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Terry Theise Champagne Tasting (Chicago

Vin Chicago

Tasted October 23, 2019 - October 24, 2019 by Vino Me with 414 views

Introduction

We went to the Terry Theise Champagne tasting event held at Vin Chicago earlier this week. 6 Growers were pouring their wines from Terry's catalog. Here are my notes:

Flight 1 - Marc Hebrart (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Cuvée de Réserve Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
90 points
Poured at a tasting by Jean-Paul Hebrart. 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay from the 2014 through 2017 vintages. 6.5 g/l dosage. Clear straw color. Notes of peaches, lemon curd and yeast. 90 points.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Brut Rosé France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
88 points
Poured at a tasting by Jean-Paul Hebrart. 6.5g/l dosage. 55% Chardonnay and 45% Pinot Noir to retain freshness according to J-P. However, this wine had some funk on the nose which worked against that freshness. Notes of raspberries and citrus. 88 points.
White - Sparkling
2014 Marc Hébrart Champagne Premier Cru Special Club France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
93 points
Poured at a tasting by Jean-Paul Hebrart. 4th Special Club I have had from this producer (the others being the 2006, 2010 and 2012). 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from Grand Cru and Prmier Cru vineyards. 6g/l dosage. Disgorged December 2018. This was showing some depth for being such a young wine. Notes of marcona almonds, lemon curd and chalk. Full bodied with a long finish. 93 points.

Flight 2 - Pehu Simonet (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Pehu Simonet Champagne Grand Cru Face Nord Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
90 points
Poured at a tasting by David Pehu. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from a North facing slope in the Montagne de Riems. The base wine is from 2015 with 30% reserve wines going back to 2005. Fresh and lively with a clear white color. Notes of citrus and pistachio. a very nice introductory bottle. 90 points.
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Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Pehu Simonet Champagne Grand Cru Face Nord Rosé France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
91 points
Poured at a tasting by David Pehu. 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay with 6% still red wine added. 4g/l dosage. Pale pink color. Good acidity and a firm bead. Notes of raspberries, green apples and fresh herbs. 91 points.
White - Sparkling
2012 Pehu Simonet Champagne Grand Cru Fins Lieux No 6 Verzenay Millésime France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
94 points
Poured at a tasting by David Pehu. This was my first time tasting any wines from this estate and they impressed me. This wine is 100% Grand Cru single vineyard Chardonnay sourced from Les Basses Correttes in Verzenay. 70% of the wine is aged in used French barrels. This is an extra brut with 2g/l dosage. Light straw color. Very floral on the nose. Notes of toasted brioche, chalk and lemon/limes. Good minerality on the finish. An excellent bottle. 93-94 points.
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Flight 3 - Billiot (3 notes)

Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Rosé France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
90 points
Poured at a tasting by Laetitia Billiot. 75% Chardonnay and 25% Pinot Noir. 9g/l dosage but this did not taste overly sweet. A medium bodied bubbly with strawberry notes and a solid bead. Round finish. 90 points.
White - Sparkling
2013 H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Brut Millésimé France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
88 points
Poured at a tasting by Laetitia Billiot. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. 8g/l doage. 2013 was a lesser vintage in Champagne but even so this was somewhat disappointing. Light yellow color. Solid acidity but lacking in fruit and slightly flabby on the finish. 88-89 points.
White - Sparkling
N.V. H. Billiot Fils Champagne Grand Cru Cuvée Laetitia Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Grand Cru
91 points
Poured at a tasting by Laetitia Billiot. 3rd time I have had this wine but the first time from the new solera. This multi vintage wine is a blend of 22 vintages dating back to 1983. 9g/l dosage. This wine did not live up to the previous 2 bottles that I had. Rich and full bodied. Cramy texture with chalk, toast and oaky notes. Not really my style of Champagne but interesting and well made. 91 points.

Flight 4 - Chartogne Taillet (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Cuvée Sainte Anne France, Champagne
90 points
Poured at a tasting by Alexandre Chartogne. A blend of the 2014 through 2016 vintages. 3rd time i have had this Cuvee. Notes of crisp apples and minerals. 90 points.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Chartogne-Taillet Champagne Le Rosé France, Champagne
92 points
Poured at a tasting by Alexandre Chartogne. A blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. My second favorite Rose' at the tasting. Oaky with vanilla and pomegranate notes. Full mouth feel on the finish. 92 points.
White - Sparkling
2015 Chartogne-Taillet Pinot Noir Champagne Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Les Barres France, Champagne
94 points
Poured at a tasting by Alexandre Chartogne. 100% Pinot Noir from a single vineyard. 4.5g/l dosage. Straw color. Rich and fruity. This wine was loaded with minerality and had hazelnut and brioche notes. 94 points.
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Flight 5 - Dehours (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Dehours Champagne Brut Nature France, Champagne
89 points
Poured at a tasting by Jerome Dehours. The base is 2015 with 33% reserve wines. 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay. Not as dry on the palate as you might expect. Notes of herbs, tea leaf and woody white fruit. Slightly oxidative to me. 89 points.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White - Sparkling
N.V. Dehours Champagne Grande Réserve Brut France, Champagne
87 points
Poured at a tasting by Alexandre Chartogne. This did not impress me. It had a buttery quality which led me to believe that the wine underwent malolactic fermentation but I did not inquire. Notes of strawberries and fresh cream. The finish was on the leaner side. 87 points.
1 person found this helpful Comment
White - Sparkling
N.V. Dehours Champagne Les Vignes de la Vallée France, Champagne
88 points
Poured at a tasting by Alexandre Chartogne. This wine is aged 4 years longer than the Grand Reserve. I detected a slight vegetal quality on the nose. This was full bodied with a moderate bead. Notes of biscuit and apples. 88 points.

Flight 6 - Rene Geoffroy (3 notes)

White - Sparkling
N.V. Geoffroy Champagne Premier Cru Expression Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
90 points
Poured at a tasting by Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy. This is his introductory bottling and it was quite nice. It was based on the 2013 and 2014 vintages. 6-7g/l dosage. 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier. An elegant sparkler with a fine bead. Notes of licorice and green apples. 90 points.
Rosé - Sparkling
N.V. Geoffroy Champagne Premier Cru Rosé de Saignée Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
92 points
Poured at a tasting by Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy. I had this bottling once before in 2011. This was my favorite Rose' of the tasting. 100% Pinot Noir. Medium pink color resulting from somewhat longer skin contact. Pleasant tannins and acidity. This was a serious Rose'. Notes of cherry, stone fruit and minerals. 92-93 points.
White - Sparkling
2006 Geoffroy Champagne Premier Cru Terre Extra Brut France, Champagne, Champagne Premier Cru
95 points
Poured at a tasting by Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy. My favorite champagne at this tasting. This bottling his the estates tete du cuvee. Aged for 12 years on it's lees. 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay sourced from vines that are 50+ years old. Disgorged july 2017. Spectacular wine with a long full finish. notes of fresh biscuits, toasted brioche and citrus. Creamy texture. 95 points.
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Closing

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