Bello, in fase evolutiva ma ancora splendido. Il naso passa dalle note fruttate a quelle fungine , che si rivelano eleganti e preponderanti. Effervescenza elegante e ben chiara, notevole lunghezza, la solita proverbiale eleganza. Un grande champagne, ma la 2000 bevuta qualche settimana fa con la stessa compagnia vince il confronto all’unanimità.
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Brioche and orchard fruits on the nose. Great intensity and depth on the nose. The palate is concentrated and vinous with notes of brioche, apple tart, toasted almonds, apricot and white flowers. Finish goes on and on. So balanced.
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Rich and complex, with a nose of toast, brioche, preserved lemon and biscuit. It was full, creamy and powerful and cut by a line of minerally acidity. The finish drove on and on. Still very fresh.
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A medium deep honey in colour with brioche and white currants on the nose. Palate is really intense and superbly balanced with a real freshness against the depth of flavour. Long persistence. Excellent. Drinking perfectly now. Drink now-2030.
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Really nice but in need of some air. This was slightly oxidized, but in a way that left a beautiful roasted cashew element to the wine. With some air the yeasty and slightly creamy nature gave way to some lemon curd and peach elements. Long supple finish.
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When I was a wine puppy back in the 1990s, I was taught that Champagne doesn't really age well because the freshness of the beverage is lost with time. So, I've generally not been a believer in aged vintage bubbles. But it seems like the world has changed and more and more people are now getting into Champagnes with some time on them. So, let's give it a shot!
Poured into flutes with hips (Sophienwald). This wine is a deep golden color, bright, with fat bubbles that dissipate quickly.
Wine is fairly aromatic, with toast but also honey, a touch of caramel, citrus, and a spice note way underneath. N describes a mellow chalky minerality.
On palate, wine is sound. Well balanced, good strong acid, can't tell on alcohol but likely not very high, long citrusy finish (not sharp lemon but more like preserved lemon - mellow).
Overall this wine is pretty darn amazing. This is probably the best sparkling wine I have ever had. Happy New Year!
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This is in the zone, rich and nutty, nice fresh citrus (orange), white flowers, touch of honey, toasty. Again rich and fresh on the palate, vinous, broad, honeyed and floral but with crisp acidity holding it all in check. Superb.
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Daniel's White Truffle Birthday Lunch (Otto Y Mezzo, Alexander House, Landmark, Central, Hong Kong): No detailed notes as everyone was thirsty and it disappeared in no time. But this was stunningly good - fresh, lifted nose and a vinious, deeply satisfying palate. Lots of reverberance inside the head on a very long finish. So nice after a disappointingly sub-par bottle two weeks ago. To the extent that I may have over-scored it this occasion relative to the J Schramm that followed it. Thanks, Hans!
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See previous note. This is just so good. Next 10 years will just make it better and better. Perfect to open up the evening for Thanksgiving with the family.
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Lunch at Shane & Caroline's (Their Place, Hong Kong): Medium gold colour. Very muted mousse and bubbles..even with swirling. Nose is inexpressive except for intermittent gusts of sea breeze and saline. Palate of Epsom salts that have been toasted, weirdly, and slightly sour,salty lime. Nice buzz and toastiness inside the head on the finish. Clearly not a representative bottle.
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(BYO Blind tasting) Medium-fullish nose. Ripe apple. Marzipan and dark chocolate. Good depth. Medium-fullish, elegant and developed palate. Very fruity. Ripe yellow apple and white flowers. Hints of chocolate. Elegant, creamy, pure and long. Perhaps lacking some complexity and depth. Winston reveals itself as an elegant, but perhaps not among the most powerful champagnes. Can go on for 5-10 more years.
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Attractive richness, toasted brioche, warm yellow fruits, orange… whiff of salinity. Still youthful and bright. Time brings more richness, amazing really, and kind of boozy/yeasty, a mix of red fruits too.
The palate is super tense and has a taut, twisty feel. Vinous after and initial richness, lovely acidity and a returning toastiness. Very fine and taut. Time makes it more relaxed (though plenty energetic), more booze and lees, a lovely prickle – the mousse is very precise and pinpoint. Big back palate, plenty of weight and power. Showing very well.
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This was really powerful and fresh. Was expecting something more advanced / heavy / oxidized and it was just super refined and food friendly. No rush on this.
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Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Wimps - Racine (La Trompette): To me this was over - poxed or something - but others felt it was decent if not perfect. I wonder if I have a particular disliked for that bruised Granny Smith character? Did not finish my glass.
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At Harvey's, Brisbane for lunch. Our final bottle of this lovely wine is fresh and pure with a fine yellow gold colour and bead. The nose is pure with aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white cherries, white peaches and brioche. The palate is quite rich but pure with strong Blanc de Noirs character leading into a persistent spine of acid and citrus all balanced by soft brioche characters. A lovely mouthful of Champagne.
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Okay, this doesn't suck. The color is a deep gold which is fair for a wine of 20 years. There's a medium oxidation aroma and yellow pear. The pallet shows lots of ripe pear and yellow apple wrapped up in a medium plus mouthfeel. Fine gentle bubbles. Terrific big house style and easy drinking.
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Taken to a local restaurant for dinner, the Canal House in Milford, NJ. This is light lemon yellow with yeast and apple notes on the palate and the nose. Modest mouse of light bubbles. Fresh and energetic. Very nice but not as complex and refined as expected. Finish nice but somewhat short.
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Generously broght by a friend for dinner. This is classic Pol Roger: great balance, lovely fruit, good complexity and depth. Nothing that stands out and nothing out of place. Just very, very good champagne. Clealy a step up from previous bottles (last before this one in 2018). This is now entering its proper dinking window.
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Pol Roger Winston Churchill 2002. En herlig moden Champagne. Smooth og elegant. En voksen raffinert gentleman. Jeg vil anslå at denne drikker på topp nå. Bra konsentrasjon og flott lengde. 93p
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My second and last bottle this year. Again, this was seriously good with wonderful depth of flavors. Bright sweet apples accompanied by ginger spice and lemongrass. Quite yummy, dense, and bright with beautiful lift and vibrancy. Perhaps the best Winston Churchill I have had outside of a 1988 from a magnum years ago. Bravo!
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Super rich nutty sweet pinot fruit just starting to tip a toe into candied or cooked. I wouldn’t want to lose much more freshness so would probably drink your bottles now, but expect a good time when you do.
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Pear, white florals, nuts. Seamless and mid weighted, just enough intensity to carry the predominately savoury, nutty and slightly honeyed flavours to a long, gentle finish. In a great spot now.
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Chateauneuf & Champagne $60+ Non-Blind (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Yellow straw color; opulent nose, eggy, bready, grilled lemon, lime zest, still quite young, full bodied and broad shouldered, acid is not driving which makes me think this won't get much better but a little more time should add some welcomed complexity.
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Drinking very well and seems in the sweet spot. Nose - mandarin, lemon, lemon curd, clover and honey jasmine. Developing tertiary notes with green tea, honey biscuits and mineral. Extremely long finish. KILLER champagne.
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This was big, full and rich. But I also found it rather sweetly ripe, with more sultana raisin notes than I would prefer. I had a better bottle of this last year in Madrid. As an update, I like the remaining wine much more on day 2. The sugar has begun to integrate and it shows a lovely buttery richness. There is still more sultana raisin than I'd like, but it shows a real class nonetheless. Side note, as time goes on I seem to enjoy many 2002s less, finding a growing lack of energy - and this is not only the chardonnay based wines.
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Simply fantastic and drinking in its prime. Extremely complex, fine mousse and a long finish. Was killer in a universal style wine glass and the wine performed well at Colder and warmer temperatures. I don’t see this wine improving so good to drink now or next 5 or so years.
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Nydelig nese. Røde epler, brioche, ristede hasselnøtter. Integrert og balansert i munn med en flott og jevn kurve. Tydelig utvikling. Tror denne er mer eller mindre på topp nå.
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At least 2 or 3 years since my last bottle of this vintage and it’s getting even better than last time. Golden color. Intense nose that jumps out of the glass with aromas of lemon confit, ginger bread, baked pastry. Full body with unbelievable energy, intensity and length. Mouth watering and mellowed acidity with same flavours of lemon confit, ginger bread, lemon tart, star fruit. Elegant and powerful at once. Excellent now but no hurry to drink, will be even better in few years.
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Nose: The nose is deep and broad shouldered with layered tones of red apples, quince, brioche, toast, spiced pears, custard, nougat, honey, vanilla beans, biscuits, yellow flowers, and pastry tones. There is so much depth and balance with a style that really draws you in.
Taste: The feel is Medium bodied with tart, high acidity. The acidity has integrated well and the feel is rich, textured, and dense with red apples, quince, spiced pears, nougat, vanilla beans, brioche, toast, honey, yellow flowers, and pastry tones.
Overall: This was from Magnum and it was flat out gorgeous at every single point of it being opened and drunk. This is mature and will easily hold at this level for a while.
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A private dinner (Restaurant d'Oude Schuur, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium): Magnum. Marvellous nose, beautifully developed but perfectly fresh and lively, deep minerality, candied fruit, spices, red apple and citrus, brioche and flowers; rich and vinous but very energetic palate, silky mousse, firm acidity, nutty finish with very good resonance and length. Decades ahead of it.
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Pale yellow/gold. Bread, toast, pear on the nose with nice aged complexity, good mousse, medium-full body, similar aged nutty, early oxidative complexity on the palate in my sweet spot, ripe fruit nicely balanced by minerally acidity, medium finish. Showing well, has matured significantly in the last 2 years. Excellent.
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Medelstor doft av gula äpplen, bröd, hasselnötter. I smaken lite spretig. Fortfarande ung och behöver mer tid för att öppna upp sig. Lite beska i avslutet. Det finns en fantastisk energi i vinet som väntar på att få blomma ut.
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About as good as it gets. Opened up after 30-60 minutes. Gorgeous rich fruit but firm backbone, amazing length, fine bead. Powerful and beautiful and for my palette optimal now while the energy is still there.
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An elegant and complex Champagne already although it doesn't seem fully integrated yet especially out of magnum. 92+ At Penavic dinner atop 15 Hudson Yards.
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Drank alongside the 1996. Perfect apertif and drinking incredibly well now. Elegant but with good depth. Possibly at it's peak but no signs of fading. Not sure this will get better but wine does not seem to be fading any time soon. Drink now and evaluate every 5 years.
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I’ve liked this wine in the past but on this occasion I found myself wondering whether it really might be a perfect wine. Dazzling and arguably at the peak of its powers, balancing mature orchard fruit, brioche, and cream with vibrant lemon. Such creaminess and depth.
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Beautiful aromas with both freshness and development in beautiful balance. Wonderful salinity - that is, this fabulous salt / sea scent that rocks over juicy citrus, red apples, autumn flowers, sweat, cool coffee, ripe bread baking and this clear umami character in the form of mushrooms. Good full-bodied Champagne with a broad and massive mouthfeel, without being aggressive. Balance is also the key word in mouthfeel. Delicious fruit of live raspberry fruit, apple, wonderful saltiness, bread baking, cool coffee, mushrooms and hints of asparagus. Long and complex finish. The youth is over, but Sir Winston has no plans to retire in the next 15 years. This is alive! Lovely! 95 points.
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On opening, the nose is very primary, on chalk and lemon. The effervescence is active but well cut. On the other hand, the palate is extremely compact, the substance really struggles to express itself. The finish is upward, cramped and focused, which is a disappointment at this point.
We decide to put the wine aside. 2 hours later, the wine is much more relaxed and at ease with a beautiful, energetic substance that unwinds in the mouth, all carried by a fine acidity that brings additional tension. It remains very primary on the nose but it expresses itself more. The palate gives on wet stone and citrus. The balance is there, the material, the tension, but all this is still in the early stages for my taste, it lacks serenity. The finish unfolds a length more in line with the pedigree. It's good, the potential is certain, but to my taste it in not ready yet
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Soft gold colour with very fine bead. This comes across as a bit broad and has fair weight to it, but with no shortage of finesse and cut to keep it fresh. There’s a little honey and truffle on the nose, some red fruit and confit lemon. The finish is really long and tasty, a super bottle of fizz to see the awful year off
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NYE lunch at Bishan. Drank in Gabriel Standart. A seriously show-stopping great champagne. This bubbly on a rather empty stomach was probably the cause of me getting hammered. Appearance is clear, pale intensity, yellow gold colour, thin legs. Fine bubbles. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of oyster shell, biscuit, bits of salinity, deep citrus lemon and lime, combination of green + golden apples, sweet cream. Developing. On the palate, dry, hgh acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of oyster shell, saline minerality, biscuit, deep citrus lemon and lime, green and baked golden apples, sweet cream mousse. Long finish. Very very good quality. A real joy of a champagne to drink. For me, all good and nothing really excessive or that out of place here. Slick aristocrat.
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An aristocrat. Softly spoken but such depth. Burnished gold colour, the first properly ready bottle of this I've had, right at the start of a long drinking window. Rich texture, pronounced note of red apple skins and blackcurrant leaf, the acidity is not obvious but despite the weight the wine is fresh. Superb now but I think 3 or so years will help. ****1/2
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Strawberry fruits with a savoury note as well. Touch of earth and yeast. The mouthfeel is full, rich, clean and crisp. The savoury notes are delicious, and there’s a delicacy to the fruit sweetness. Good length. Drinking well.
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Couleur or, brioche, poire, fruits du sud, un peu de cannelle? Belle attaque et bulle assez fine. Tres beau mais j’ai deja eu de plus experience avec ce 2002
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This is really a special Winston Churchill. Fully mature, delivers a lot of complexity. Already golden color, very complex nose of nuts and minerals and burnt sugar. On the palate is very long. Definitely the best among the 2004 2006 2008. The only one to be really ready. Actually, even too forward. This wine does not seem to have a long span of life in front. Consume within 5 years.
Two visits to Waiheke Island (Easter 2019 and New Year's 2020) (Auckland, NZ): Deep but bright gold. A bouquet of orchard and tropical fruit particularly pears, passionfruit and pineapples, with fine citrus, cinnamon and other baking spices and a dab of clotted cream. In the mouth, more citric than suggested by the bouquet but with an oxidative edge. More exotic fruit than I would have expected from a Pol Winston (I doubt I would have picked it blind). Very much a ripe, opulent 2002 character. Top quality Champagne!
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The New Traditional December 22 Tasting (Anders place): Quite developed on the nose with earthy notes and a delicate layer of yellow fruit and cookie dough autolysis. On the palate the fruit is more to the dry side and figs is the main component. Really fresh and uplifting acidity.
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Pale yellow/gold. Bread, toast, pear on the nose with a little aged complexity, good mousse, medium-full body, some complexity on the palate (but not as much as the similarly aged MV Krug opened at the same dinner), bit of sweetness nicely balanced by minerally acidity, medium finish. Starting to show well, hoping for more complexity over time having tasted it next to the Krug. Excellent.
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Another consistent showing of this wine with a yellow gold colour and fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach, poached pear and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. There is a touch of oxidative character that is more notable than previous bottles. The palate remains quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but with a long fine spine of acid and citrus all balanced by some soft brioche characters. Delicious !
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Pale yellow/gold. Bread, toast, pear on the nose with some aged complexity showing that wasn’t there in last year's bottle, good mousse, medium-full body, complexity follows through on the palate, bit of sweetness nicely balanced by minerally acidity, medium finish. Starting to show really well, likely at peak and should stay there for a few years or longer. Excellent.
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White Truffle Dinner: Rich and toasty -- in a great spot right now. Excellent but not quite as good as 02 Dom and no where close to 02 Krug in the same flight.
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Fifteenth Annual White Truffle Dinner (Lake Bluff, IL): In Great 2002 Flight. Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir coming through clearly with very good weight, starting to age around the edges. I liked this slightly more a few years back.
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All the signs of a fabulous champagne in the making. Lots of depth and body here, but hiding behind a wall of acid at the moment. This really is shut down at the moment. The 1999 is the way to go. Let this sit for at least another five years. 92 now with a ton of upside.
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"Mr. & Mrs. White" Anniversary Dinner (Friends' Rooftop, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Drank as an aperitif in large white wine glasses.....even more expressive than drinking it from large flutes the week before (see my earlier notes). This is so more-ish...fresh, elegant but already showing the underlying masculinity of the Sir Winston Churchill marque. This will likely last forever but it is so hard not to open a bottle already.
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Lemon gold. Languid mousse. Nose is slightly yeasty and roasted lemon. Palate is deep Epsom salts and lemon sherbet. Pronounced chalky dryness. Develops beginnings of lightly roasted hazelnuts with extended time in the glass. Very smooth but retaining an angular freshness and zest. A long bell chime of resonant length. Very elegant and still has youthful feminity rather than the more typical masculinity of Sir Winston. One of two bottles given to a friend for their birthday. This has developed quite a bit since I last drank it a year ago but I need to discipline myself to keep my remaining bottles in the back of my cellar for several years and drink the 1999 in the intervening time.
Does Champagne get any better than this? Apple pastry, baked almonds and toasty lemon meringue. Rich and staining, yet so fresh and juicy. Masterful wine. Wow, wow, wow.
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Pol Roger Winston Churchill Magnum 2002. Pen dybde her, røde epler, krydder, svakt autolysepreg og gjærbakst. Perfekt mousse av mikroskopiske bobler - strålende munnfølelse. Rik og konsentrert - samtidig svært elegant og balansert. Dette er virkelig bra. Pen nå, men dette kommer til å utvikle seg over mange år. Holder trøkket hele veien. Lang fast utgang med masse kraft. Særdeles lang ettersmak. Topp vin. 94-95p
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Over dinner, no formal notes. Golden yellow in colour. Complex on the nose - yeasty, mineral, white and yellow fruit, nuts. Fresh and mineral on the palate, layered with good generosity and impressive length. 94-96?
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Meursault Perrieres blind tasting 1988-2011: From Magnum. Much better showing than four years ago. Really complete. Feels like in the peak drinking window, notes of lime, pear, brioche, bakery, nuts. Wonderfully complex. Good acidity, lively mousse.
Warm nights, big wines (park ridge country club, park ridge, IL): Nose: The nose is pungent and deep with red apples, spiced pears, quince, vanilla, nougat, custard, ginger, honey, brioche, and pastry dough. This is a nose that you just get lost in with its great complexity and depth.
Taste: The feel is Medium/full bodied with crisp, high acidity. The acidity still has some cut with the feel showing off great depth and texture with red apples, spiced pears, quince, vanilla, honey, brioche, custard, and pastry dough.
Overall: This is a real treat right now. It is drinking beautifully and still has plenty left to age gracefully for at least another 8+ years.
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A fresh nose of ripe apple, toast and peach. It is complex, full and rich, with a relatively high dosage feel, countered by chalky acidity. Length is good.
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Still very young, at first this is a bit dumb on the nose. The impact is more clear on the palate where there's wonderful lemon custard, mineral, brioche, and peony. I'd be inclined to tuck these away for some time yet.
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2002 Vintage Champagne horizontal (Elystan Street, London): Noticeable pinot dominated blend, visually copper, this was a very good showing and good contrast to the sweeter Piper Rare alongside. The CSWC was to me cleaner, less dosage and blessed with a nice salty kiss on the aftertaste that made it very interesting. I like this and it was a bit of a redemption for the house after its 08 underwhelmed us at the prior tasting. WOTF for me.
Tasted vertical of 02, 04, 06 and 08. Finished in tie for second with the 08 imo. Deep yellow, ,Rich, biscuit . apple, and some peach. big style. Excellent acid. Obviously More mature than the 08, therefore it had an edge.
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Meaty with a touch of orange sherbet and blueberries. Pinot noir heavy, rich smooth and clean. Consumed with friends it is notably amazing. AMAZING!!!!
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RIBBS @ La T (La Trompette, London): Very vinous. Broad and full. Quite meaty with a touch of red apple. Similar to last showing, far more poised and together than straighT 02 Pol, but broad in a muscular rather than flabby way. Personally I’d prefer just a little more elegance though there was certainly lots of complexity and interest. ****
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Brief taste at a large gathering, mature with some oxidative notes, autolytic notes were fairly pronounced, fuller body, great acid, fine bead, I would like to have the 02 again if I can find it at a reasonable price, only purchased one bottle as I had heard mixed reviews on the 02 but this bottle showed great.
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WX Dinner: When Pol Roger WS is on, there's almost no topping it. I enjoyed this far more than all the Krugs and Doms at the table. More expansive, better texture, and so much more exciting. Wish I had cases of these.
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A consistent Champagne with this bottle from a friends cellar opening in the same way as past bottles I have enjoyed. There is a yellow gold colour with a fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apples, wild strawberry, white peach and pear with brioche on the nose. The palate is quite rich with strong Pinot character but with a long fine spine of acid and stoniness that balances the fruit exquisitely. One of my favourites.
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Pale gold hue. Nose of brioche, almond, candied lemon, apricot, sweet apple. The mouthfeel is wonderful, full, yet elegant and light at the same time. This wine just glides across the palate and the finish lasts 30+ seconds. It’s delicious and ready to go now.
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Don’t miss 2002 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill if you’re a Pol Roger fan! It’s the successor to the brilliant 1996. Powerful and vinous, great acidity and racy feel that is reminiscent of the excellent 1996. High pitched ripe fruits and intense pastry and toast. Great transparency and generous flavours. Great power that improved after more time in the glass. Amazing how approachable they are when young but after trying 1996 I can bet Sir Winston Churchill 2002 can seriously age well! I would recommend decanting or opening it an hour before drinking it to let it breathe. (95/100)
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Lost Friday afternoon gathering – Chave, Krug, Churchill, Trimbach, Mugnier and etc. (Black Salt, Washington DC): Expressive youthful nose displaying rich yellow fruit with a hint of red, sour apple, fresh apple juice, a hint of raspberry soda, brioche, smoke, honey and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated rich yellow fruit, fine abundant mousse, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral and a long rich yellow fruit driven finish. This clearly expresses the ripe and concentrated vintage character. Drinking beautifully but can improve.
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Quite light and smooth mousse. Complex nose with elegant yellow and red fruit. Some nuts, toffee, tobacco and coffee hints at development but still feels fairly young. On the palate very fresh with high acidity and no discernable maturity yet. Green apples, citrus, chalk and hints of salted browned butter. Long, fresh.
Very good but give it another half a decade in a cool cellar.
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Consistent notes : This wine has a yellow gold colour with fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach, poached pear and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. The palate is quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but with a long fine spine of acid and lemons all balanced by some soft brioche characters. This is simply a delicious drink if you like plenty of Pinot in your Champagne ( I do ! )
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Simply outstanding. Has some green apple, preserved lemon and flora. It is direct and precise with great depth and breadth. Bead is super-fine and it is a Champagne of focus and real class.
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BYOB - FIFA World Cup, Finewines.se (Sollentuna, Sweden): This is a very good wine but not my preferred style. Mature, massive aroma, brioche, oak, nutty, feels like the dosage is a bit high (guess it's not), medium acidity, tart
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Yellow gold colour with fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. The palate is quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but a long fine spine of acid and lemons all balanced by some soft brioche characters. Very much a food wine that initially seemed a little full and really needed some air to fully express its structure.
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All 9 Gevrey Grand Crus (Straits Clan, Singapore): Popped and poured, this was lovely and rather surprisingly easy-going for a relatively young Churchill, but somehow just a little step behind a bottle I had a couple of years back, which had the benefit of some breathing before service. The nose here had classic notes of cream, white meat and a touch of earth alongside big white-fruited aromas and a waft of toasty brioche. The palate was big, ripe and fairly forward, with ripe red apple flavours, a touch of sweet lemonade, and some creamy notes, all couched in a gentle mousse and decent, if not exactly bright acidity. Tons of strength, lots of length - a bit obvious in its heft and girth, but this was a delicious powerhouse. I think it will get better as it mellows with time as well. I would love to try this in say 5-6 years' time.
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A big and richly styled Champagne...golden yellow in the glass with notes of brioche, Bartlett pear, yellow apple, and brow butter sauce. The palate is medium-full bodied, medium-high acidity, with notes of Macintosh apple, cherry, and kiwi. There's a depth to this that is lovely...but it is sadly not the caliber of wine I was hoping it would be. Excellent!!!
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Friday Dinner at our Place (Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Drank fairly quickly between six of us in large Riedel flutes. Very generous initial mousse that quickly dispersed to leave quite large, languid bubbles in a moderately hay gold body. Nose of oyster shells, ozone sea breeze and fresh-mown hay. The palate has a definitely 'masculine' body and attack that I can best describe as "young Batard Montrachet with bubbles". Tightly closed on the finale. My third bottle at two-year intervals (all from the same case) and this seems to be getting younger - like, there is none of the hazelnut I have noted in the past even when revisiting a quarter-glass after 4 hours. Repeating my previous note two years ago, I would hide this away for several more years and - if you are lucky enough to have it - drink the gorgeous 1999 in the interim. 92 for now but will get much better, I'm sure.
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Soirée dégustation de rêve 2e essai 17 Mai 2018. Couleur un peu plus foncée que le Lilbert naturellement. Fruits blancs, toasté légèrement et un peu fumé au départ avec des bulles serrées, c'est très riche, mais avec assez de fraîcheur et de finesse, très élégant avec une longueur assez impressionnante. 94-95
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Reminded me of that teenage bird dog that could hunt anything, yet be that loyal companion to the whole family. Sturdy yet with finesse, kind but yet so intelligent. Straw, citrus, slight yeast with enough acid to give it many years of pointing the pheasants. Like that dog, years of teaching me as much i taught him. Good breeding can be so important. Well done and still looking forward to more each season.
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Dinner for Wayne and Hannah ('96 and '02 Burgs, '82 Lagune etc): Darker colour. A spicier, more exhuberent nose. Citrus and orchard fruit but almond brioche and a little toffee apple. Richer and fuller than the Billecart but with supporting minerality and acidity. Con noted the 'zingy acidity' here. A Champagne for the long haul. Showing well on the night, the best so far I've seen this vintage of Winston show, I think. I thought it edged the Billecart-Salmon on the comparison, due to greater flavour complexity.
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Explosive notes of ripe fruit, sweet spices, also some mango, brioche, yeasty notes, also some browned apples. It's pretty full-bodied, with medium-high acidity and creamy bubbles. Excellent length. A slightly more powerful, but equally beautiful and aromatic Champagne.
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Light yellow color with a fine bead of bubbles.. Tropical fruit, a little bit butterscotch, roasted nuts on the nose. Ripe mangoes and a hint of sea salt caramels on the palate. A bright finish. Not too much mouth-puckering acidity but still on the youthful side. Terrific pairing with Alaskan King crab.
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Came to life a few minutes after opening. Rich and balanced acidity/fruitiness/nuttiness/toastiness. Long finish, definitely worthy of a food paring but yet easily drinkable on its own. Little bit of a bitter finish.
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One of the greatest champagnes I can recall having. Rose petal bouquet with some fresh berries. Once in mouth the bubbles simply danced off the tongue and revealing a potpourri of flavors.
Strawberries and cream up front then vanilla, than lemon rind, than cream again then peaches and even some hazelnut's on the finish. This was damn near dinner !
More delicate than the 03' krug or 96 DP which I have had but quite similar in richness. Fabulous !
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Champagne BYOB #1. Fresh citrus, red apples, almond, honey, roasted notes. Lively acidity. The 02 is still a youngster and a little closed, not remotely ready to drink. Still very enjoyable of course but will improve significantly in coming years. Next bottle in 3-5 years. 93p
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Favre-a-thon 6.0: Initially showing a lot of dough and yeast. Then the acidity kicked in. Dry pure, clean and enjoyable. Overall quite nice, if not exceptional.
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Le Tour de Champagne Tasting (Hotel Intercontinental Amstel, Amsterdam, NL): Trade tasting, brief notes. Deep and refined, mature but fresh, layered and nuanced, relaxed and long. A great classic without excessive weight or ripeness. Note: on the purple pages this scores from 15.5 - 19 points in five notes. From (very) average to great. Avoid or hoard. Which is it?
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Light golden color, ultra fine bead and mousse. Split bottle over 2 hours. We brought this to Alma for a belated anniversary dinner, in what turned out to be our best dinner there ever. The wine is youthful but clearly in the window. I love the elegant and finessed expression, this bottle was actually more like Tait CdC than I expected. The complexity is impressive. Starts with lemon and lemon peel out front on the nose, not really toasted, some yeastiness builds over 30 minutes, apple blossom, saline, pear and spiced pears. The palate is very much mid weight currently. The flavors and intensity deepens over an hour; lemon, apple, pear, saline, refined chalk, pastry sheets, sourdough, quince and hints of marzipan round out the palate. There was also another aroma on the nose, that I described as like smelling a puff of cedar dust - quite intriguing, and I'm not suggesting any wood here., just a cerebral impression. Wonderful stuff. 95+pts.
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Medium golden hue like dried straw. Fine bubbles and rich. Bouquet was muted a bit with rising dough aroma along with a pronounced nuttiness and earthiness. Great mouthfeel and palate of creamy almonds and fresh baked bread. Fruit component was secondary but a mild lemon zest and apple. Rich but medium acidity kept it clean. WC is one of my all time fave champagnes but this vintage did not score as high for me, although still 90+. Recommended.
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Aroma of yeast, toast, and citrus. Similar taste with density was filling the mouth. It aged very well but was a bit too ripe for the 2002 vintage compared with other Grand cru. A surprise. 20200808 This bottle is too ripe at all. Very enjoyable.
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(Disgorged in 2014) Lovely youthful nose filled with minerals, raspberry and yellow stone fruit and with a hint of incipient maturity showing truffles. Palate still very fresh with acidity, fruitiness and with a long lasting red grapefruit finish. This was drinking as lovely as always. Still feels like it has much more to give and will keep evolving for another decade or so. Best 2017-2032.
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Extremely creaming Champagne, yeast, French toast, aged very well and drinking at it's prime the way I like my Champagne. Sexy palate and leaves you longed for the next sip. Gained complexity with time in glass as well, very good.
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Really stunning. Sea shells, citrus zest especially lime, brioche, little to no age showing. Creamy mouth feel with hidden acidity that surrounds the tongue, amazing focus and purity of fruit, striking persistence. Best '02 I've had yet.
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Initialt väldigt sluten och platt och jag började fundera på om den kanske var defekt, men med lite luft och värme öppnade den upp sig. Klart Pinot-dominerad med mogna röda äpplen på näsan. I munnen apelsinskal och blodgrape. Bra syra. När vinet nått rumstemperatur kom sköna kolatoner fram. Mycket trevlig men jag kan inte säga att det kändes som en Winston Churchill. Däremot var den rätt lik Cristal 2006. Märkligt!
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Lunch at Noosa. Yellow gold colour with fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. The palate is quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but a long fine spine of acid and lemons all balanced by some soft brioche characters. Really delicious and tending to a real food champagne style.
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This wine has something for everyone, I would imagine. Smooth, remarkably balanced. Rich and mature, yet still very fresh. Paired well with seared salmon with beurre blanc sauce. Nothing in particular stood out to make it more exciting, though.
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Väldigt annorlunda mot den första flaskan jag provade. Den här hade tydliga mognadstoner och en lite udda doft av yoghurt (?). Först tänkte jag att den kanske var defekt på något sätt men det var den inte utan snarare en ovanligt snabbt utvecklad flaska.
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Excellent Pinot Noir-based Champagne. Almost "oeil de perdrix" in color, it has a very intense and masculine nose. My type of Champagne. Still quite young, it can be cellared for several years or enjoyed now.
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Medlar lunch (The Medlar, London): Nicely rich. Smooth, bready, biscuit nose with a touch of ginger spice. Nicely balanced, rich rather than mature, this is fresher and more poised than a recent bottle of the straight vintage that felt quite evolved. After a couple of hours the remains in a glass start to crack a little with a bruised red apple character, but while fresh in the glass it is lovely. Should age nicely for a few years, though probably not a long term prospect. Lovely. ****
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Complete Vertival Tasting of Winston Churchill in Magnums and Jero: Zunächst ganz anders als 2004. Butter, Vanille, Toast, Sahnebonbons. Er wirkt reifer, aber auch frischer als der Vorgänger. Die straffere Säure gibt dem Wein ein kräftigeres Gerüst. Zitrusnoten dominieren am Ende. Im Vergleich zum VVF (98+) deutlich schwächer, aber präsenter als Salon (94) selben Jahrgangs. Ein Wein, jetzt schon gut, in 20 Jahren auch noch viel Freude bereiten wird.
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Uncle Fine Wine Club Fall BYO; 10/14/2016-10/15/2016 (Tord House): Yellow towards golden in the glass. Crystal clear. Lots of bubbles with medium size. Great nose with toast and fruit. Nice opening with fine acidity. Elegant palate with ripe fruit in the middle before it comes toast in the ending. Looong!
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Uncles Fine Wine Club’s - Grand Cru Tasting (Bodø): Freshness, complexity and maturity greatly harmonized. This Champagne has a bit of everthing. It is perfectly elegant with fresh sweet raspberry and floral notes. Mature with dried figs and ripe drupe and complex with a toasted autolysis touch and biscuit on the finish. 92-94 points.
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Beautiful oyster shell, fresh brioche, sweet herbs and lemon zest. Was a touch angular when 1st poured but smoothed out into one of, if not the best champagne I've ever had.
This fascinating wine featured an expansive seabed, chalk, and mineral driven bouquet, backed by citrus, brioche, and earthy spices. The wine expands on the palate and though at first a touch clunky, with air it comes to life. A young wine that will likely age for another two decades. One of two standouts at a Champagne tasting with good friends.
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Sunday Lunch at Friends (Their House, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Slightly more golden when last drank two years ago. Small and short-lived mousse but we were drinking from meduium-sized wine glasses. Languid and persistent streams of medium sized bubbles. Muted bready nose and with some slightly varnish VA.....the VA blew off but the nose never really came out of the closet. Palate is lovely green/red apples balanced by apricot stones, some Epsom Salts; rich and typically Sir Winston. Actually it develops a lovely effervescence in the mouth that comes to the fore with more time in the glass. It also gets more refreshingly appley-citric and with more Epsom Salts with extended time in the glass. Brown bread and slightly dry and unevolved finish and, whilst needing more time to mature it is already heady and resonant in that signature Sir Winston way. If you are lucky enough to have the choice, I would drink the 1999 for now and keep the 2002 tucked away for a few more years. My last note was, "wow, that gets really good if you drink the bottle slowly".
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Ib & Pia in Kandestederne (Kandestederne): Intense, concentrated, mineral, a tight fist of fruit, this is a splendid champagne, at the moment very restrained (still enjoyable); the expression seems more chardonnay than pinot to me, lots of brioche & citrus underneath, loving this.
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Dinner at Epicure (Epicure, Hotel le Bristol, Paris): By the glass at Epicure. This was very, very good indeed - a really strong Winston Churchill. It had a typical nose of cream and brioche, walnuts and red apples, with just a kiss of spice at the sides. Very nice. The palate was where it really shone though, with rivers of effortless power showing in its pure apple, pear and sweet yuzu flavours, all seasoned with a touch of exotic spice. Powerful, complex and intense, yet never in-your-face. A creamy mousse and deep set acidity kept the well-shaped and structured throughout, but it was really the way in came together in a wonderfully integrated package of power, depth and grace that made it special. While this had the fullness of a typical Winston Churchill, it also had a certain soft, elegance lent by the vintage. Very yummy indeed, almost moreish at points, with a slight savouriness past the midpalate before it tailed off in a long, long finish that suggested cumin and cardamom amidst notes of white fruit, yeast and brioche. Drinking well now, although I think this will last for many years yet.
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Slightly funky nose, with notes of red apple, white mushroom, and sweat. Palate has a mouth-filling mousse, with tingly, long-lasting acidity, but broader and softer than the Salon 2002 (tasted alongside). Strong, long-lasting flavours of red apple and grapefruit.
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Champagne BYO (@ Terkel): Aggressive nose with lots of impressions. Creamy and dense fruit with a touch of sweetness. Huge acidity and lovely structure. A wild wine right now that it really impressing with its youthful expression.
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On the nose: Gunpowder, "meursault", fudge, citrus and mineral On the palate: Very fine texture and nice balance with a very high acidity, apple, mineral. Long finish
Time will give this wine an extra dimension. 94-96
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My first meeting with Sir Churchill and it is all up to the expectations. Rich and opulent, vinous, creamy, soft bubbles caressing the palate. A great champagne.
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VECCHIO CHAMPAGNE: Zenzero, fiori bianchi e mineralità sulfurea e tesa, scolpiscono quadro elegante e già ben equilibrato, lieviti ancora sensibili, ma non ha nulla di dolciastro, caldo o sfrangiato. La bocca è freschissima, scalpitante di acidità e di bolla spumosa. Vinosità piena e ottima persistenza tutta in finezza. Da aspettare almeno ancora 5 anni, ma già di altissimo livello.
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SLDS March 2016: Floral, chalk, lemon, pear and toasty notes on the note. Really appealing on the palate, with richness tempered by fine acidity. Has great drive and the structure is there for this to age fantastically as well. A great start to any night.
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Green apples on nose. Big on palate - "fat", power, lemons/citrus with good acidity/freshness. However, lost quite a bit of precision/freshness as it got warmer in the glass.
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Another taste this month of Pol Roger Winston Churchill 2002, which displayed wet chalky notes, buttery brioche (fresh baked) and a very smooth attack on the palate whose subtle pear aromas and flavors delighted our senses. Opulence on mid palate balanced by the vintage's typical vivacity, with lime and just slight red apple on finish, smooth long finish. Fine bubbles, not too vibrant, more vinous overall. Great with a delectable skillet chicken by my dear friend Katie Casselman Wagner.
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Mostly 1966 Bordeaux and other surprises (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): An excellent special cuvee Champagne from one of my favorite producers. Indeed, I love their NV Brut as a "go to" Champagne. Dominated by Pinot Noir, but the house never reveals percentages. When opened prior to the dinner with staff at Ripple restaurant, store manager Caroline Blundell was impressed by its creamy smoothness. Indeed, the bubbles were very fine, and it came across as almost buttered brioche, yet the excellent acidity of the 2002 vintage lent this wine energy to match the vigor, as it was full bodied. While not as impressive in density (and charm) as a Salon 1996 that I had one week ago, this is a gorgeous bottle of bubbly - with a long vinous finish.
66 Bordeaux dinner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): The overall impression is closer to the bottle drank last January. Youthful yellow fruits, granny smith, floral and strong note of mineral. Good concentration, fine mousse, nicely layered fruits, bright acidity and long clean finish. This is a very youthful example. Really enjoyable.
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new year's eve dinner in old Enskede (Enskede, Stockholm): At first this was A delicious nose and a tight, fresh and spritzy palate that felt way too young to drink. But after a good many hours open, the palate started to unfold and it was very nice. I guess if you're a fan of mature, oxidized champagne, then you need to keep this beauty for more than ten years still, but if you like me, appreciate the freshness of young champagne, especially when the mousse is this delicate and the 'bulles' this fine, then this was the right time!
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Developing nose with a medium(+) intensity. Complex aromas with a distinct autolytic character. Toasted bread, fermenting dough, baked red apple, fresh winter apple, candied lemon, nougat, butter biscuit, hazelnut and a hint of cap gun smoke. Great nose!
Dry on the palate with a medium(+) acidity and medium body. Soft and delicate mousse giving a creamy mouthfeel. Medium(+) intensity of flavors and less developed than on the nose. Long finish.
Drinking good today but there's a lot in this wine worth waiting for. As usual with these big house prestige cuvées the QPR is rather crappy. Damn tasty anyhow!
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really fun, elegant structure with twists and turns...heavily nuanced...taste a little bit too tart and acidic for me, but some hints of minerality and nuttiness.
Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: During a vintage Champagne tasting at a Merchant. Distinctively yeasty nose with apple, lemon, very Chardonnay in style. A bit acidic for my palate. Medium finish. I wished for more given the price.
Pnp. Quite an improvement compared to my previous tasting in early 2015. This is beginning to open up, the palate has widened substantially, and there is quite a lot of depth. Will hopefully try again in 2-3 years. 93-94 pts.
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Rich and structured. Drink or hold for an additional 10 years. Balanced, it offers a long finish. Very similar to a Bollinger Grande Année 2002, but with slightly less intensity.
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Labour Weekend at Pokai Parera (Ekatahuna, New Zealand): Fat, broad and rich, but immaculately structured. Long and biscuity. This is a complete wine that is like a thunderous Wagner to the Dom Perignon 2002's perfectly proportioned Mozart.
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Halpern Enterprises Portfolio Tasting (Toronto, ON): I guess I'm all on my own on this one, but a few times now I've found the Sir Winston Churchill to be absolutely dominated by sulfur on release. To the point it really hinders me evaluating it aromatically. With coaxing some melon, white sugar, white currants, light brown spice and light caramel come through on the nose. The palate reveals a bright future with lots going on; pear, apricot, melon, brown spice and caramel. Solid acid, moderate dosage and a long finish give this some textural elegance. On the palate alone this would land at about 94 points for me today and with some bottle age I would expect this to come around nicely.
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Lunch at The Ledbury. Developed colour. Great nose of citrus, strawberry, and brioche. Touches of yellow peach. Quite full palate with complex fruit characters reflecting the nose. Lovely soft bread character leads to long mineral palate. Fine finish. Generous with some development. Great starter to a terrific meal !
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Negociants Australia Portfolio Tasting: Florals, toast, lemon and pear aromas. Finely detailed, with great balance through the fruit purity and great acid line. Really good depth and persistence.
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CIVC Champagne Tasting 2015: Light herbs, saline, toast and lemon. Fine acidity, there is good power and boldness, with it maintaining balance through a great acid core. Plenty of class and style and should get even better over time.
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We had a bit of a split read on this - one of us really loved and I was more inclined to like. Early read was lots of fizz - think like a bunch of poprocks almost. Over the course of an hour it ended up being almost flat. It has good flavors - toast and brioche and very refined.
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A mix of superb and corked wines: Toast, cheesy, lemon and pear. Good acidity and purity of fruit. The acidity really cuts throughout the length and extends the fruit flavour. Will likely get better with time.
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John's Birthday Degustation Dinner (Hippopotamus Restaurant, Museum Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand): Drunk directly after the 2002 Pol, this was by far, the more involving experience. While very much in the same house style, this bottle was far fresher, with brilliant definition and a clear inner core of structure that adds lift and life to the yeasty and toasty aromas and flavors. While there is bottle age character, this came across as young and with the ability to grow in nuance and stature as it ages. I would love to try this out of a magnum. A brilliant 2002.
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Blind Champagne Tasting: Mineral, lemon, pear and a saline note. Very pure fruit with fantastic balance. Good length and the cleansing acidity does a great job.
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Had along side among others Krug 2000, Krug GC and Comtes 2004 and this was the weakest showing. Seemed shut down on the nose, revealing only slight notes of toasted nuts, freshly baked rye bred and apple stew. On the palate it is a full bodied champagne with a decent lenght. Lovely mousse and balance saves it. This is for cellaring as it seems to have a lot of potential burried deep somewhere. 91 for now
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OMG, this is too young to my taste. I've been abducted by all these CT TNs ...damned. Everything is here but who cares? Aromas of brioche, citrius, minerals and apples. Delicious but all is depending on the nose. Palate isn't ready, acid and shortie yet creamy and rich. Full of identity and depth but it is very clear to me that the best is yet to come. Next bottle for next 2036. Pairing bluefish with orange, croissant with mortadella and rissoto with bianchetta truffle.
Por Dios, esto está demasiado verde para mi gusto. He sido abducido por todas esas notas del CT. Hay que ...fastidiarse. Cada elemento está ahí pero ¿a quién le importa? Aromas a panadería, mantequilla, cítricos, minerales y manzanas. Deliciosa pero casi todo se basa en la nariz. La boca no está lista, ácida y corta aunque cremosa y abundante. Con identidad y profundidad pero queda claro que lo mejor está por llegar. Mi siguiente botella para el próximo 2036. Acompañando una caballa con naranja, un cruasán con mortadela Tavola y un rissoto con bianchetto.
2002 Champagne and Burgundy dinner with Eric (Chez Billy Sud - Washington DC): Much denser and riper than the CdC. Riche yellow pit fruit, also red fruits, honey and sweet spices. I didn’t notice much mineral presence. Fine mousse, sweet and sour yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and sweet deeply toned finish. This is a very rich and dense champagne. Not as good as the last bottle but still really nice.
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pnp, still very young. Yeasty and creamy, with fresh citrus fruit, lime, green apple, ripe, mineral, salt. Pale yellow in color, high intensity, fine bubble. Excellent! Although great vintage, can drink now.
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A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Beautiful wine with brioche in the bouquet, beautiful citrus, minerals etc. Very rich, refined and tasty and with a great length. Really beautiful wine! 94+
Golden-yellow around the rim. Expressive and open nose - yeasty with notes of brioche, baked apple, yellow stone fruit, minerality. Quite ripe and rich. Lovely texture on the palate, quite accessible. Chalky, fresh, pure, vibrant, mineral. Very persistent, lovely finish. Great future. 94-95+
Delightful appearance showing a nice golden colour with a steady stream of extremely small bubbles opening up a wonderful palate. Oysters, oceans & limestone set phase for a fresh and fruity mousse. The finish is very long and well balanced with a kafir lime bitter sweet flavour. Perfect to drink already, but will develop so much more with cellaring.
It was a perfect aperitif to celebrate my wifes birthday in a very hot day in Dubai!
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Premium champagne - two houses, two vintages (Gothenburg): Good nose with that wonderfully rich 2002 fruit. Lots of marine components: salt, iodine, chalk and seaweed, combined with fresh citrus and some smoke. No secondary notes yet. On the palate lively mousse and fresh acids. Still tight and a bit angular, the fruit is not as generous as I've come to expect of the vintage, but seems to have good deepth and will probalbly broaden with time. Good lengt to the fresh finish.
This is a very good champagne that will in time probably become a great champagne, but I'm not sure it will ever reach the same heights as the 1996. 92-93 for now, with good upside.
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The 2002 vintage is a notch better than the 99 and the 2000. In contrast to the 2002 Dom Perignon, this is, however, not substantially better than other vintages. This is still young but, to my surprise, already very drinkable. Will score higher with cellaring. Pnp.
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Apricot, lemon custard, and buttered toast on the nose. As usual with this cuvée, a Pinot Noir-heavy blend. Layered and lovely in the mouth, albeit not as rich as I'd expect for the vintage. Wonderfully long finish. Will evolve nicely over the next decade in the cellar.
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I was expecting more from this, though that could the fact it is still very young and needs a few more years to come into itself. Aroma of pretzel and citrus, palate reflects a pinot heavy blend, filling the mouth completely.
A great, typical Winston Churchill style champagne, which means it leans toward a slight dominance of pinot noir over chardonnay (in both style and actual content) and that its balance and harmony is nearly flawless.
Still very much in its youth. The 2000 vintage of this champagne I think is more open and possibly even more enjoyable than the 2002, at the present time. Still, this will probably surpass the 2000, eventually. The score I give it is for its present stage, not what I think it will be (i.e. I think it will reach greater heights in the future).
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Great Sir W! As expected. This is a big Champagne, with a nose full of big minerals, deep, rich and succulent, with superb intensity and cleanness. Very fine, apples, stone fruits, chalky minerals, lemon, lemon peels, some nuts and smoked fresh toast, with a small hint of fresh yeast present. Palate is very intense, young, full, deep and rich, filled with lovely sappy sun ripe fruit, green apples, pears, citrus/lemons, yellow grapefruit, white peaches almonds/nuts & freshly baked bread. Very long and rich stony mineral filled finish. Cutting clean sharp acidity dominates at this young stage, with a great body underneath to build for a long time. A very pure, mineral & acidity driven Champagne, that will open up with more cellar time, and become a truly superb SWC within a few years. 95+ points for now, big upside! (94 – 97+)
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Can't agree with many of the tasting notes on here.
Got the brioche, but it never integrated with the citrus & the experience was dominated by yeast. No-where near the heights of previous vintages..... yet. Time will tell if this brings it all together into a single beautiful experience, or if it remains fragmented and confused.
If it does come together into something special I think it's some way off. Let's be clear, it's not unpleasant, far from it, but I suspect it's early in the journey.
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still a baby, with alot of acidity, green apples and lemon on the nose. taste is quite small at the moment but elegant and mostly lemon, lemonpeel, a bit of hazelnuts. This wine will grow with cellaring and then get a better score then 93. 93>>
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"Eagle's Nest" Dinner (The White House, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Lightly lemon gold colour. Exuberant and persistent bead, even in a wine glass. Nose of super-fresh ciabatta bread with lots of white flour on it, fresh crushed lemons, citrus leaves.....a lot of ozone emarges with time in the glass. Palate is very Epsom Salts on the attack, saline, sea breeze, oyster shell minerality, muscular in mouthfeel, classic Winston Churchill masculinity, lots of Hovis bread on a dry finish. Slightly heady. Good length. Superb even at this precocious age. The ozone character is what stands out for me compared to other recent vintages such as the 1999 and the 2000.
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Birthday Dinner with Good Wine (NEXT Restaurant - Chicago IL): Lots of apple with plenty of lemon and lemon peel. Aggressive acidity is slightly overwhelming right now, but this has the concentration substance that I know will come into balance in a few years and become a stunning wine.
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Fresh, vibrant aromas of lemon, baker's yeast and mineral. It is direct yet elegant and has nice depth of fruit and excellent detail. Bead is fine and mousse exceptionally creamy. It finishes with good cut and is very persistent. Lovely Champers.
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Fete de Champagne Grand Tasting (Astor Center, NYC.): This wine had one of the most distinctive noses of the day: deep, perfumed, nutty - creamy-herbal? something like soap, lavender or marzipan. Sweet pear, big, rich, good acid, lemon, stones. Very young on the palate with an assertive mousse - huge. Lemon, herbs, spice. The finish is big and long with lemon, ginger, minerals and a touch of sweet malt. Excellent with superb potential. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5-5.5+/6, Finish - 5+/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5-18/20.
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4/1/2024 - fadincvaros Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bello, in fase evolutiva ma ancora splendido. Il naso passa dalle note fruttate a quelle fungine , che si rivelano eleganti e preponderanti. Effervescenza elegante e ben chiara, notevole lunghezza, la solita proverbiale eleganza. Un grande champagne, ma la 2000 bevuta qualche settimana fa con la stessa compagnia vince il confronto all’unanimità.
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3/16/2024 - A.Hansen Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brioche and orchard fruits on the nose. Great intensity and depth on the nose. The palate is concentrated and vinous with notes of brioche, apple tart, toasted almonds, apricot and white flowers. Finish goes on and on. So balanced.
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3/15/2024 - StiGGe wrote: 90 Points
The scent has a touch of brioche cheese and fresh baguette.
The wine has a very fine mouse. The major taste is of golden yellow apples, a minor bit of chalk and rose hip.
Its not a super complex wine, i think we can wait at least 10 years to open it up again. Its a good champagne but a little monotom.
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2/10/2024 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Rich and complex, with a nose of toast, brioche, preserved lemon and biscuit. It was full, creamy and powerful and cut by a line of minerally acidity. The finish drove on and on. Still very fresh.
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1/19/2024 - GNBB wrote: 94 Points
A medium deep honey in colour with brioche and white currants on the nose. Palate is really intense and superbly balanced with a real freshness against the depth of flavour. Long persistence. Excellent. Drinking perfectly now. Drink now-2030.
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1/5/2024 - tdiehn wrote: 93 Points
Golden color. Needed some air. Very winy and complex. Creamy. Rich. Excellent Champagne!
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12/31/2023 - canan wrote: 95 Points
Absolutely stunning. Creamy red apple fruit with a touch of sweetness that is balanced nicely with an intense acidity. Complex and lovely!!
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12/31/2023 - oldwines Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really nice but in need of some air. This was slightly oxidized, but in a way that left a beautiful roasted cashew element to the wine. With some air the yeasty and slightly creamy nature gave way to some lemon curd and peach elements. Long supple finish.
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12/31/2023 - tak4 Likes this wine: 93 Points
When I was a wine puppy back in the 1990s, I was taught that Champagne doesn't really age well because the freshness of the beverage is lost with time. So, I've generally not been a believer in aged vintage bubbles. But it seems like the world has changed and more and more people are now getting into Champagnes with some time on them. So, let's give it a shot!
Poured into flutes with hips (Sophienwald). This wine is a deep golden color, bright, with fat bubbles that dissipate quickly.
Wine is fairly aromatic, with toast but also honey, a touch of caramel, citrus, and a spice note way underneath. N describes a mellow chalky minerality.
On palate, wine is sound. Well balanced, good strong acid, can't tell on alcohol but likely not very high, long citrusy finish (not sharp lemon but more like preserved lemon - mellow).
Overall this wine is pretty darn amazing. This is probably the best sparkling wine I have ever had. Happy New Year!
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12/14/2023 - Wine Life Elevated wrote:
Sublime!
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12/10/2023 - jamesabdavis wrote:
This is in the zone, rich and nutty, nice fresh citrus (orange), white flowers, touch of honey, toasty.
Again rich and fresh on the palate, vinous, broad, honeyed and floral but with crisp acidity holding it all in check.
Superb.
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11/27/2023 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 94 Points
Daniel's White Truffle Birthday Lunch (Otto Y Mezzo, Alexander House, Landmark, Central, Hong Kong): No detailed notes as everyone was thirsty and it disappeared in no time. But this was stunningly good - fresh, lifted nose and a vinious, deeply satisfying palate. Lots of reverberance inside the head on a very long finish. So nice after a disappointingly sub-par bottle two weeks ago. To the extent that I may have over-scored it this occasion relative to the J Schramm that followed it. Thanks, Hans!
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11/24/2023 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 95 Points
See previous note. This is just so good. Next 10 years will just make it better and better. Perfect to open up the evening for Thanksgiving with the family.
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11/12/2023 - Goldstone wrote: 88 Points
Lunch at Shane & Caroline's (Their Place, Hong Kong): Medium gold colour. Very muted mousse and bubbles..even with swirling. Nose is inexpressive except for intermittent gusts of sea breeze and saline. Palate of Epsom salts that have been toasted, weirdly, and slightly sour,salty lime. Nice buzz and toastiness inside the head on the finish. Clearly not a representative bottle.
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11/11/2023 - VINNICK Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just entering its drinking window. Stellar bubbly.
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10/20/2023 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Crisp, good color, long on the palate. Drinking now.
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10/14/2023 - Argrath wrote: 94 Points
(BYO Blind tasting)
Medium-fullish nose. Ripe apple. Marzipan and dark chocolate. Good depth.
Medium-fullish, elegant and developed palate. Very fruity. Ripe yellow apple and white flowers. Hints of chocolate. Elegant, creamy, pure and long. Perhaps lacking some complexity and depth.
Winston reveals itself as an elegant, but perhaps not among the most powerful champagnes. Can go on for 5-10 more years.
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10/12/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Jim & Michelene's 40th Anniversary Dinner (Jim and Michelene's Place, St. Paul, MN): Light medium yellow color. Drank a glass over 40 minutes. Deep and layered, orange peel, lemon, ginger snaps, roasted hazelnuts, oxidative, chalk. 93+pts.
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9/21/2023 - Shrewsram Likes this wine: 94 Points
Golden appearance, lazy bubbles.
Attractive richness, toasted brioche, warm yellow fruits, orange… whiff of salinity. Still youthful and bright.
Time brings more richness, amazing really, and kind of boozy/yeasty, a mix of red fruits too.
The palate is super tense and has a taut, twisty feel. Vinous after and initial richness, lovely acidity and a returning toastiness. Very fine and taut. Time makes it more relaxed (though plenty energetic), more booze and lees, a lovely prickle – the mousse is very precise and pinpoint. Big back palate, plenty of weight and power. Showing very well.
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9/16/2023 - Justin S Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was really powerful and fresh. Was expecting something more advanced / heavy / oxidized and it was just super refined and food friendly. No rush on this.
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9/1/2023 - lozatron wrote:
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir Wimps - Racine (La Trompette): To me this was over - poxed or something - but others felt it was decent if not perfect. I wonder if I have a particular disliked for that bruised Granny Smith character? Did not finish my glass.
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8/27/2023 - Gas Station Wine Guy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Yeasty, toasty, brioche, with lovely fruits, medium acidity wrapped up in a creamy body. A terriffic bottle. At peak.
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7/29/2023 - rbwineman Likes this wine:
Reaching full maturity
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7/23/2023 - WEB,III Likes this wine: 95 Points
Youthful
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6/12/2023 - drjb Likes this wine: 95 Points
At Harvey's, Brisbane for lunch. Our final bottle of this lovely wine is fresh and pure with a fine yellow gold colour and bead. The nose is pure with aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white cherries, white peaches and brioche. The palate is quite rich but pure with strong Blanc de Noirs character leading into a persistent spine of acid and citrus all balanced by soft brioche characters. A lovely mouthful of Champagne.
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5/16/2023 - brigcampbell wrote:
Okay, this doesn't suck. The color is a deep gold which is fair for a wine of 20 years. There's a medium oxidation aroma and yellow pear. The pallet shows lots of ripe pear and yellow apple wrapped up in a medium plus mouthfeel. Fine gentle bubbles. Terrific big house style and easy drinking.
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2/28/2023 - Rhellner Likes this wine:
Simply marvelous. Held in cellar for 8 years. Patience was rewarded.
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2/13/2023 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 95 Points
Drank over 2 nights and the last glasses were the best. Amber color, weight on the palate, great bubbles, delicious to the finish. Drink/hold
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1/7/2023 - mrmikemtr wrote: 94 Points
Winner!
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1/5/2023 - thunberg wrote: 91 Points
The best 2002 WC I've had so far.
Yellow apple, youthful, well balanced. Not as hollow or over the top as previous bottle.
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1/1/2023 - Rezy13 wrote: flawed
2023 New Year's Day Blind Tasting (Marietta, GA): Corked
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12/31/2022 - oldwines Likes this wine: 94 Points
Taken to a local restaurant for dinner, the Canal House in Milford, NJ. This is light lemon yellow with yeast and apple notes on the palate and the nose. Modest mouse of light bubbles. Fresh and energetic. Very nice but not as complex and refined as expected. Finish nice but somewhat short.
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12/17/2022 - soyhead wrote:
rich, lovely, needs to warm, red cherries, it was pointed out it would benefit from a piece of meat to go alongside. Very hearty.
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12/17/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Holiday Champagne Gala (Park Ridge Country Club): Walkaround tasting. Much more advanced and nowhere near the quality level vs the many previous times I have tasted this wine.
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12/15/2022 - Cliffen80 Likes this wine: 96 Points
No worries to hold
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11/18/2022 - Puteljen! wrote: 95 Points
Generously broght by a friend for dinner. This is classic Pol Roger: great balance, lovely fruit, good complexity and depth. Nothing that stands out and nothing out of place. Just very, very good champagne. Clealy a step up from previous bottles (last before this one in 2018). This is now entering its proper dinking window.
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11/17/2022 - vinhslee wrote: 92 Points
From (not-so-properly-stored) bottle.
Nose and bubbles are almost gone. On the palate, the flavours are rich, elegant and slightly oxidative. At peak / slightly past peak now. Drink up.
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10/23/2022 - hajoha wrote: 93 Points
Pol Roger Winston Churchill 2002.
En herlig moden Champagne.
Smooth og elegant.
En voksen raffinert gentleman.
Jeg vil anslå at denne drikker på topp nå.
Bra konsentrasjon og flott lengde. 93p
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10/18/2022 - KenK Likes this wine: 94 Points
My second and last bottle this year. Again, this was seriously good with wonderful depth of flavors. Bright sweet apples accompanied by ginger spice and lemongrass. Quite yummy, dense, and bright with beautiful lift and vibrancy. Perhaps the best Winston Churchill I have had outside of a 1988 from a magnum years ago. Bravo!
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8/9/2022 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Surprisingly fresh and vibrant. Loads of dry mineral stony components with real sense of depth. Better than expected. Impressed!
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7/26/2022 - Elvis1969 wrote: 91 Points
Lite skum på näsan men fin struktur i munnen. Aningen svag flaska eller också behöver den mer tid.
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7/20/2022 - sh6k Likes this wine: 95 Points
Super rich nutty sweet pinot fruit just starting to tip a toe into candied or cooked. I wouldn’t want to lose much more freshness so would probably drink your bottles now, but expect a good time when you do.
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7/8/2022 - fizz wrote:
Pear, white florals, nuts. Seamless and mid weighted, just enough intensity to carry the predominately savoury, nutty and slightly honeyed flavours to a long, gentle finish. In a great spot now.
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6/12/2022 - fclarity wrote: 93 Points
Solid Champagne with no noticeable oxidative character.
Medium effervescent with good acidity and white stone notes.
This just needed a bit more intensity to move to an elite level. Drinking well now and arguably 94 points
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6/10/2022 - Rezy13 wrote:
Chateauneuf & Champagne $60+ Non-Blind (Bin 75 Alpharetta, GA): Yellow straw color; opulent nose, eggy, bready, grilled lemon, lime zest, still quite young, full bodied and broad shouldered, acid is not driving which makes me think this won't get much better but a little more time should add some welcomed complexity.
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5/21/2022 - ovenmitt wrote: 96 Points
Drinking very well and seems in the sweet spot. Nose - mandarin, lemon, lemon curd, clover and honey jasmine. Developing tertiary notes with green tea, honey biscuits and mineral. Extremely long finish. KILLER champagne.
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4/20/2022 - Cromulent Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened at a beach picnic. Mid gold colour, little bit of an oxidative character on the nose but not the palate lightly sweet. Very enjoyable.
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4/3/2022 - 5laton wrote:
This was big, full and rich. But I also found it rather sweetly ripe, with more sultana raisin notes than I would prefer. I had a better bottle of this last year in Madrid.
As an update, I like the remaining wine much more on day 2. The sugar has begun to integrate and it shows a lovely buttery richness. There is still more sultana raisin than I'd like, but it shows a real class nonetheless.
Side note, as time goes on I seem to enjoy many 2002s less, finding a growing lack of energy - and this is not only the chardonnay based wines.
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3/1/2022 - UFGators Likes this wine: 98 Points
Simply fantastic and drinking in its prime. Extremely complex, fine mousse and a long finish. Was killer in a universal style wine glass and the wine performed well at Colder and warmer temperatures. I don’t see this wine improving so good to drink now or next 5 or so years.
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2/11/2022 - thunberg wrote: 86 Points
As previous note but it feels it has past peak. A bit hollow in the middle, sickly sweet aftertaste.
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2/6/2022 - vinkeger wrote: 93 Points
Nydelig nese. Røde epler, brioche, ristede hasselnøtter. Integrert og balansert i munn med en flott og jevn kurve. Tydelig utvikling. Tror denne er mer eller mindre på topp nå.
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1/1/2022 - mrmikemtr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very young. Lemon on nose and palate. Zesty snd energetic. I’d hold for at least 5 years. Not even thinking about the 2004s I have now.
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12/31/2021 - Chekib m. Likes this wine: 97 Points
At least 2 or 3 years since my last bottle of this vintage and it’s getting even better than last time.
Golden color. Intense nose that jumps out of the glass with aromas of lemon confit, ginger bread, baked pastry.
Full body with unbelievable energy, intensity and length. Mouth watering and mellowed acidity with same flavours of lemon confit, ginger bread, lemon tart, star fruit.
Elegant and powerful at once.
Excellent now but no hurry to drink, will be even better in few years.
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12/25/2021 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Nose: The nose is deep and broad shouldered with layered tones of red apples, quince, brioche, toast, spiced pears, custard, nougat, honey, vanilla beans, biscuits, yellow flowers, and pastry tones. There is so much depth and balance with a style that really draws you in.
Taste: The feel is Medium bodied with tart, high acidity. The acidity has integrated well and the feel is rich, textured, and dense with red apples, quince, spiced pears, nougat, vanilla beans, brioche, toast, honey, yellow flowers, and pastry tones.
Overall: This was from Magnum and it was flat out gorgeous at every single point of it being opened and drunk. This is mature and will easily hold at this level for a while.
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12/25/2021 - ProfByron Likes this wine: 94 Points
Marvelous mature Champagne
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12/21/2021 - Raiman wrote:
Sofies birthday
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12/17/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Holiday Champagne Gala (Park Ridge Country Club): In 95/96/02 vertical. Both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay seem to shine here. Great and bright textures, very good length.
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12/17/2021 - KenK Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really good apple notes with a spicy edge. A denser riper style with an oily edge. Lots of brightness and depth here. Drink or hold.
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11/21/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Chave Hermitage Dinner (Greenwood - Highwood IL): Bright and tense with so much apple. Powerful from beginning to end, always energetic. Very good now, clearly with upside.
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10/25/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 96 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant d'Oude Schuur, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium): Magnum. Marvellous nose, beautifully developed but perfectly fresh and lively, deep minerality, candied fruit, spices, red apple and citrus, brioche and flowers; rich and vinous but very energetic palate, silky mousse, firm acidity, nutty finish with very good resonance and length. Decades ahead of it.
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10/14/2021 - Markham in Arlington Likes this wine: 96 Points
Brioche on the nose
Dried citrus
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10/2/2021 - dbg wrote:
Pale yellow/gold. Bread, toast, pear on the nose with nice aged complexity, good mousse, medium-full body, similar aged nutty, early oxidative complexity on the palate in my sweet spot, ripe fruit nicely balanced by minerally acidity, medium finish. Showing well, has matured significantly in the last 2 years. Excellent.
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8/28/2021 - ginfizz wrote: 93 Points
Caramel tinged citrus on the nose, lovely balance, a bit monolithic but crisps up in the finish. Mousse was a bit flat.
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8/27/2021 - merlotsmile Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medelstor doft av gula äpplen, bröd, hasselnötter.
I smaken lite spretig. Fortfarande ung och behöver mer tid för att öppna upp sig. Lite beska i avslutet. Det finns en fantastisk energi i vinet som väntar på att få blomma ut.
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8/17/2021 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ever so young, lusty palate, great finish only will get better. Hold
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7/21/2021 - Elvis1969 wrote: 91 Points
Överraskande spretig och bråkig fortfarande. Behöver mer tid.
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7/18/2021 - jmoon Likes this wine: 97 Points
About as good as it gets. Opened up after 30-60 minutes. Gorgeous rich fruit but firm backbone, amazing length, fine bead. Powerful and beautiful and for my palette optimal now while the energy is still there.
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5/12/2021 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
An elegant and complex Champagne already although it doesn't seem fully integrated yet especially out of magnum. 92+ At Penavic dinner atop 15 Hudson Yards.
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5/9/2021 - UFGators Likes this wine: 94 Points
Drank alongside the 1996. Perfect apertif and drinking incredibly well now. Elegant but with good depth. Possibly at it's peak but no signs of fading. Not sure this will get better but wine does not seem to be fading any time soon. Drink now and evaluate every 5 years.
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4/4/2021 - englishman's claret wrote:
I’ve liked this wine in the past but on this occasion I found myself wondering whether it really might be a perfect wine. Dazzling and arguably at the peak of its powers, balancing mature orchard fruit, brioche, and cream with vibrant lemon. Such creaminess and depth.
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3/6/2021 - Dnordh wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly good for the price. Well balanced. Really enjoyed this.
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2/26/2021 - Larslatour wrote: 95 Points
Perfect champagne together with Jaques Selosse V.O on my 70th birthday. Fresh, elegant, slim easy to drink a lot of.
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1/23/2021 - Andre Brattland wrote: 95 Points
Beautiful aromas with both freshness and development in beautiful balance. Wonderful salinity - that is, this fabulous salt / sea scent that rocks over juicy citrus, red apples, autumn flowers, sweat, cool coffee, ripe bread baking and this clear umami character in the form of mushrooms. Good full-bodied Champagne with a broad and massive mouthfeel, without being aggressive. Balance is also the key word in mouthfeel. Delicious fruit of live raspberry fruit, apple, wonderful saltiness, bread baking, cool coffee, mushrooms and hints of asparagus. Long and complex finish. The youth is over, but Sir Winston has no plans to retire in the next 15 years. This is alive! Lovely! 95 points.
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1/22/2021 - Benoit Hardy wrote: 92 Points
On opening, the nose is very primary, on chalk and lemon. The effervescence is active but well cut. On the other hand, the palate is extremely compact, the substance really struggles to express itself. The finish is upward, cramped and focused, which is a disappointment at this point.
We decide to put the wine aside. 2 hours later, the wine is much more relaxed and at ease with a beautiful, energetic substance that unwinds in the mouth, all carried by a fine acidity that brings additional tension. It remains very primary on the nose but it expresses itself more. The palate gives on wet stone and citrus. The balance is there, the material, the tension, but all this is still in the early stages for my taste, it lacks serenity. The finish unfolds a length more in line with the pedigree. It's good, the potential is certain, but to my taste it in not ready yet
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1/1/2021 - kingkanu wrote:
Soft gold colour with very fine bead. This comes across as a bit broad and has fair weight to it, but with no shortage of finesse and cut to keep it fresh. There’s a little honey and truffle on the nose, some red fruit and confit lemon. The finish is really long and tasty, a super bottle of fizz to see the awful year off
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12/31/2020 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 95 Points
NYE lunch at Bishan. Drank in Gabriel Standart. A seriously show-stopping great champagne. This bubbly on a rather empty stomach was probably the cause of me getting hammered.
Appearance is clear, pale intensity, yellow gold colour, thin legs. Fine bubbles.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of oyster shell, biscuit, bits of salinity, deep citrus lemon and lime, combination of green + golden apples, sweet cream. Developing.
On the palate, dry, hgh acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), medium body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of oyster shell, saline minerality, biscuit, deep citrus lemon and lime, green and baked golden apples, sweet cream mousse. Long finish.
Very very good quality. A real joy of a champagne to drink. For me, all good and nothing really excessive or that out of place here. Slick aristocrat.
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12/25/2020 - benhalton wrote:
An aristocrat. Softly spoken but such depth. Burnished gold colour, the first properly ready bottle of this I've had, right at the start of a long drinking window. Rich texture, pronounced note of red apple skins and blackcurrant leaf, the acidity is not obvious but despite the weight the wine is fresh. Superb now but I think 3 or so years will help. ****1/2
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9/18/2020 - fizz wrote:
Strawberry fruits with a savoury note as well. Touch of earth and yeast. The mouthfeel is full, rich, clean and crisp. The savoury notes are delicious, and there’s a delicacy to the fruit sweetness. Good length. Drinking well.
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6/27/2020 - fontaine wrote: 92 Points
Couleur or, brioche, poire, fruits du sud, un peu de cannelle? Belle attaque et bulle assez fine. Tres beau mais j’ai deja eu de plus experience avec ce 2002
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6/20/2020 - JHSP Likes this wine: 94 Points
Complex depth and yeasty nose - superb length and finish - sweet spot now and for the next years I suppose! Brilliant Champagne
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3/14/2020 - atbarbar Likes this wine: 98 Points
This is really a special Winston Churchill. Fully mature, delivers a lot of complexity. Already golden color, very complex nose of nuts and minerals and burnt sugar. On the palate is very long. Definitely the best among the 2004 2006 2008. The only one to be really ready. Actually, even too forward. This wine does not seem to have a long span of life in front. Consume within 5 years.
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2/24/2020 - ginfizz wrote: 94 Points
Nice, young. Still developing and could gain a couple points in the future.
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2/10/2020 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 97 Points
This bottle was really firing on all cylinders. Amazing wine.
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2/5/2020 - HowardNZ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Two visits to Waiheke Island (Easter 2019 and New Year's 2020) (Auckland, NZ): Deep but bright gold. A bouquet of orchard and tropical fruit particularly pears, passionfruit and pineapples, with fine citrus, cinnamon and other baking spices and a dab of clotted cream. In the mouth, more citric than suggested by the bouquet but with an oxidative edge. More exotic fruit than I would have expected from a Pol Winston (I doubt I would have picked it blind). Very much a ripe, opulent 2002 character. Top quality Champagne!
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12/22/2019 - Bobhelge wrote: 94 Points
The New Traditional December 22 Tasting (Anders place): Quite developed on the nose with earthy notes and a delicate layer of yellow fruit and cookie dough autolysis. On the palate the fruit is more to the dry side and figs is the main component. Really fresh and uplifting acidity.
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12/19/2019 - dbg wrote:
Pale yellow/gold. Bread, toast, pear on the nose with a little aged complexity, good mousse, medium-full body, some complexity on the palate (but not as much as the similarly aged MV Krug opened at the same dinner), bit of sweetness nicely balanced by minerally acidity, medium finish. Starting to show well, hoping for more complexity over time having tasted it next to the Krug. Excellent.
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12/14/2019 - drjb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another consistent showing of this wine with a yellow gold colour and fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach, poached pear and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. There is a touch of oxidative character that is more notable than previous bottles. The palate remains quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but with a long fine spine of acid and citrus all balanced by some soft brioche characters. Delicious !
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12/9/2019 - dbg wrote:
Pale yellow/gold. Bread, toast, pear on the nose with some aged complexity showing that wasn’t there in last year's bottle, good mousse, medium-full body, complexity follows through on the palate, bit of sweetness nicely balanced by minerally acidity, medium finish. Starting to show really well, likely at peak and should stay there for a few years or longer. Excellent.
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12/7/2019 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
White Truffle Dinner: Rich and toasty -- in a great spot right now. Excellent but not quite as good as 02 Dom and no where close to 02 Krug in the same flight.
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12/7/2019 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Fifteenth Annual White Truffle Dinner (Lake Bluff, IL): In Great 2002 Flight. Both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir coming through clearly with very good weight, starting to age around the edges. I liked this slightly more a few years back.
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11/28/2019 - Matt T wrote: 92 Points
All the signs of a fabulous champagne in the making. Lots of depth and body here, but hiding behind a wall of acid at the moment. This really is shut down at the moment. The 1999 is the way to go. Let this sit for at least another five years. 92 now with a ton of upside.
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11/25/2019 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 94 Points
A private tasting and dinner (Champagne Pol Roger, Épernay, France): Tasted blind. Perfectly classical style, complex and complete but very shy, fresh, apples, evolving but not expressive at all right now. Will it open up again?
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9/28/2019 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 94 Points
"Mr. & Mrs. White" Anniversary Dinner (Friends' Rooftop, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Drank as an aperitif in large white wine glasses.....even more expressive than drinking it from large flutes the week before (see my earlier notes). This is so more-ish...fresh, elegant but already showing the underlying masculinity of the Sir Winston Churchill marque. This will likely last forever but it is so hard not to open a bottle already.
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9/22/2019 - Zweder wrote: 96 Points
Occasional dinner group: A mixed set of wines. (@ Zarzo, Eindhoven, The Netherlands): Beautiful and concentrated bouquet with yellow tropical fruits and pear. On the palate full bodied and round, mild acidity, minerals, pleasant bitterness and a great length. Luxurious bubble with plenty of future. 95 – 96
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9/20/2019 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lemon gold. Languid mousse. Nose is slightly yeasty and roasted lemon. Palate is deep Epsom salts and lemon sherbet. Pronounced chalky dryness. Develops beginnings of lightly roasted hazelnuts with extended time in the glass. Very smooth but retaining an angular freshness and zest. A long bell chime of resonant length. Very elegant and still has youthful feminity rather than the more typical masculinity of Sir Winston. One of two bottles given to a friend for their birthday. This has developed quite a bit since I last drank it a year ago but I need to discipline myself to keep my remaining bottles in the back of my cellar for several years and drink the 1999 in the intervening time.
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9/3/2019 - DangerMouse81 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Does Champagne get any better than this? Apple pastry, baked almonds and toasty lemon meringue. Rich and staining, yet so fresh and juicy. Masterful wine. Wow, wow, wow.
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9/2/2019 - hajoha wrote: 94 Points
Pol Roger Winston Churchill Magnum 2002.
Pen dybde her, røde epler, krydder, svakt autolysepreg og gjærbakst.
Perfekt mousse av mikroskopiske bobler - strålende munnfølelse.
Rik og konsentrert - samtidig svært elegant og balansert.
Dette er virkelig bra.
Pen nå, men dette kommer til å utvikle seg over mange år.
Holder trøkket hele veien.
Lang fast utgang med masse kraft.
Særdeles lang ettersmak.
Topp vin. 94-95p
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8/31/2019 - rossi.wine wrote:
Over dinner, no formal notes. Golden yellow in colour. Complex on the nose - yeasty, mineral, white and yellow fruit, nuts. Fresh and mineral on the palate, layered with good generosity and impressive length. 94-96?
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8/30/2019 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
From magnum. Magnificent, and surprisingly accessible at this stage. I'd be thrilled to drink this again.
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8/17/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 96 Points
Meursault Perrieres blind tasting 1988-2011: From Magnum. Much better showing than four years ago. Really complete. Feels like in the peak drinking window, notes of lime, pear, brioche, bakery, nuts. Wonderfully complex. Good acidity, lively mousse.
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8/15/2019 - KeithAkers wrote: 94 Points
Warm nights, big wines (park ridge country club, park ridge, IL): Nose: The nose is pungent and deep with red apples, spiced pears, quince, vanilla, nougat, custard, ginger, honey, brioche, and pastry dough. This is a nose that you just get lost in with its great complexity and depth.
Taste: The feel is Medium/full bodied with crisp, high acidity. The acidity still has some cut with the feel showing off great depth and texture with red apples, spiced pears, quince, vanilla, honey, brioche, custard, and pastry dough.
Overall: This is a real treat right now. It is drinking beautifully and still has plenty left to age gracefully for at least another 8+ years.
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8/12/2019 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
A fresh nose of ripe apple, toast and peach. It is complex, full and rich, with a relatively high dosage feel, countered by chalky acidity. Length is good.
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8/7/2019 - englishman's claret wrote: 94 Points
Still very young, at first this is a bit dumb on the nose. The impact is more clear on the palate where there's wonderful lemon custard, mineral, brioche, and peony. I'd be inclined to tuck these away for some time yet.
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7/18/2019 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Summer of champagne 2002 vintage (Park Ridge Country Club): Deeper color, great mouthfeel. Drinking well now and probably over the next 10 years.
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7/17/2019 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 95 Points
2002 Vintage Champagne horizontal (Elystan Street, London): Noticeable pinot dominated blend, visually copper, this was a very good showing and good contrast to the sweeter Piper Rare alongside. The CSWC was to me cleaner, less dosage and blessed with a nice salty kiss on the aftertaste that made it very interesting. I like this and it was a bit of a redemption for the house after its 08 underwhelmed us at the prior tasting. WOTF for me.
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7/13/2019 - rnellans wrote: 95 Points
Tasted vertical of 02, 04, 06 and 08. Finished in tie for second with the 08 imo. Deep yellow, ,Rich, biscuit . apple, and some peach. big style. Excellent acid. Obviously More mature than the 08, therefore it had an edge.
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7/6/2019 - Colpete Likes this wine: 100 Points
Meaty with a touch of orange sherbet and blueberries. Pinot noir heavy, rich smooth and clean. Consumed with friends it is notably amazing. AMAZING!!!!
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7/5/2019 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
RIBBS @ La T (La Trompette, London): Very vinous. Broad and full. Quite meaty with a touch of red apple. Similar to last showing, far more poised and together than straighT 02 Pol, but broad in a muscular rather than flabby way. Personally I’d prefer just a little more elegance though there was certainly lots of complexity and interest. ****
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7/3/2019 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 94 Points
Brief taste at a large gathering, mature with some oxidative notes, autolytic notes were fairly pronounced, fuller body, great acid, fine bead, I would like to have the 02 again if I can find it at a reasonable price, only purchased one bottle as I had heard mixed reviews on the 02 but this bottle showed great.
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6/29/2019 - Satoshi Nakamoto Likes this wine: 95 Points
WX Dinner: When Pol Roger WS is on, there's almost no topping it. I enjoyed this far more than all the Krugs and Doms at the table. More expansive, better texture, and so much more exciting. Wish I had cases of these.
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6/11/2019 - drjb Likes this wine: 96 Points
A consistent Champagne with this bottle from a friends cellar opening in the same way as past bottles I have enjoyed. There is a yellow gold colour with a fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apples, wild strawberry, white peach and pear with brioche on the nose. The palate is quite rich with strong Pinot character but with a long fine spine of acid and stoniness that balances the fruit exquisitely. One of my favourites.
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6/8/2019 - Bigtuna Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding champagne, just a joy to drink. Great on opening and may have improved a bit over the 4 hours of consumption. 94
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6/3/2019 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Provad på flaska.
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5/9/2019 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
Pale gold hue.
Nose of brioche, almond, candied lemon, apricot, sweet apple.
The mouthfeel is wonderful, full, yet elegant and light at the same time. This wine just glides across the palate and the finish lasts 30+ seconds. It’s delicious and ready to go now.
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5/6/2019 - SonnyChiba wrote: 95 Points
Wow was this good! Wish I had more.
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5/6/2019 - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent!
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4/23/2019 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Magnum. Viss gradefruktbeska i eftersmaken, blodapelsin, bra syra.
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3/31/2019 - Jammy Wine Likes this wine: 95 Points
Don’t miss 2002 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill if you’re a Pol Roger fan! It’s the successor to the brilliant 1996. Powerful and vinous, great acidity and racy feel that is reminiscent of the excellent 1996. High pitched ripe fruits and intense pastry and toast. Great transparency and generous flavours. Great power that improved after more time in the glass. Amazing how approachable they are when young but after trying 1996 I can bet Sir Winston Churchill 2002 can seriously age well! I would recommend decanting or opening it an hour before drinking it to let it breathe. (95/100)
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3/29/2019 - dcwino wrote: 96 Points
Lost Friday afternoon gathering – Chave, Krug, Churchill, Trimbach, Mugnier and etc. (Black Salt, Washington DC): Expressive youthful nose displaying rich yellow fruit with a hint of red, sour apple, fresh apple juice, a hint of raspberry soda, brioche, smoke, honey and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of concentrated rich yellow fruit, fine abundant mousse, bright acidity, strong limestone mineral and a long rich yellow fruit driven finish. This clearly expresses the ripe and concentrated vintage character. Drinking beautifully but can improve.
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2/11/2019 - MatthewKaiser Likes this wine: 94 Points
Excellent champagne. Drinking very well now, but no rush.
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1/25/2019 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Fabulous. Crisp, mineral, bread and pear. Long chalky finish.
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12/31/2018 - jlgnml Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great nose, great palate feel and good finish.
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12/30/2018 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quite light and smooth mousse. Complex nose with elegant yellow and red fruit. Some nuts, toffee, tobacco and coffee hints at development but still feels fairly young. On the palate very fresh with high acidity and no discernable maturity yet. Green apples, citrus, chalk and hints of salted browned butter. Long, fresh.
Very good but give it another half a decade in a cool cellar.
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12/7/2018 - drjb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Consistent notes : This wine has a yellow gold colour with fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach, poached pear and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. The palate is quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but with a long fine spine of acid and lemons all balanced by some soft brioche characters. This is simply a delicious drink if you like plenty of Pinot in your Champagne ( I do ! )
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12/2/2018 - tomoem Likes this wine: 95 Points
Rose petal bouquet with some fresh berries. Once in mouth the bubbles simply danced off the tongue and revealing a potpourri of flavors.
Strawberries and cream up front then vanilla, than lemon rind, than cream again then peaches and even some hazelnut's on the finish.
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11/25/2018 - Gh0zt wrote: 88 Points
Disappointed. The standard pol roger reserve is as good.
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10/18/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Wine Spectator newbies; 10/18/2018-10/20/2018 (Marriott Marquis): Fresh and crisp and almost a touch sweet. It's still very young. Needs more time.
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9/10/2018 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Simply outstanding. Has some green apple, preserved lemon and flora. It is direct and precise with great depth and breadth. Bead is super-fine and it is a Champagne of focus and real class.
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9/9/2018 - sbjm Likes this wine: 80 Points
Smooth, Fuller bodied. More oakey. No bitter aftertaste. No sweetness in taste or smell
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8/24/2018 - thunberg wrote: 88 Points
BYOB - FIFA World Cup, Finewines.se (Sollentuna, Sweden): This is a very good wine but not my preferred style. Mature, massive aroma, brioche, oak, nutty, feels like the dosage is a bit high (guess it's not), medium acidity, tart
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8/10/2018 - drjb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Yellow gold colour with fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. The palate is quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but a long fine spine of acid and lemons all balanced by some soft brioche characters. Very much a food wine that initially seemed a little full and really needed some air to fully express its structure.
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7/25/2018 - VDLT Wine Likes this wine:
A bold and very yeasty Champagne that encourages you to take notice but cannot fully captivate once you do. More depth than width. Very good.
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7/11/2018 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
All 9 Gevrey Grand Crus (Straits Clan, Singapore): Popped and poured, this was lovely and rather surprisingly easy-going for a relatively young Churchill, but somehow just a little step behind a bottle I had a couple of years back, which had the benefit of some breathing before service. The nose here had classic notes of cream, white meat and a touch of earth alongside big white-fruited aromas and a waft of toasty brioche. The palate was big, ripe and fairly forward, with ripe red apple flavours, a touch of sweet lemonade, and some creamy notes, all couched in a gentle mousse and decent, if not exactly bright acidity. Tons of strength, lots of length - a bit obvious in its heft and girth, but this was a delicious powerhouse. I think it will get better as it mellows with time as well. I would love to try this in say 5-6 years' time.
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6/16/2018 - Kirk Grant wrote:
A big and richly styled Champagne...golden yellow in the glass with notes of brioche, Bartlett pear, yellow apple, and brow butter sauce. The palate is medium-full bodied, medium-high acidity, with notes of Macintosh apple, cherry, and kiwi. There's a depth to this that is lovely...but it is sadly not the caliber of wine I was hoping it would be. Excellent!!!
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6/1/2018 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Friday Dinner at our Place (Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Drank fairly quickly between six of us in large Riedel flutes. Very generous initial mousse that quickly dispersed to leave quite large, languid bubbles in a moderately hay gold body. Nose of oyster shells, ozone sea breeze and fresh-mown hay. The palate has a definitely 'masculine' body and attack that I can best describe as "young Batard Montrachet with bubbles". Tightly closed on the finale. My third bottle at two-year intervals (all from the same case) and this seems to be getting younger - like, there is none of the hazelnut I have noted in the past even when revisiting a quarter-glass after 4 hours. Repeating my previous note two years ago, I would hide this away for several more years and - if you are lucky enough to have it - drink the gorgeous 1999 in the interim. 92 for now but will get much better, I'm sure.
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5/17/2018 - Mario17 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Soirée dégustation de rêve 2e essai 17 Mai 2018.
Couleur un peu plus foncée que le Lilbert naturellement. Fruits blancs, toasté légèrement et un peu fumé au départ avec des bulles serrées, c'est très riche, mais avec assez de fraîcheur et de finesse, très élégant avec une longueur assez impressionnante. 94-95
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4/22/2018 - tuccipa Likes this wine: 94 Points
Reminded me of that teenage bird dog that could hunt anything, yet be that loyal companion to the whole family. Sturdy yet with finesse, kind but yet so intelligent. Straw, citrus, slight yeast with enough acid to give it many years of pointing the pheasants. Like that dog, years of teaching me as much i taught him. Good breeding can be so important. Well done and still looking forward to more each season.
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4/1/2018 - HowardNZ Likes this wine:
Dinner for Wayne and Hannah ('96 and '02 Burgs, '82 Lagune etc): Darker colour. A spicier, more exhuberent nose. Citrus and orchard fruit but almond brioche and a little toffee apple. Richer and fuller than the Billecart but with supporting minerality and acidity. Con noted the 'zingy acidity' here. A Champagne for the long haul. Showing well on the night, the best so far I've seen this vintage of Winston show, I think. I thought it edged the Billecart-Salmon on the comparison, due to greater flavour complexity.
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3/23/2018 - dbg wrote:
Buttery bread on the nose, rich creamy palate feel with great acidity, medium to full bodied, long finish, young, excellent to outstanding
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1/19/2018 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Explosive notes of ripe fruit, sweet spices, also some mango, brioche, yeasty notes, also some browned apples. It's pretty full-bodied, with medium-high acidity and creamy bubbles. Excellent length. A slightly more powerful, but equally beautiful and aromatic Champagne.
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12/19/2017 - DoubleD1969 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Light yellow color with a fine bead of bubbles.. Tropical fruit, a little bit butterscotch, roasted nuts on the nose. Ripe mangoes and a hint of sea salt caramels on the palate. A bright finish. Not too much mouth-puckering acidity but still on the youthful side. Terrific pairing with Alaskan King crab.
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12/15/2017 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Yeasty and pretty, long finish. Sooooo good.
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12/10/2017 - melodrameric Likes this wine: 97 Points
Absolutely wonderful. Cherries, apples, toast, pastry, peaches. Finish goes on and on. Bought another bottle to revisit in a few years.
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12/8/2017 - ChristyLeighNY Likes this wine:
Came to life a few minutes after opening. Rich and balanced acidity/fruitiness/nuttiness/toastiness. Long finish, definitely worthy of a food paring but yet easily drinkable on its own. Little bit of a bitter finish.
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12/2/2017 - tomoem Likes this wine: 96 Points
One of the greatest champagnes I can recall having. Rose petal bouquet with some fresh berries. Once in mouth the bubbles simply danced off the tongue and revealing a potpourri of flavors.
Strawberries and cream up front then vanilla, than lemon rind, than cream again then peaches and even some hazelnut's on the finish. This was damn near dinner !
More delicate than the 03' krug or 96 DP which I have had but quite similar in richness. Fabulous !
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10/26/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Zachys Capital Collection Pre-Auction BYO Wine Dinner (Fiola Mare - Washington, DC): Rich and powerful. Lots of orchard fruit with some berry hints. More Pinot coming through vs when tasted a year ago. Very dense, nicely balanced.
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10/20/2017 - mattdathan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicate, tight at first, but opened up into a rich, complex taste with long finish.
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9/14/2017 - Markus IWC wrote: 93 Points
Champagne BYOB #1. Fresh citrus, red apples, almond, honey, roasted notes. Lively acidity. The 02 is still a youngster and a little closed, not remotely ready to drink. Still very enjoyable of course but will improve significantly in coming years. Next bottle in 3-5 years. 93p
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9/9/2017 - BradE wrote:
Favre-a-thon 6.0: Initially showing a lot of dough and yeast. Then the acidity kicked in. Dry pure, clean and enjoyable. Overall quite nice, if not exceptional.
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9/4/2017 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 96 Points
Le Tour de Champagne Tasting (Hotel Intercontinental Amstel, Amsterdam, NL): Trade tasting, brief notes. Deep and refined, mature but fresh, layered and nuanced, relaxed and long. A great classic without excessive weight or ripeness. Note: on the purple pages this scores from 15.5 - 19 points in five notes. From (very) average to great. Avoid or hoard. Which is it?
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8/31/2017 - godx wrote:
Orchard fruit with hints of citrus and yeast. Quite focused on the palate with a fine mousse and solid acidity. A rich yet precise champagne.
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7/28/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 95 Points
Light golden color, ultra fine bead and mousse. Split bottle over 2 hours. We brought this to Alma for a belated anniversary dinner, in what turned out to be our best dinner there ever. The wine is youthful but clearly in the window. I love the elegant and finessed expression, this bottle was actually more like Tait CdC than I expected. The complexity is impressive. Starts with lemon and lemon peel out front on the nose, not really toasted, some yeastiness builds over 30 minutes, apple blossom, saline, pear and spiced pears. The palate is very much mid weight currently. The flavors and intensity deepens over an hour; lemon, apple, pear, saline, refined chalk, pastry sheets, sourdough, quince and hints of marzipan round out the palate. There was also another aroma on the nose, that I described as like smelling a puff of cedar dust - quite intriguing, and I'm not suggesting any wood here., just a cerebral impression. Wonderful stuff. 95+pts.
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4/16/2017 - eschaefer Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium golden hue like dried straw. Fine bubbles and rich. Bouquet was muted a bit with rising dough aroma along with a pronounced nuttiness and earthiness. Great mouthfeel and palate of creamy almonds and fresh baked bread. Fruit component was secondary but a mild lemon zest and apple. Rich but medium acidity kept it clean. WC is one of my all time fave champagnes but this vintage did not score as high for me, although still 90+. Recommended.
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4/8/2017 - onboisduvin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Aroma of yeast, toast, and citrus. Similar taste with density was filling the mouth. It aged very well but was a bit too ripe for the 2002 vintage compared with other Grand cru. A surprise.
20200808 This bottle is too ripe at all. Very enjoyable.
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3/21/2017 - thewiz Likes this wine: 94 Points
(Disgorged in 2014) Lovely youthful nose filled with minerals, raspberry and yellow stone fruit and with a hint of incipient maturity showing truffles. Palate still very fresh with acidity, fruitiness and with a long lasting red grapefruit finish. This was drinking as lovely as always. Still feels like it has much more to give and will keep evolving for another decade or so. Best 2017-2032.
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3/16/2017 - pakabear Likes this wine: 93 Points
Extremely creaming Champagne, yeast, French toast, aged very well and drinking at it's prime the way I like my Champagne. Sexy palate and leaves you longed for the next sip. Gained complexity with time in glass as well, very good.
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3/13/2017 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Rich, creamy, full and classy. It has loads of orchard fruit flavour and the full suite of bakery products. It is generous and a real crowd pleaser.
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3/8/2017 - MikeATL Likes this wine: 94 Points
Crisp and vibrant, rich but agile, a hint of tangerine, stunning and young.
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2/14/2017 - alr6767 wrote: 96 Points
Really stunning. Sea shells, citrus zest especially lime, brioche, little to no age showing. Creamy mouth feel with hidden acidity that surrounds the tongue, amazing focus and purity of fruit, striking persistence. Best '02 I've had yet.
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2/4/2017 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Initialt väldigt sluten och platt och jag började fundera på om den kanske var defekt, men med lite luft och värme öppnade den upp sig. Klart Pinot-dominerad med mogna röda äpplen på näsan. I munnen apelsinskal och blodgrape. Bra syra. När vinet nått rumstemperatur kom sköna kolatoner fram. Mycket trevlig men jag kan inte säga att det kändes som en Winston Churchill. Däremot var den rätt lik Cristal 2006. Märkligt!
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1/28/2017 - drjb Likes this wine: 95 Points
Lunch at Noosa. Yellow gold colour with fine bead. There are beautiful and fine aromas of red apple, wild strawberry, white peach and brioche on the nose which develop further with time. The palate is quite rich with strong Blanc de Noirs character but a long fine spine of acid and lemons all balanced by some soft brioche characters. Really delicious and tending to a real food champagne style.
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1/4/2017 - KeithSurg wrote: 94 Points
This wine has something for everyone, I would imagine. Smooth, remarkably balanced. Rich and mature, yet still very fresh. Paired well with seared salmon with beurre blanc sauce. Nothing in particular stood out to make it more exciting, though.
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12/10/2016 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Väldigt annorlunda mot den första flaskan jag provade. Den här hade tydliga mognadstoner och en lite udda doft av yoghurt (?). Först tänkte jag att den kanske var defekt på något sätt men det var den inte utan snarare en ovanligt snabbt utvecklad flaska.
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12/10/2016 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent Pinot Noir-based Champagne. Almost "oeil de perdrix" in color, it has a very intense and masculine nose. My type of Champagne. Still quite young, it can be cellared for several years or enjoyed now.
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12/9/2016 - SimonG wrote: 93 Points
Medlar lunch (The Medlar, London): Nicely rich. Smooth, bready, biscuit nose with a touch of ginger spice. Nicely balanced, rich rather than mature, this is fresher and more poised than a recent bottle of the straight vintage that felt quite evolved. After a couple of hours the remains in a glass start to crack a little with a bruised red apple character, but while fresh in the glass it is lovely. Should age nicely for a few years, though probably not a long term prospect. Lovely. ****
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11/6/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 95 Points
Complete Vertival Tasting of Winston Churchill in Magnums and Jero: Zunächst ganz anders als 2004. Butter, Vanille, Toast, Sahnebonbons. Er wirkt reifer, aber auch frischer als der Vorgänger. Die straffere Säure gibt dem Wein ein kräftigeres Gerüst. Zitrusnoten dominieren am Ende. Im Vergleich zum VVF (98+) deutlich schwächer, aber präsenter als Salon (94) selben Jahrgangs. Ein Wein, jetzt schon gut, in 20 Jahren auch noch viel Freude bereiten wird.
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10/15/2016 - Torchy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Uncle Fine Wine Club Fall BYO; 10/14/2016-10/15/2016 (Tord House): Yellow towards golden in the glass. Crystal clear. Lots of bubbles with medium size. Great nose with toast and fruit. Nice opening with fine acidity. Elegant palate with ripe fruit in the middle before it comes toast in the ending. Looong!
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10/14/2016 - Bobhelge wrote: 93 Points
Uncles Fine Wine Club’s - Grand Cru Tasting (Bodø): Freshness, complexity and maturity greatly harmonized. This Champagne has a bit of everthing. It is perfectly elegant with fresh sweet raspberry and floral notes. Mature with dried figs and ripe drupe and complex with a toasted autolysis touch and biscuit on the finish.
92-94 points.
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10/14/2016 - Elvis1969 Likes this wine: 95 Points
What a magnificient vintage of Winston Churchill. I think it is even better than the 1996 was at the same age.
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9/24/2016 - drwine2001 wrote:
Wow, what a seamless, beautifully balanced wine. Full, nutty, leesy, creamy, fresh, and an exceptional finish.
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9/19/2016 - bajayngo wrote:
Beautiful oyster shell, fresh brioche, sweet herbs and lemon zest. Was a touch angular when 1st poured but smoothed out into one of, if not the best champagne I've ever had.
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9/16/2016 - startinoz wrote: 94 Points
Seashells. Complex. Subtle power. Length.
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9/15/2016 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Frederic Wildman Luxury French Tasting (Peninsula Hotel - Chicago IL): Tasting, brief note. Green apple, lemon, lemon zest. Lots of power, very good length. Assertive acidity I recall from a few years ago is starting to soften, making this more approachable already.
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9/12/2016 - startinoz wrote: 93 Points
Super complexity. Subtle. 93+++
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9/12/2016 - Motz wrote: 95 Points
This fascinating wine featured an expansive seabed, chalk, and mineral driven bouquet, backed by citrus, brioche, and earthy spices. The wine expands on the palate and though at first a touch clunky, with air it comes to life. A young wine that will likely age for another two decades. One of two standouts at a Champagne tasting with good friends.
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7/17/2016 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sunday Lunch at Friends (Their House, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Slightly more golden when last drank two years ago. Small and short-lived mousse but we were drinking from meduium-sized wine glasses. Languid and persistent streams of medium sized bubbles. Muted bready nose and with some slightly varnish VA.....the VA blew off but the nose never really came out of the closet. Palate is lovely green/red apples balanced by apricot stones, some Epsom Salts; rich and typically Sir Winston. Actually it develops a lovely effervescence in the mouth that comes to the fore with more time in the glass. It also gets more refreshingly appley-citric and with more Epsom Salts with extended time in the glass. Brown bread and slightly dry and unevolved finish and, whilst needing more time to mature it is already heady and resonant in that signature Sir Winston way. If you are lucky enough to have the choice, I would drink the 1999 for now and keep the 2002 tucked away for a few more years. My last note was, "wow, that gets really good if you drink the bottle slowly".
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7/13/2016 - beatles Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ib & Pia in Kandestederne (Kandestederne): Intense, concentrated, mineral, a tight fist of fruit, this is a splendid champagne, at the moment very restrained (still enjoyable); the expression seems more chardonnay than pinot to me, lots of brioche & citrus underneath, loving this.
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6/4/2016 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Dinner at Epicure (Epicure, Hotel le Bristol, Paris): By the glass at Epicure. This was very, very good indeed - a really strong Winston Churchill. It had a typical nose of cream and brioche, walnuts and red apples, with just a kiss of spice at the sides. Very nice. The palate was where it really shone though, with rivers of effortless power showing in its pure apple, pear and sweet yuzu flavours, all seasoned with a touch of exotic spice. Powerful, complex and intense, yet never in-your-face. A creamy mousse and deep set acidity kept the well-shaped and structured throughout, but it was really the way in came together in a wonderfully integrated package of power, depth and grace that made it special. While this had the fullness of a typical Winston Churchill, it also had a certain soft, elegance lent by the vintage. Very yummy indeed, almost moreish at points, with a slight savouriness past the midpalate before it tailed off in a long, long finish that suggested cumin and cardamom amidst notes of white fruit, yeast and brioche. Drinking well now, although I think this will last for many years yet.
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6/2/2016 - MWiking wrote: 95 Points
tycket detta vin har utvecklats mycket sen jag provade det senast.
friskt och bra mousse, har mer att ge. kan bli ett killerwine
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6/1/2016 - Drinking Trees wrote:
Slightly funky nose, with notes of red apple, white mushroom, and sweat. Palate has a mouth-filling mousse, with tingly, long-lasting acidity, but broader and softer than the Salon 2002 (tasted alongside). Strong, long-lasting flavours of red apple and grapefruit.
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5/30/2016 - fcxj wrote: 94 Points
PFV tasting.
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5/28/2016 - canan wrote: 96 Points
Champagne BYO (@ Terkel): Aggressive nose with lots of impressions.
Creamy and dense fruit with a touch of sweetness.
Huge acidity and lovely structure. A wild wine right now that it really impressing with its youthful expression.
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5/26/2016 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 95 Points
Har verkligen utvecklats otroligt fint. En krämig underbar mousse och en struktur med otrolig fyllighet och ändå lätt och elegant. Strålande!
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5/26/2016 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 94 Points
On the nose: Gunpowder, "meursault", fudge, citrus and mineral
On the palate: Very fine texture and nice balance with a very high acidity, apple, mineral.
Long finish
Time will give this wine an extra dimension.
94-96
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5/22/2016 - cbforever1 wrote: 95 Points
My first meeting with Sir Churchill and it is all up to the expectations. Rich and opulent, vinous, creamy, soft bubbles caressing the palate. A great champagne.
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5/16/2016 - galenico wrote: 92 Points
VECCHIO CHAMPAGNE: Zenzero, fiori bianchi e mineralità sulfurea e tesa, scolpiscono quadro elegante e già ben equilibrato, lieviti ancora sensibili, ma non ha nulla di dolciastro, caldo o sfrangiato. La bocca è freschissima, scalpitante di acidità e di bolla spumosa. Vinosità piena e ottima persistenza tutta in finezza.
Da aspettare almeno ancora 5 anni, ma già di altissimo livello.
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3/16/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
SLDS March 2016: Floral, chalk, lemon, pear and toasty notes on the note. Really appealing on the palate, with richness tempered by fine acidity. Has great drive and the structure is there for this to age fantastically as well. A great start to any night.
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1/29/2016 - etyc wrote:
Green apples on nose. Big on palate - "fat", power, lemons/citrus with good acidity/freshness. However, lost quite a bit of precision/freshness as it got warmer in the glass.
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1/24/2016 - Fred_Bo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Superb. Wonder how it tastes in 10 years?!
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1/17/2016 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Another taste this month of Pol Roger Winston Churchill 2002, which displayed wet chalky notes, buttery brioche (fresh baked) and a very smooth attack on the palate whose subtle pear aromas and flavors delighted our senses. Opulence on mid palate balanced by the vintage's typical vivacity, with lime and just slight red apple on finish, smooth long finish. Fine bubbles, not too vibrant, more vinous overall. Great with a delectable skillet chicken by my dear friend Katie Casselman Wagner.
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1/13/2016 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 94 Points
Mostly 1966 Bordeaux and other surprises (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): An excellent special cuvee Champagne from one of my favorite producers. Indeed, I love their NV Brut as a "go to" Champagne. Dominated by Pinot Noir, but the house never reveals percentages. When opened prior to the dinner with staff at Ripple restaurant, store manager Caroline Blundell was impressed by its creamy smoothness. Indeed, the bubbles were very fine, and it came across as almost buttered brioche, yet the excellent acidity of the 2002 vintage lent this wine energy to match the vigor, as it was full bodied. While not as impressive in density (and charm) as a Salon 1996 that I had one week ago, this is a gorgeous bottle of bubbly - with a long vinous finish.
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1/12/2016 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
66 Bordeaux dinner (Ripple Restaurant in DC): The overall impression is closer to the bottle drank last January. Youthful yellow fruits, granny smith, floral and strong note of mineral. Good concentration, fine mousse, nicely layered fruits, bright acidity and long clean finish. This is a very youthful example. Really enjoyable.
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1/1/2016 - Omar Khayyam Likes this wine: 95 Points
new year's eve dinner in old Enskede (Enskede, Stockholm): At first this was
A delicious nose and a tight, fresh and spritzy palate that felt way too young to drink. But after a good many hours open, the palate started to unfold and it was very nice. I guess if you're a fan of mature, oxidized champagne, then you need to keep this beauty for more than ten years still, but if you like me, appreciate the freshness of young champagne, especially when the mousse is this delicate and the 'bulles' this fine, then this was the right time!
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12/21/2015 - karl.1480 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Clear, medium intensity, lemon color.
Developing nose with a medium(+) intensity. Complex aromas with a distinct autolytic character. Toasted bread, fermenting dough, baked red apple, fresh winter apple, candied lemon, nougat, butter biscuit, hazelnut and a hint of cap gun smoke. Great nose!
Dry on the palate with a medium(+) acidity and medium body. Soft and delicate mousse giving a creamy mouthfeel. Medium(+) intensity of flavors and less developed than on the nose. Long finish.
Drinking good today but there's a lot in this wine worth waiting for. As usual with these big house prestige cuvées the QPR is rather crappy. Damn tasty anyhow!
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12/19/2015 - richshoes Likes this wine: 93 Points
really fun, elegant structure with twists and turns...heavily nuanced...taste a little bit too tart and acidic for me, but some hints of minerality and nuttiness.
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12/19/2015 - Collector1855 wrote: 92 Points
Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: During a vintage Champagne tasting at a Merchant. Distinctively yeasty nose with apple, lemon, very Chardonnay in style. A bit acidic for my palate. Medium finish. I wished for more given the price.
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12/10/2015 - Sundbyberg wrote: 93 Points
Pnp.
Quite an improvement compared to my previous tasting in early 2015. This is beginning to open up, the palate has widened substantially, and there is quite a lot of depth.
Will hopefully try again in 2-3 years. 93-94 pts.
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11/16/2015 - Francois Le Mouel Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich and structured. Drink or hold for an additional 10 years. Balanced, it offers a long finish. Very similar to a Bollinger Grande Année 2002, but with slightly less intensity.
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11/4/2015 - Marc wrote: 94 Points
Labour Weekend at Pokai Parera (Ekatahuna, New Zealand): Fat, broad and rich, but immaculately structured. Long and biscuity. This is a complete wine that is like a thunderous Wagner to the Dom Perignon 2002's perfectly proportioned Mozart.
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10/29/2015 - Wine Canuck wrote:
Halpern Enterprises Portfolio Tasting (Toronto, ON): I guess I'm all on my own on this one, but a few times now I've found the Sir Winston Churchill to be absolutely dominated by sulfur on release. To the point it really hinders me evaluating it aromatically. With coaxing some melon, white sugar, white currants, light brown spice and light caramel come through on the nose. The palate reveals a bright future with lots going on; pear, apricot, melon, brown spice and caramel. Solid acid, moderate dosage and a long finish give this some textural elegance. On the palate alone this would land at about 94 points for me today and with some bottle age I would expect this to come around nicely.
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10/12/2015 - AWBryce wrote: 94 Points
Beauty of a champagne. High acid, brioche, hard crisp apples. Firm bead, lengthy finish. Would love to check in on this in a decade.
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9/30/2015 - drjb Likes this wine: 94 Points
Lunch at The Ledbury. Developed colour. Great nose of citrus, strawberry, and brioche. Touches of yellow peach. Quite full palate with complex fruit characters reflecting the nose. Lovely soft bread character leads to long mineral palate. Fine finish. Generous with some development. Great starter to a terrific meal !
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9/15/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
Negociants Australia Portfolio Tasting: Florals, toast, lemon and pear aromas. Finely detailed, with great balance through the fruit purity and great acid line. Really good depth and persistence.
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9/14/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
CIVC Champagne Tasting 2015: Light herbs, saline, toast and lemon. Fine acidity, there is good power and boldness, with it maintaining balance through a great acid core. Plenty of class and style and should get even better over time.
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9/3/2015 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
We had a bit of a split read on this - one of us really loved and I was more inclined to like. Early read was lots of fizz - think like a bunch of poprocks almost. Over the course of an hour it ended up being almost flat. It has good flavors - toast and brioche and very refined.
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9/3/2015 - jmoon Likes this wine: 95 Points
perfectly balanced. Deep biscuit W lemon, fresh clean finish. Incredibly good
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7/17/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
A mix of superb and corked wines: Toast, cheesy, lemon and pear. Good acidity and purity of fruit. The acidity really cuts throughout the length and extends the fruit flavour. Will likely get better with time.
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6/26/2015 - Alex H wrote: 91 Points
Some fishyness and saline sea spray with captivating honeyed notes and some mangoes even.
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5/31/2015 - Marc wrote: 93 Points
John's Birthday Degustation Dinner (Hippopotamus Restaurant, Museum Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand): Drunk directly after the 2002 Pol, this was by far, the more involving experience. While very much in the same house style, this bottle was far fresher, with brilliant definition and a clear inner core of structure that adds lift and life to the yeasty and toasty aromas and flavors. While there is bottle age character, this came across as young and with the ability to grow in nuance and stature as it ages. I would love to try this out of a magnum. A brilliant 2002.
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5/23/2015 - CamWheeler wrote: 93 Points
Blind Champagne Tasting: Mineral, lemon, pear and a saline note. Very pure fruit with fantastic balance. Good length and the cleansing acidity does a great job.
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5/11/2015 - Lakefarm wrote: 91 Points
Had along side among others Krug 2000, Krug GC and Comtes 2004 and this was the weakest showing. Seemed shut down on the nose, revealing only slight notes of toasted nuts, freshly baked rye bred and apple stew. On the palate it is a full bodied champagne with a decent lenght. Lovely mousse and balance saves it. This is for cellaring as it seems to have a lot of potential burried deep somewhere. 91 for now
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3/26/2015 - Harley1199 wrote:
OMG, this is too young to my taste. I've been abducted by all these CT TNs ...damned.
Everything is here but who cares?
Aromas of brioche, citrius, minerals and apples.
Delicious but all is depending on the nose. Palate isn't ready, acid and shortie yet creamy and rich. Full of identity and depth but it is very clear to me that the best is yet to come. Next bottle for next 2036.
Pairing bluefish with orange, croissant with mortadella and rissoto with bianchetta truffle.
Por Dios, esto está demasiado verde para mi gusto. He sido abducido por todas esas notas del CT. Hay que ...fastidiarse.
Cada elemento está ahí pero ¿a quién le importa?
Aromas a panadería, mantequilla, cítricos, minerales y manzanas. Deliciosa pero casi todo se basa en la nariz. La boca no está lista, ácida y corta aunque cremosa y abundante. Con identidad y profundidad pero queda claro que lo mejor está por llegar. Mi siguiente botella para el próximo 2036.
Acompañando una caballa con naranja, un cruasán con mortadela Tavola y un rissoto con bianchetto.
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3/25/2015 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
2002 Champagne and Burgundy dinner with Eric (Chez Billy Sud - Washington DC): Much denser and riper than the CdC. Riche yellow pit fruit, also red fruits, honey and sweet spices. I didn’t notice much mineral presence. Fine mousse, sweet and sour yellow fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and sweet deeply toned finish. This is a very rich and dense champagne. Not as good as the last bottle but still really nice.
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3/13/2015 - PT insurgent wrote:
Great complexity, depth, finesse, length.
Brioche, lemon, apple, yeasty, honey
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3/3/2015 - Rupert wrote:
Fantastically deep and grand, fully approachable, great.
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3/1/2015 - Raycheng77 Likes this wine: 93 Points
pnp, still very young. Yeasty and creamy, with fresh citrus fruit, lime, green apple, ripe, mineral, salt. Pale yellow in color, high intensity, fine bubble. Excellent! Although great vintage, can drink now.
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2/28/2015 - RayOB Likes this wine: 94 Points
A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): Faint mose of brioche, citrus and lime. Beautiful blanked palate with a lovely finish. Yum yum
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2/28/2015 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
A Matter of Taste tasting (London, Saatchi Gallery): Beautiful wine with brioche in the bouquet, beautiful citrus, minerals etc. Very rich, refined and tasty and with a great length. Really beautiful wine! 94+
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2/28/2015 - JonnyG Likes this wine: 94 Points
A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): Such an impressive wine, with clean saline notes, muted citrus and a touch of toasty custard. Great persistency.
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2/28/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 95 Points
Golden-yellow around the rim. Expressive and open nose - yeasty with notes of brioche, baked apple, yellow stone fruit, minerality. Quite ripe and rich. Lovely texture on the palate, quite accessible. Chalky, fresh, pure, vibrant, mineral. Very persistent, lovely finish. Great future. 94-95+
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2/22/2015 - thewiz Likes this wine: 94 Points
Delightful appearance showing a nice golden colour with a steady stream of extremely small bubbles opening up a wonderful palate. Oysters, oceans & limestone set phase for a fresh and fruity mousse. The finish is very long and well balanced with a kafir lime bitter sweet flavour. Perfect to drink already, but will develop so much more with cellaring.
It was a perfect aperitif to celebrate my wifes birthday in a very hot day in Dubai!
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2/21/2015 - Puteljen! Likes this wine: 93 Points
Premium champagne - two houses, two vintages (Gothenburg): Good nose with that wonderfully rich 2002 fruit. Lots of marine components: salt, iodine, chalk and seaweed, combined with fresh citrus and some smoke. No secondary notes yet. On the palate lively mousse and fresh acids. Still tight and a bit angular, the fruit is not as generous as I've come to expect of the vintage, but seems to have good deepth and will probalbly broaden with time. Good lengt to the fresh finish.
This is a very good champagne that will in time probably become a great champagne, but I'm not sure it will ever reach the same heights as the 1996. 92-93 for now, with good upside.
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2/12/2015 - Sundbyberg wrote: 92 Points
The 2002 vintage is a notch better than the 99 and the 2000.
In contrast to the 2002 Dom Perignon, this is, however, not substantially better than other vintages.
This is still young but, to my surprise, already very drinkable. Will score higher with cellaring.
Pnp.
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2/11/2015 - rlove wrote: 93 Points
Apricot, lemon custard, and buttered toast on the nose. As usual with this cuvée, a Pinot Noir-heavy blend. Layered and lovely in the mouth, albeit not as rich as I'd expect for the vintage. Wonderfully long finish. Will evolve nicely over the next decade in the cellar.
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2/8/2015 - TayoW wrote: 92 Points
I was expecting more from this, though that could the fact it is still very young and needs a few more years to come into itself.
Aroma of pretzel and citrus, palate reflects a pinot heavy blend, filling the mouth completely.
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1/17/2015 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Impromptu dinner - 96 Krug, 02 Churchill, 02 Raveneau MdT, 67 Latour, 01 Mugnier Amoureuses & etc. (Blacksalt, Washington DC): Very youthful nose, ripe red apple, a hint of raspberry, yeast/brioche, anise, sweet spices and mineral. Excellent concentration, generous rich yellow fruit driven palate impression, fine mousse, bright acidity and lovely long finish. Yeast but very youthful, deep and riche wine. Very impressive, need another five to ten years but still very enjoyable.
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1/15/2015 - Darth Angelus Likes this wine: 93 Points
A great, typical Winston Churchill style champagne, which means it leans toward a slight dominance of pinot noir over chardonnay (in both style and actual content) and that its balance and harmony is nearly flawless.
Still very much in its youth. The 2000 vintage of this champagne I think is more open and possibly even more enjoyable than the 2002, at the present time. Still, this will probably surpass the 2000, eventually.
The score I give it is for its present stage, not what I think it will be (i.e. I think it will reach greater heights in the future).
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12/31/2014 - Livermore wrote: 93 Points
Balanced with nice acidity. Roasted notes of nuts and butter. Extremely pleasant.
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12/31/2014 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 95 Points
A big Champagne with lots of apple, lemon, orange peel, brioche. A great way to end the year.
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12/30/2014 - Ramberg wrote: 95 Points
Great Sir W!
As expected.
This is a big Champagne, with a nose full of big minerals, deep, rich and succulent, with superb intensity and cleanness.
Very fine, apples, stone fruits, chalky minerals, lemon, lemon peels, some nuts and smoked fresh toast, with a small hint of fresh yeast present.
Palate is very intense, young, full, deep and rich, filled with lovely sappy sun ripe fruit, green apples, pears, citrus/lemons, yellow grapefruit, white peaches almonds/nuts & freshly baked bread.
Very long and rich stony mineral filled finish.
Cutting clean sharp acidity dominates at this young stage, with a great body underneath to build for a long time.
A very pure, mineral & acidity driven Champagne, that will open up with more cellar time, and become a truly superb SWC within a few years.
95+ points for now, big upside!
(94 – 97+)
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12/19/2014 - Smifffy wrote: 87 Points
Can't agree with many of the tasting notes on here.
Got the brioche, but it never integrated with the citrus & the experience was dominated by yeast. No-where near the heights of previous vintages..... yet. Time will tell if this brings it all together into a single beautiful experience, or if it remains fragmented and confused.
If it does come together into something special I think it's some way off. Let's be clear, it's not unpleasant, far from it, but I suspect it's early in the journey.
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11/28/2014 - MWiking wrote: 93 Points
still a baby, with alot of acidity, green apples and lemon on the nose.
taste is quite small at the moment but elegant and mostly lemon, lemonpeel, a bit of hazelnuts.
This wine will grow with cellaring and then get a better score then 93.
93>>
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11/21/2014 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
"Eagle's Nest" Dinner (The White House, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Lightly lemon gold colour. Exuberant and persistent bead, even in a wine glass. Nose of super-fresh ciabatta bread with lots of white flour on it, fresh crushed lemons, citrus leaves.....a lot of ozone emarges with time in the glass. Palate is very Epsom Salts on the attack, saline, sea breeze, oyster shell minerality, muscular in mouthfeel, classic Winston Churchill masculinity, lots of Hovis bread on a dry finish. Slightly heady. Good length. Superb even at this precocious age. The ozone character is what stands out for me compared to other recent vintages such as the 1999 and the 2000.
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10/23/2014 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Birthday Dinner with Good Wine (NEXT Restaurant - Chicago IL): Lots of apple with plenty of lemon and lemon peel. Aggressive acidity is slightly overwhelming right now, but this has the concentration substance that I know will come into balance in a few years and become a stunning wine.
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10/19/2014 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Fresh, vibrant aromas of lemon, baker's yeast and mineral. It is direct yet elegant and has nice depth of fruit and excellent detail. Bead is fine and mousse exceptionally creamy. It finishes with good cut and is very persistent. Lovely Champers.
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10/18/2014 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fete de Champagne Grand Tasting (Astor Center, NYC.): This wine had one of the most distinctive noses of the day: deep, perfumed, nutty - creamy-herbal? something like soap, lavender or marzipan. Sweet pear, big, rich, good acid, lemon, stones. Very young on the palate with an assertive mousse - huge. Lemon, herbs, spice. The finish is big and long with lemon, ginger, minerals and a touch of sweet malt. Excellent with superb potential. Nose - 5.5/6, Palate - 5-5.5+/6, Finish - 5+/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1.5/2 = 17.5-18/20.
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