Fish and Chips and Champagne

Another chaotic evening of Champagne at Masters.

The food was on good form last night I thought, the initially quite unfriendly or at least bemused service soon warmed, good value at £25 including corkage and a (relatively) massive tip, they even waived the corkage on half the bottles.

The only theme was "bring something attendees are unlikely to have tried recently" and we filled it well, no real chance to take detailled notes as things always come and go so quickly.

The rose pair were wine of the night, thanks Rupert as the Bollinger was a 'reserve'. I was disapointted with the Grand Siecle, whilst not bad, it wasn't correct. The 98 wines were all drinking very well, the Gimonnet getting 'a point' the others still infants.

• NV Veuve Fourny & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Cuvée "R"

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Very crisp, nicely dense yellow fruit, great aperitif and seemingly from ripe fruit, would not have guessed it was extra brut. XXXX

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• 1998 Pierre Gimonnet & Fils Champagne Premier Cru Extra Brut Oenophile

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  Clearly more rounded, softened, getting to nutty but still with tauct chalky extract. XXX

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• NV Jacques Selosse V.O. Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  Disg. Dec 04 Big rich fruitcake wine, softened oak, faintly oxidative, just let down by a slightly bitter extra brut finish. XXX

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• 1998 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill

  France, Champagne

  Surprisingly more rounded than the sometimes burly regular vintage, hiding its stuff well currently. XXXX

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• 1998 Billecart-Salmon Champagne Cuvée Nicolas François Billecart

  France, Champagne

  Seemed quite restrained, closed perhaps, didn't really take off tonight, perhaps slippery. XXX(X)

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• 1990 Laurent-Perrier Champagne Grand Siècle 1990 Lumière du Millénaire

  France, Champagne

  Not a good showing of this, too hidden and a bit woody. Maybe TCA at play? One left so will wait and see.

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• NV Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Brut

  France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru

  A blend of 1999 and 2000, seemingly mature but maybe ripe showy pinot fruit, lean on finish XXX

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• NV Bérêche et Fils Champagne Reflet d'Antan

  France, Champagne

  Massive, fun, amazingly full mousse, a bit silly? XXX(X)

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• 2002 Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand Cellier Rubis

  France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru

  As perfect a glass of summer fruits you could ask for, very slick. XXXX(X)

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• 1999 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année Rosé

  France, Champagne

  Restrained snd calm next to the Vilmart, this had a serenity and elegance and was lighter than I was expecting, drinking very well XXXX(X)

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Thanks to all.