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K&L Champagne Tent Event 2010

Hollywood, CA

Tasted October 23, 2010 by tp096255 with 1,260 views

Introduction

This is a great event with around 60 Champagnes to taste each year, though we only ever seem to get to about 40 of them in 3 hours. My scores are limited to grades between F-- and A++, and I generally only add notes for wines that are remarkable in some way or another.

Drats, Richard Jennings was there and I still didn't get to meet him!!! Check out his notes if you want some real info. Hey Richard, I'd like to meet you next year. I can be reached at tpeterson@pgpwealthservices.com.

Flight 1 - Table #1 (2 notes)

White - Sparkling
2002 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B
(slightly reduced nose)
Rosé - Sparkling
2005 Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage Brut Rosé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B
(mineral-driven finish)

Flight 2 - Table #2 (4 notes)

Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Brut Rosé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B+
(I think Stacy and I both liked this one)
White - Sparkling
2004 Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B+
(We both enjoyed this one, and it's a great QPR for a vintage Champagne)

Flight 3 - Table #3 (2 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Delamotte Champagne Brut France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B--

Flight 4 - Table #4 (3 notes)

Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Taittinger Champagne Brut Prestige Rosé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B--
(Good, but thins out in the finish)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Taittinger Champagne Brut Réserve / La Française France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B+
(The nose on this seemed a little aged, but we both enjoyed it very much --- as much as the 2002 Cristal we had immediately prior! This is a GREAT QPR and very consistent from year to year.)
White - Sparkling
2004 Taittinger Champagne Brut Millésimé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: D
(Our dog recently got sprayed by a skunk and then promptly rubbed it around in the house. It took a week of cleaning to get the smell out. On the first whiff we were both shocked to find that same smell smacking us up front and center! This obviously got our lowest score for the night.)

Flight 5 - Table #5 (5 notes)

White - Sparkling
2002 Dom Pérignon Champagne France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B+
White - Sparkling
N.V. Ruinart Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B-
(Nice finish with a hint of sweet fruit)
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Ruinart Champagne Brut Rosé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B-
(Not as fruity as last year)
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Veuve Clicquot Champagne Brut Rosé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B
(Nice fruit)

Flight 6 - Table #6 (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Jean Lallement Champagne Grand Cru Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Quick Grade: C-
White - Sparkling
N.V. H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Réserve France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Quick Grade: B-
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Quick Grade: B++
(Stacy liked this more than I did, I think because the nose initially had whiffs of those tubes of multi-colored liquid plastic that come with a little red straw so you can blow big bubbles. However, the taste and finish are rich and round with concentrated berry fruit)

Flight 7 - Table #7 (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
1996 Henriot Champagne Cuvée des Enchanteleurs Brut France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B-
(I just don't see the WS score on this, but I guess I'm just not educated enough to appreciate aged vintage stuff)

Flight 8 - Table #8 (5 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B-
(Nose was a littly funky, but it had a nice hint of sweetness in the finish)
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Rosé Reserve France, Champagne
Quick Grade: C++
(Slightly sweet taste)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Cuvée Sublime Demi-Sec France, Champagne
Quick Grade: A-
(Great QPR at $27 via Binny's. Not too sweet. Nice & clean all around with just a nibble of aged funk which works. We will be buying this one)

Flight 9 - Table #9 (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut France, Champagne
Quick Grade: D
(We just never seem to like this house)
White - Sparkling
2000 Bollinger Champagne La Grande Année France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B-
(Aged funk and a short finish)

Flight 10 - Table #10 (4 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Pommery Champagne Brut Apanage France, Champagne
Quick Grade: C+
(Light finish)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Champagne Blue Top Brut France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B+
(Great QPR. We both liked this, as usual. This is our style, and they nail it in the NV all the time.)

Flight 11 - Table #11 (1 note)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Armand de Brignac Champagne Ace of Spades Brut Gold France, Champagne
Quick Grade: A-
(This was better than the bottle we bought from K&L last month. I think this NV needs to be consumed quickly. It's one of Stacy's favorites, but it's a horrible QPR.)

Flight 12 - Table #12 (1 note)

Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Perrier-Jouët Champagne Blason Rosé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: C+
(Very mineral-driven finish)

Flight 13 - Table #17 (1 note)

Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Billecart-Salmon Champagne Brut Rosé France, Champagne
Quick Grade: B+
(Spicy finish. Stacy was unimpressed, but I enjoyed it.)

Flight 14 - Table #18 (5 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Launois Pere et Fils Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Reservé Blanc des Blancs Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Quick Grade: B--
(Nice fruit sweetness, but aged funk rules out)
White - Sparkling
N.V. Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Reserve France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Quick Grade: B--
Rosé - Sparkling
2003 Marguet Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
Quick Grade: B++ to A-
(Nice glycerin sweetness in finish. Stacy really liked this, but it was near the end of the tasting so caveat emptor.)

Closing

Drats, Richard Jennings was there and I still didn't get to meet him!!!

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