche-Dury with bubbles. I am speechless. A singular experience, never had a Champagne like this. 98-100pt

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons Flawed

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  4g dosage, light yellow, unfortunately corked. NR

  Read 1 Comment / Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Pierre Péters Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Speciale Blanc de Blancs Les Chetillons 94 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  4g dosage. Very light yellow, Discrete nose with lime, a touch of brioche, then some bruised apples. The palate is on the sinewey side. Will need time.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé 90 Points

  France, Champagne

  8g dosage. Light yellow, sugar, molasses, sweet finish, plush, not much aroma. Dosage noticeable on the finish.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Millésimé 89 Points

  France, Champagne

  8g dosage. Light yellow. 8g, dosage, Discrete nose with stone fruit, white flowers, some brioche. On the palate there is quite a bit of sweetness. Very correct, but not really inspiring.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  7g dosage, medium yellow, Ripe nose of yellow fruit and apple, extensive cinnamon and oak spices. Rich, with enough freshness on the finish.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  7g dosage, medium yellow, Discrete nose of oak spices, ripe apples, cinnamon. Very generous palate, lots of power. Less open than the 2012.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Dom Pérignon Champagne 94 Points

  France, Champagne

  6g dosage, medium-light yellow. Explosive nose of brioche, caramel sugar, ice bonbon. On the palate relatively light, fresh finish with some dosage lingering.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Dom Pérignon Champagne 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  5g dosage, medium-light yellow, very similar to wine W3 a touch richer. Very good aromatics. Light on the palate. 95

  Post a Comment / 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Le Cran Ludes 98 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  3g dosage, Dark yellow. Expressive nose, oxidative, rich, bruised apples, lots of spices, full throttle, on the palate dry with pronounced phenolics and high, bracing acidity accompanying it. Give this till 2033. Top.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Bérêche et Fils Champagne Premier Cru Le Cran Ludes 99 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  3g dosage, Dark yellow. Expressive nose with enormous richness without being overboard. Full throttle, tons of spices, red apples, earthy elements. Fresh, fry finish. I like the balance here on a very high tightrope. 98-100

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 98 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  2g dosage.Medium yellow., Rich spices, aromatically similar to the Cran but with a little more finesse. Top notch, more racy than the Le Cran next to it.

  Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Egly-Ouriet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé 98 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  1g dosage. Medium-dark yellow.. Rich, yet laser sharp. There is richness and freshness at the same time. Wonderful. Lots of finesse.

  Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvee Edition 169eme 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  6g dosage. Light yellow, richer, riper than W1, a bit broad. Good density, very long finish. May be still a tad closed, cannot keep up with the 168/2012 today. 95pt

  Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvée Édition 168ème 98 Points

  France, Champagne

  6g dosage. Light yellow. Expressive nose, roses, white flowers, brioche note, light and fresh, zesty, floral, beautiful, light, similar to Dom Perignon with more body. Fresh, chalky finish. Absolutely wonderful.

  Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  7.5g dosage. Light yellow. Rich, ripe, generous, good acidity, yellow fruit and white flowers. Generous dosage. Intense, pine apple. Good but not among the best, I liked the Bereche/Egly flight better.

  Read 2 Comments / Post a Comment / 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 95 Points

  France, Champagne

  8g dosage. Light yellow, very nice sweetness, even too much, pine apple as well, exotic fruit. A bit too rich for my palate.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2013 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Rosé Emotion 90 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  8g dosage. Medium orange. Dense, phenolic, dry, dark cherry and raspberry. Good, not very complex.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Rosé Emotion 89 Points

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  8g dosage. Medium orange. Discrete nose, some bitterness elements on the palate, not very complex. Shows why I am not such a rosé fan.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Krug Champagne Brut Rose Edition 24eme 97 Points

  France, Champagne

  Dosage undisclosed. Medium-dark orange. Wow nose, absolutely stunning with beautiful cranberry, farmyard and forest floor notes. Good phenolics, appropriately dry finish. Very good. By far the best rosé I have tasted to date.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• NV Krug Champagne Brut Rosé Edition 25eme 96 Points

  France, Champagne

  Dosage undisclosed. Medium-dark orange. Great nose as well. Very similar in both aromatics and structure to the Edition 24. Same as W2, the nose is very expressive. Lots of depth and red fruit, farmyard. A touch richer than the 2012, equally great. 96+

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue