Bollinger
Coulon Brut
Charles Heidsieck
Delamotte
Duval-Leroy
Feuillatte
Lanson
Mumms
Piper Heidsieck
Poul-Justine
Pommery
Salon
Thienot
Veuve Clicquot
|
 |
|
Piper Heidsieck Jean-Paul Gaultier
I dug the bottle the first time I saw it.
For a year I've admired it's sexy, playful packaging wondering if the juice could be good enough
to warrant Jean Paul Gaultier's attention.
Well, I was not disappointed!
It had a marriage of "Old World" yeast and creaminess and "New World"
bright citrus flavors.
It is just what you'd except from a bottle corseted up in red-vinyl by one of the world's
most eclectic fashion designers.
If you don't have someone in your life that goes crazy about this kind of stuff,
just remember that the Champagne is exceptional, it's well worth the price and
you get a naughty little bottle too.
Retail price $100. Tasted October 5, 2003.
This is a darling among bubbly earning three out of three  .
Top
|
 |
|
Charles Heidsieck 1990 Blanc de Millenaire
Beautiful golden color with tight bubbles.
Rich, refreshing, notes of toffee, roasted nuts, and cream,
complimented by hints of limes and tangerines.
Very balanced and acidity and texture.
Attention getting flavors with cellarability.
Retail price $120. Tasted October 5, 2003.
A celebration in itself earning two out of three  .
Top
|
 |
|
Coulon Brut Cuvée Tradition NV
The first thing that impressed me about this Champagne was the fine, tiny bubbles and a beautiful golden color.
The nose is rich with ripe berries and white flowers.
On the palate the raspberry, pear, and lime zest notes dance across a rich, creamy, toasty, yeasty, honeyed stage.
This is an extremely well made bottle of Champagne, with a balance between "New World"
bright fruit and zesty acidity and "Old World" creamy, yeasty, fresh baked, spice bread flavors.
50% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, and 25% Chardonnay.
I've always been found of Champagnes that use more red grapes than
white and this little beauty didn't let me down.
This bottle is priced as a special, so get it while you can!
Retail price $33. Tasted December 2, 2003.
Rich, bright, yummy earning three out of three .
|
 |
|
Nicolas Feuillatte NV Brut
Wonderful citrus and creamy notes on the nose.
On the palate there are hints of tobacco, bright fruit flavors like starfruit and limes and rich hints of almond.
There is a faint flavor of blonde cherries...you know that ones...I believe
they're called "Queen Anne."
This Champagne is a Premier Cru*, which means the producers agrees to follow more
rigid guidelines in its production.
This is a very bright, good acidity, and very well crafted Champagne.
A premium bottle of Champagne for much less than you'd expect to pay.
The bottle is impressive too.
Retail price $30. Tasted December 3, 2003.
Quality and price intersect to bring a wonderful bottle earning two out of three .
|
 |
|
Nicolas Feuillatte NV Blanc de Blanc
This bottle of sparkling has an incredible nose!
On the palate the wine is full, rich, and interesting.
It offers a yin and yang sensation with notes of mushroom, herbs,
and earth all on a prominent canvas of bright ripe raspberries, apples, and honey.
This Champagne is also Premier Cru*, which means the producers agree to follow more
rigid guidelines in production.
It is made from 100% chardonnay grapes.
(I know this one is over $30, but I couldn't resist sharing this Champagne with you.
It is very impressive.)
There 4500 growers in the Champagne region contributing to the Nicolas Feuillatte label.
Between them they farm nearly 2,200 hectares, which they grow according to the book,
paying careful attention to harmonizing quantity with quality.
This commitment to quality shows in every bottle.
Incredible Blanc de Blanc earning three out of three
.
|
 |
|
Mumms NV Cordon Rouge Brut
On the nose we found hints of lemons, apples, and peaches with a flirty vanilla note.
Wonderful bright fruit flavors dance on your tongue as zesty dryness follows
through offering great acidity.
Apricots, key limes, and starfruit appear as the acidity awakes your senses.
This is a very scrumptious bottle of Champagne with flirty glimpses of cream and
dried fruit on the mid-palate and finish.
The blend is 70% red grapes and 30% chardonnay.
Retail price $29. Tasted November 12, 2003.
Great quality and bright New World style earning two out of three
.
|
 |
|
Duval-Leroy Paris Cuvee NV Brut
What a beautiful bottle!
What a beautiful nose!
What a beautiful Champagne!
Great acidity explodes in your mouth with zest and power.
Clean, edgy, notes lime and lemon zest complimented by a sultry mineral note.
This image on this email does not do this bottle of Champagne justice.
The quality of this Champagne earns this beautiful cobalt blue bottle clad with gold artwork.
The artwork on the bottle is that of Leroy Neiman.
This cuvée is 40 % Chardonnay - 60% Pinot Noir.
A bright, delicious, bottle of wine.
This would make a perfect gift for someone special.
I warn you though...they may not ever want to open it!
Retail price $30. Tasted December 5, 2003.
Zesty, light and scruptious, earning three out of three
.
|
 |
|
Poul-Justine Brut 1er Cru NV
Very bright with notes of starfruit, green tea, lemons, limes, and honey.
There is an endearing rich quality on the mid-palate.
Another Premier Cru* Champagne,
proving that you can buy a higher quality Champagne for well under a $100.
The quality of this wine is impressive with its interesting flavors and well crafted balance
between fruit and acid.
The grapes are mostly from the 1998 vintage, but with some reserve juice is from 1993-1997.
It has a lovely toastiness with beautiful elegance that finishes with a lingering richness.
Some pinot noir fruit is evident with the richness and interesting flavors on palate.
50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir.
Quality meets low price earning three out of three .
|
 |
|
Thienot NV Brut
I found this bottle to be unusual in the fact that is embraces more of
an "Old World" style Champagne.
It was also the most distinct bottle in this set that we tasted.
It has a distinct yeasty creaminess, tobacco richness, subtle roasted caramel flavor, honeyed tones,
and hints of roasted hazelnuts.
The ripe fruit canvas compliments the toasted flavors with a great Synergy.
This bottle contains equal parts of all three of the traditional Champagne grapes and is aged an extra two years,
for a total of four years in the famous Champagne caverns.
Retail price $35. Tasted December 2, 2003.
Earns three out of three for it's unique style .
|
 |
|
Piper Heidsieck Brut Champagne
The nose is bright and lively, like freshly sliced fruit wedges garnished with freshly
picked spring blossoms.
On the palate we experienced the same fresh bright sensation with green and red apple,
pear, and citrus zest.
On the mid-palate there is a hint of roasted, toasted, honey.
There is a well crafted balance between acidity and fruit.
The finish is very pleasant with lingering notes of honey and ripe fruit.
Retail price $33. Tasted November 23, 2003. A two star dazzler
.
|
 |
|
Veuve Clicquot Vintage 1996 Brut is
a collectable bottle of wine.
Aged for five years, it's comprised of two parts black grapes and one part chardonnay.
The nose has a bit of mineral, sassafrass, and flowers, while the palate was rich with toasted honey, white
flowers, and mushroom.
It has an abundance of rich, black fruit flavors, yet peaks with brighter flavors.
This is one occasion where the wine is the event!
Retail price $70. Tasted August 10, 2003.
Delighted at three
Top
|
 |
|
Veuve Clicquot NV Champagne
is a favorite among many for an obvious reason.
The nose is rich with honey and yeast, the palate is graced with flowers, honey, mushrooms, and toasted flavors.
Veuve Clicquot's egg-yolk label defines what champagne is for many people.
The finish is lengthy, with brighter notes of fresh citrus and rich with a hint of yeast.
It costs a touch more than other champagnes, but worth every penny.
Classic, yet "New World," it takes the best of both worlds and creates a timeless cuveé.
Retail price $35. Tasted August 10, 2003. Refreshing and elegant earning two out three .
Top
|
 |
|
Delamotte NV Brut Champagne
Delamotte's vineyards are just a stone throw from the famous Salon property.
Delamotte is the sister vineyard to Salon and sells grapes to them on declared years.
I tasted Delamotte and Salon side-by-side.
I was totally impressed with Delamotte's quality and could taste the resemblance in their styles.
Delamotte, as with Salon, does not do malolactic fermentaion and is completely aged in stainless steel.
The flavors were bright, as one would expect with a non-malolactic champagne, but the creamy, toasty,
yeasty flavors still prevailed in this wine.
The nose is yeasty with notes of fresh baked bisquits.
The palate is zesty with citrus zest and honeysuckle.
The finish is honey and golden rasins.
I suspect this little bottle of bubbly will grow in the hearts of those who are truely love champagne.
Retail price $35. Tasted August 20, 2003. Sparkling with three .
Top
|
 |
|
Lanson NV Champagne
is one of the fastest selling Champagnes in Europe.
The style is a touch "Old World" with great sparks of lively fruit.
The palate sparkled with star fruit, honey, and citrus zest over a brooding canvas of musky yeast.
I loved the style of Lanson, a marriage between the ends of the spectrum.
Retail price $26. Tasted September 8, 2003. A great bottle earning two .
Top
|
 |
|
Bollinger Special Cuveé
is made up of Grand Cru and Premire Cru grapes completely.
This Champagne is very fresh and lively.
I thought of lively music and dancing when I drank this Cuveé.
The nose is a touch fruit and mineral and the palate has delicate
floral, green tea, and bright fruit flavors.
Retail price $40. Tasted September 8, 2003. A occasion on its own with two .
Top
|
 |
|
Bollinger 1995 Anneé is completely
Grand Cru and Premire Cru grapes from some of Champagnes most notable vinyards.
It is bright with facets of rich honey flavors.
There is an interesting depth about this sparkling wine and as you drink it you find yourself noticing
its balance and grace.
The rich flavors are adorned by floral notes and a zesty mineral finish.
Lady Bollinger inferred in her famous quote that you should drink Champagne anytime.
I thought of that quote and how appropriate this Cuveé would be for that job.
Retail price $55. Tasted September 8, 2003. A Grand treat earning two .
Top
|
 |
|
Pommery NV Brut Royal
is two-thirds black grapes and one-third chardonnay.
I'm not sure if the "Pop" is the same cuveé,
so pardon the image if the juice isn't the same.
New World style Champagne, offering a rich canvas where bright fruit flavors dance on your palate.
Pommery Brut Royal is so delightfully quaffable.
The acidity is clean and the finish is a touch yeasty.
Retail price $30. Tasted September 8, 2003. A yummy choice with one  .
Top
|
 |
|
Salon 1990 Blanc de Blanc
Take the adjectives that describe traditional style, creamy, yeasty, biscuit-like, champagnes,
then make a similar inventory of the newer style bright fruit, citrus zest, mushroom, mineral champagnes.
If you were to combine these lists, you would have the description of Salon.
Salon is stainless steel fermented with no malolactic fermentation, therefore each
vintage is aged many more years than other Champagnes.
Produced with Grand Cru grapes from the Le Mesnil-sur-Oger village;
Salon only produces a sparkling wine in declared vintage years.
The nose wafts of fresh baked biscuits and honeysuckle.
The palate has yeast, minerals, freshly graded lime zest, white flowers, and golden rasins.
The honey finish rises with a crescendo and then gently fades with a rich, exotic memory.
The 1990 vintage is the perfect sparkling wine for a celebration now, or to purchase and save for a future
aniversary, birthday, or just because you need a Grand Cru bottle tucked away in your cellar.
Salon will age for many, many years to come.
Because of its extremely limited production, I will say for the record, "Salon stinks,
now go out and tell all your friends."
Retail price $225. Tasted August 20, 2003. Nothin' but net . . .
Top
|
|
