A pristine, perfectly-kept bottle with interesting provenance - I got it from Corney & Barrow, who in turn sourced it from the cellar at Blenheim Palace. The cork extracted quite smoothly and with a reassuring hiss: thankfully there was plenty of effervescence remaining in the wine. The nose here is rather massive, with heaps of buttery toasted brioche and steely apricots, veering into impressions of orange marmalade, honey and flowers. The palate is weighty, concentrated, but also exquisitely balanced, with acidity and fruits deliciously intermeshed. Finishes with a pleasant, pithy touch of bitterness. I lack the experience with mature champagne to judge where it goes from here, but I see no reason why this couldn’t keep for another decade or more. A remarkable, memorable bottle of champagne.
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Birthday Bonanza (Ai Fiori (Langham Hotel on 5th Ave)): Still one of the top champagnes. We had two bottles. The first one was perhaps a bit fresher but the second one was more evolved and I think perhaps even a bit more interesting. This is a wine that tastes pretty great even with a touch of oxidation. It’s really nice.
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Birthday @ Wonjo (Wonjo): This is a pretty wonderful wine. Big and fresh and pretty and drinks really well. It's in the window but with a long life ahead. One of the best champagnes just hands down.
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TobI's Firework (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): blind close to perfection, fine bubbles, fresh, cracking aciidty, still not at his end from this perfect bottle, beginning caramell and toffee, but not too much, biscuity with lemon tarte, utterly elegant and balanced. Great power in the finish. I guessed vintage 1981 but after knowing it is 1979 Cristal could be the "only" answer.
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This was just awesome. Very well aged. Still going strong. It's all caramelized and brightness and pretty. Went particularly well with all of the different cheese dishes.
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not blind A bit tired, no bubbles, great wine but this bottle just over his peak. Aromas of the sweet wine. Creme brulee, vanilla, apricot tart, biscuit. 92
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A Charmed Life: night of aged Cristal, Grange, and D'Yquem (Marea): Wonderful aged champagne. Hint of oxidation in the way that I like it. Still good bubbles and acidity there. I got lots of caramel but could also taste the apricot. This wine at times felt more like a sherry than a champagne. It was a really lovely pairing with the astice (lobster & burrata) dish at Marea.
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World's Greatest - Night II (Daniel): Smoke, ash, and dried apricot on the nose. A lot of smoke in here actually. Developed and mature peach. Nice caramel too. There is a lot of round orange fruit here, but this is also a little oxidative, not too bad though. Creme brûlée. Nice.
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Mostly Bordeaux dinner with Bob (Magdalena restaurant at the Ivy Hotel, Baltimore): Upon opening, Eddie thinks good mousse but nothing special. With air, it opens up beautifully. Sweet fully mature nose displaying extremely sweet yellow fruit, a hint of toffee, candied orange peel, apricot, peach, ginger and spicy spices. Warm and round, as Eddie points out, really sweet and decadent but slightly lacking precision. It gets fresher with air. Starts around 93pts but significantly improved with air.
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Light funk on the initial nose, transitioning to golden and creamy with hints of pear and ginger. For the age, a rich mid palate but the flaw of this bottle was a relatively thin and dry finish.
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Citrus is still in nose and palate, typical matured champagne signs as roasted nuts, almonds, dates, figs, perfect refreshing acidity structure, so balanced, so long, the finish is after macadamia nuts and fresh baken brioche but there is always a vivid citric note, one of the best champagnes I have ever had. Nearly all 79ers deliver, 98-99
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Weekend with Eddie - Part 1 (Marea, New York City): Great contrast to the 75 Dom Oenotheque. Beautiful fully mature nose displaying Dauvissat like oyster jus, tarte tatin, opulent rich yellow fruit, orange peel and mineral. Excellent concentration, succulent yellow fruit driven palate impression, generous mousse, excellent mineral expression, bright acidity and lovely long sweet finish. Exceptional champagne. Perhaps only a point below the last bottle. A great example of mature Cristal, deeply toned sweet fruit without compromising the precision and balance.
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Barolo and Burgundy dinner - 79 Cristal, 89 & 93 DRC Ech, 05 RSV, 10 Rousseau CdB and etc. (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Absolutely captivating nose displaying fully mature complex grand cru white Burgundy nose, rich yellow fruits, tarte tatin, smoke, almond paste, honey and mineral. Incredible concentration, beautifully layered sweet fruits, fine mousse, strong presence of mineral, bright acidity and lovely long seamless finish. One of the top five Champagnes of my life, combining power, energy, grace, balance and precision. Incredible experience.
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An extraordinary bottle of champagne that is still fresh and vibrant with a fine mousse and delicious aged flavors. Very fine with a complex finish that shows classic sherry notes along with hints of orange rind, chalk minerals and caramel. This got better and better in the glass and I simply could not stop drinking it. What complexity and elegance on the finish. At Rarities, Cafe Boulud.
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Creme brulee, citrus peel, and floral notes. A well noted sherry-ness. Smooth and silky, everything quite rounded in the mouth. A steeliness in the initial backpalate that wears off. More subdued acidity than my last bottle. Overall, just excellent.
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Vilken underbart mognad champagne. I doften mogna bakade gula äpplen, nougat, rostade mandlar, brioche, mineraler och nästan lite örter. Otroligt fin mousse och väldigt elegant och balanserad. Efter en stund kom det en helt otroligt fin och lång eftersmak med både syra och söt nougat.
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Hitting that point where it starts to show the complexity of aged champagne. Not just about the ripe apple on the palate but a hint of caramel nuttiness and a wonderful biscuit quality. Very tasty.
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It always feels sort of embarassing to write notes on truly spectacular wines. Suffice to say you should believe the hype, this is a wine that deserves it's legendary status and stands out from other vintages especially because of it's massive concentration. Drinking well of course, but I have a feeling it could be even better given further time in the cellar to bring out the darker aromas of spice etc that are only hinted upon behind the still dominating fruit at this point.
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Ending the year with some seriously great bottles. This was the bottle of the night. Fudge, almonds and red berries typical for older Cristal. One of the best bottles this year only beaten by the historic 1964 Salon and 1964 Henriot Les Enchanteleur. 1996 Bollinger VVF was not vad either or 1996 Salon. Good life!,,
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Merry New Year: Fantastic bottle! The concentration of flavours is nothing short of amazing, with plenty of nuts and brown nougat. Dark yellow, almost rosé in colour and bubbles intact. The only worrying thing is that I'm developing a habit for these old not inexpensive bottles. Let me quote the host of the evening: "Time to get ruined ... again!"
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Rich golden color with a fine but vigorous mousse. Both aromas and flavors of ripe golden apples, with a rich brioche finish. Revisited again after 24 hours with the flavors being even more intense at that time. This is an excellent example of what well-made vintage Champagne can do if allowed sufficient bottle age.
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Lemon custard with a bit of biscuit, and heather honey. A super gentle mousse with lovely lemon flavours and custard cream biscuits.` A gentle wine and quite pretty. April 2006
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Medium yellow. Good mousse. Unfortunately definitely oxidized, almost madeirized. Some liked this character more than I. This bottle may not have stored properly.
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12/8/2023 - Poussin Likes this wine: 98 Points
A pristine, perfectly-kept bottle with interesting provenance - I got it from Corney & Barrow, who in turn sourced it from the cellar at Blenheim Palace. The cork extracted quite smoothly and with a reassuring hiss: thankfully there was plenty of effervescence remaining in the wine. The nose here is rather massive, with heaps of buttery toasted brioche and steely apricots, veering into impressions of orange marmalade, honey and flowers. The palate is weighty, concentrated, but also exquisitely balanced, with acidity and fruits deliciously intermeshed. Finishes with a pleasant, pithy touch of bitterness. I lack the experience with mature champagne to judge where it goes from here, but I see no reason why this couldn’t keep for another decade or more. A remarkable, memorable bottle of champagne.
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2/28/2023 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Birthday Bonanza (Ai Fiori (Langham Hotel on 5th Ave)): Still one of the top champagnes. We had two bottles. The first one was perhaps a bit fresher but the second one was more evolved and I think perhaps even a bit more interesting. This is a wine that tastes pretty great even with a touch of oxidation. It’s really nice.
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10/6/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Birthday @ Wonjo (Wonjo): This is a pretty wonderful wine. Big and fresh and pretty and drinks really well. It's in the window but with a long life ahead. One of the best champagnes just hands down.
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9/11/2021 - MC2 Wines wrote: flawed
Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): This was completely undrinkable which is a huge shame because I love this wine. Got it for a semi-reasonable price for this wine but definitely not cheap by any definition so feeling pretty bummed.
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5/26/2021 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Reasonable example of this wine, although showing a touch more ripeness than typical.
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4/24/2021 - WIBA Likes this wine: 93 Points
EOW Dinner - Fresh acidity nutty apple. lovely
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4/24/2021 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Some apple notes, fresh.
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10/18/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 99 Points
TobI's Firework (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): blind
close to perfection, fine bubbles, fresh, cracking aciidty, still not at his end from this perfect bottle, beginning caramell and toffee, but not too much, biscuity with lemon tarte, utterly elegant and balanced. Great power in the finish. I guessed vintage 1981 but after knowing it is 1979 Cristal could be the "only" answer.
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2/16/2020 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
This was just awesome. Very well aged. Still going strong. It's all caramelized and brightness and pretty. Went particularly well with all of the different cheese dishes.
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10/13/2019 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 92 Points
not blind
A bit tired, no bubbles, great wine but this bottle just over his peak. Aromas of the sweet wine. Creme brulee, vanilla, apricot tart, biscuit. 92
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8/31/2019 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beginning to fade, this bottle was largely composed on the palate, but beginning to lose some of its depth. 93-
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12/29/2018 - sdhaliwal wrote: 91 Points
Past it’s prime
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9/13/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 95 Points
Clearly showing its age but still a clear and transparent character. This bottle didn't speak loudly but rather required close listening.
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8/12/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 95 Points
Elegant and deep. Beautiful bottle. 95-96
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7/21/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
A Charmed Life: night of aged Cristal, Grange, and D'Yquem (Marea): Wonderful aged champagne. Hint of oxidation in the way that I like it. Still good bubbles and acidity there. I got lots of caramel but could also taste the apricot. This wine at times felt more like a sherry than a champagne. It was a really lovely pairing with the astice (lobster & burrata) dish at Marea.
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5/30/2017 - tinybubbles wrote: flawed
Heavily oxidized and did not show well this evening.
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5/12/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 93 Points
World's Greatest - Night II (Daniel): Smoke, ash, and dried apricot on the nose. A lot of smoke in here actually. Developed and mature peach. Nice caramel too. There is a lot of round orange fruit here, but this is also a little oxidative, not too bad though. Creme brûlée. Nice.
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5/12/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
More alive than the '82 served alongside with greater complexity. Dry soil notes, focused fruit with hints of apricot and bitter orange
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8/12/2016 - dcwino wrote: 97 Points
Mostly Bordeaux dinner with Bob (Magdalena restaurant at the Ivy Hotel, Baltimore): Upon opening, Eddie thinks good mousse but nothing special. With air, it opens up beautifully. Sweet fully mature nose displaying extremely sweet yellow fruit, a hint of toffee, candied orange peel, apricot, peach, ginger and spicy spices. Warm and round, as Eddie points out, really sweet and decadent but slightly lacking precision. It gets fresher with air. Starts around 93pts but significantly improved with air.
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7/19/2016 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light funk on the initial nose, transitioning to golden and creamy with hints of pear and ginger. For the age, a rich mid palate but the flaw of this bottle was a relatively thin and dry finish.
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7/12/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wine Monuments Man Chapter 1 (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): The capsule was a little bit oxidized but the filling level was almost perfect, great fine bubbles
Citrus is still in nose and palate, typical matured champagne signs as roasted nuts, almonds, dates, figs, perfect refreshing acidity structure, so balanced, so long, the finish is after macadamia nuts and fresh baken brioche but there is always a vivid citric note, one of the best champagnes I have ever had. Nearly all 79ers deliver, 98-99
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4/15/2016 - dcwino wrote: 98 Points
Weekend with Eddie - Part 1 (Marea, New York City): Great contrast to the 75 Dom Oenotheque. Beautiful fully mature nose displaying Dauvissat like oyster jus, tarte tatin, opulent rich yellow fruit, orange peel and mineral. Excellent concentration, succulent yellow fruit driven palate impression, generous mousse, excellent mineral expression, bright acidity and lovely long sweet finish. Exceptional champagne. Perhaps only a point below the last bottle. A great example of mature Cristal, deeply toned sweet fruit without compromising the precision and balance.
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1/30/2016 - jhngo wrote: flawed
Corked!!!!
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1/29/2016 - dcwino wrote: 99 Points
Barolo and Burgundy dinner - 79 Cristal, 89 & 93 DRC Ech, 05 RSV, 10 Rousseau CdB and etc. (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Absolutely captivating nose displaying fully mature complex grand cru white Burgundy nose, rich yellow fruits, tarte tatin, smoke, almond paste, honey and mineral. Incredible concentration, beautifully layered sweet fruits, fine mousse, strong presence of mineral, bright acidity and lovely long seamless finish. One of the top five Champagnes of my life, combining power, energy, grace, balance and precision. Incredible experience.
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12/31/2015 - jhngo Likes this wine: 98 Points
Retardedly fresh like a 96. Tons of acid power and youth. Not way it would be so young.
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5/27/2015 - dream Likes this wine: 97 Points
An extraordinary bottle of champagne that is still fresh and vibrant with a fine mousse and delicious aged flavors. Very fine with a complex finish that shows classic sherry notes along with hints of orange rind, chalk minerals and caramel. This got better and better in the glass and I simply could not stop drinking it. What complexity and elegance on the finish. At Rarities, Cafe Boulud.
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5/26/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 97 Points
Creme brulee, citrus peel, and floral notes. A well noted sherry-ness. Smooth and silky, everything quite rounded in the mouth. A steeliness in the initial backpalate that wears off. More subdued acidity than my last bottle. Overall, just excellent.
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1/24/2015 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 96 Points
Vilken underbart mognad champagne. I doften mogna bakade gula äpplen, nougat, rostade mandlar, brioche, mineraler och nästan lite örter. Otroligt fin mousse och väldigt elegant och balanserad. Efter en stund kom det en helt otroligt fin och lång eftersmak med både syra och söt nougat.
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11/1/2014 - jhngo Likes this wine: 98 Points
fresh out of mag. killer good. acid age.. just delicious champ.
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9/11/2014 - jhngo Likes this wine: 96 Points
fresh alive. slight musky nose. toffee finish. light not heavy.
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5/1/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Acker "Paulee" Burgundy Dinner (The Fourth - New York NY): Small tasting. Sensational. Lots of citrus and some baked apple and toasted brioche. Bright and incredibly fresh for its age.
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1/8/2014 - clayfu wrote:
Hitting that point where it starts to show the complexity of aged champagne. Not just about the ripe apple on the palate but a hint of caramel nuttiness and a wonderful biscuit quality. Very tasty.
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6/20/2012 - BradE wrote:
Rockstar. Period.
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10/8/2011 - Atreyu wrote: 99 Points
It always feels sort of embarassing to write notes on truly spectacular wines. Suffice to say you should believe the hype, this is a wine that deserves it's legendary status and stands out from other vintages especially because of it's massive concentration. Drinking well of course, but I have a feeling it could be even better given further time in the cellar to bring out the darker aromas of spice etc that are only hinted upon behind the still dominating fruit at this point.
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1/1/2011 - St Paul wrote: 97 Points
Ending the year with some seriously great bottles. This was the bottle of the night. Fudge, almonds and red berries typical for older Cristal. One of the best bottles this year only beaten by the historic 1964 Salon and 1964 Henriot Les Enchanteleur. 1996 Bollinger VVF was not vad either or 1996 Salon. Good life!,,
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12/31/2010 - Tavastgatan wrote: 97 Points
Merry New Year: Fantastic bottle! The concentration of flavours is nothing short of amazing, with plenty of nuts and brown nougat. Dark yellow, almost rosé in colour and bubbles intact. The only worrying thing is that I'm developing a habit for these old not inexpensive bottles. Let me quote the host of the evening: "Time to get ruined ... again!"
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11/19/2010 - lovedoktor wrote: 98 Points
Rich golden color with a fine but vigorous mousse. Both aromas and flavors of ripe golden apples, with a rich brioche finish. Revisited again after 24 hours with the flavors being even more intense at that time. This is an excellent example of what well-made vintage Champagne can do if allowed sufficient bottle age.
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9/26/2009 - Shorepower wrote: 94 Points
Persiska, tryffel. Fortfarande elegant. Mörknat mycket i färgen men moussen håller bra. Finns fortsatt en hel del syra,
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11/23/2008 - rarewineman wrote:
Lemon custard with a bit of biscuit, and heather honey. A super gentle mousse with lovely lemon flavours and custard cream biscuits.` A gentle wine and quite pretty. April 2006
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12/26/1999 - chevalblanc1959 wrote: 94 Points
Pale yellow, gentle mousse, small bubbles, wonderful fragrance, lively, elegant, beginning to show signs of maturity, overall magnificent.
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1/1/1993 - sdr Does not like this wine: 79 Points
Medium yellow. Good mousse. Unfortunately definitely oxidized, almost madeirized. Some liked this character more than I. This bottle may not have stored properly.
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