April 14, 2023 - One of those just super champagnes in a perfect spot. It’s closer to still wine than sparkling. But all evolved and interesting and delicious. It was a special treat.
April 9, 2023 - The bubbles were still present which was a nice surprise. Thought it was too heavy and too oxidized but still a nice experience. Not as elegant as expected.
December 9, 2022 - Definitely much more of an older style of champagne. The bubbles are gone (although we did do a custom blend with the 2012 which brought back some bubbles and allowed all of the more aged champagne characteristics to come through). More caramel and slightly oxidized and yet this is a flavor that I find very compelling and after you have the older champagne I find the younger ones just aren't quite as complex or interesting. It's fun to get to try.
June 4, 2022 - A great bottle of 66 DP. Just shy of the absolute brilliance this vintage often shows, but as I said, great.
January 7, 2020 - DP, DPR, DPO, DPP2 (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida): If you think that champagne from the decade of the seventies is just too decrepit for anyone to like, you need to try this 1966 from the prior decade. Even though the ‘66 Dom Pérignon is now so old it’s beyond the usual experience of champagne despite there are still a surprising number of tiny bubbles to prickle the tongue. The dark gold color does not inspire confidence. But amazingly there’s no oxidation, no sherry, no mud. What is in there is what I’m told is a classical note in old Dom - expresso. Also some beef and smoke. Masculine as opposed to the filigree profile of young Dom Pérignon. Decadent. Truly fascinating and it lasted well in the glass other than quickly donating its carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.
December 28, 2019 - This bottle was tired, a little sherried, and a little volatile. I messed around with it for a few hours, but could get nothing...
March 8, 2019 - La Paulée Zachy's Auction Friday (Le Bernardin Privé): I'm no fan of old Champagne, but this was damn impressive. A full, boastful now of mature orchard fruit and brioche. Mature fruit that is reminiscent of aged white burgundy. Layered and even rich. Still fresh with good length. Wow.
March 8, 2019 - Some Wine Tasted at the Zachys La Paulée Auction; 3/7/2019-3/8/2019 (Le Bernardin Prive - New York NY): Small glass, brief note. Fully, fully mature but so rich, layered and complex with toast and butterscotch throughout with baked apple.
March 4, 2019 - Sherry, caramel, and biscuit on the nose. Palate was ripe and sweet but it lacked freshness and vibrancy. Still nice old champagne.
February 3, 2019 - Sommelier Appreciation Dinner 2019 (The Brown Residence): En magnum with very good fill. Clear yellow which is a good sign. Initially, a hint of cork/dirty damp cellar smell but not TCA. It subsides significantly. Subtle vinous nose, apricot, dry peach, tarte tatin, strong toffee, sweet spices, crème brulee and earth. Fully integrated sweet palate, subtle yellow fruit, almost no mousse, good acidity and earthy mineral and a medium to long yellow fruit driven finish with toffee at the end. It is easy to dismiss as old and flaw and overlook subtle nuances. It is drinking more like wine. Not the freshest example.