These tasting notes are from the Champagne tasting held at the Ferry Building in San Francsico on Monday 9-26-11. The event, which was put on by the Institute of Masters of Wine cost $50 per person. This enabled us to drink bottomless glasses of Grand Cru.
Overall, we found the mulit-vintages more friendly and less austere. Since we were driving from Soledad (Monterey) we were a half an hour late, so we went straight to the vintages. The wines below are listed in the order tasted. By the time we got there, they were completely out of the 2002 Dom. That's ok, but Jay-Z would've been pissed. He would've had no swagger in his rhymes.
2000 Charles Heidseck, Reims
Expect nuances of sourdough toast, bitter lime peel. The memorable mousse made a great start to the night.
1998 Henriot, Reims
This one had a real gold color and was more pungent than the first one--there must've been a lot of Chardonnay in the blend.
1999 Bruno Paillard, Reims
This beauty seemed to skip into our mouths, as it was so light on its feet. It was bright and the meyer lemon citrus aromas made us want to skip. It was so hot in the room and it felt like people were elbowing us in the face. In actuality, they were. This refreshing bubbler helped us put up with the chaos. There were sommeliers, journalists, Masters of Wine, and a guy that had a t-shirt that read: Grand Cru.
2002 Bollinger, Reims
They say this house does well with age. This one was too lean and should be more graceful in a few years. The grapefruit and granny smith flavors were cool though.
2002 Henri Goutorbe, Aÿ
Why does this Champagne taste like Madeira? Why don't we mind? Seriously though, it was oxidative, not austere but caramelly, and unique. A true pleasure to taste something in a world that's spoiled with homogenity.
2002 Laurent Perrier, Epernay
Hershey's Hugs remind us of simpler times--but not that cheap beer sold at Trader Joes. Instead it helps us remenisce on our days working at The Rocky Mountain chocolate factory when nuances of hazelnut, almonds and white chocolate permeated the air.
1998 Veuve Clicquot "La Grande Dame", Reims
Very creamy!
2002 Veuve Clicquot, Reims
This one had a Ph.D. in map making. It was: linear, focused, austere, balanced and...creamy.
1998 Ruinart, Reims
Are we touring the ruins of Old world Europe? No, we're sipping Ruinart and that's so dirty. We like it that way.
1999 Pol Roger, Epernay
This was mushroomy, savory and earthy. Beat that. Oh wait, it's unbeatable.
2000 Gosset, Aÿ
Did I just get the flu? Am I in CVS's pharmacy? It had an Airborne fizzy trait. It also had a raspberry aromas and wasn't as good as the 2002.
2004 Piper Heidseck, Reims
Savory, not overtly citrusy and we like that. It was wierd and reminded us of photosynthesis (i.e. green plant, chlorophyl).
2004 Nicolas Feuillatte Rose, Reims
Corked perhaps? No fruit.
N.V. Veuve Clicquot, Reims
Flat, watery, and boring.
N.V. Mumm De Cramant Blanc de Blancs, Reims
Bready and bisquity. It was probably harvested at 19 degrees brix.
N.V. Bruno Paillard Rose, Reims
Feminine, delicate, friendly with bright peaches on the nose.
N.V. Billecart Salmon, Marueil-Sur-Ay
Green apple, lacking, very green...lacking.
M.V. Krug, Les Mesnil
Not to be cliche', but it was balanced--like yummy caramel. And if if you don't think yummy caramel is balanced, I'll ask Def Jam Records to send out their hit man.
M.V. Villemart Grande Cellier, Reims
Flabby, no back-bone, and a lot like a cheap German Sect.
M.V. Piper Heidseck, Reims
Apricot and stonefruit cobbler, buttery, bready, (more apricots mainly in the middle, private)
M.V. Philliponnat, Marueil-Sur-Ay
The savory pizza dough character made us feel like we baking a Trader Joe's pizza margerita. Mmmm! Tomato?
M.V. Bruno Pailliard, Reims
The burning CO2 in the nose was offensive. The likeable part was its sweet ginger bread house personality. It made us feel like Hansel & Gretel, but the wine was flabby and we wish were eaten by a witch.
M.V. Nicolas Feuillatte, Reims
This tastes like sweet maraschino cherries. Come on, we didn't order a Roy Rogers. Jay-Z would be bummed and then he'd dis them in his next platinum rap album.
M.V. Laurent Perrier Rose, Epernay
Disappointed, as it was less viscous and friendly than before. Too minerally. We didn't want to end the glorious evening on this note, so we went back around the room for seconds, and thirds. Ok, we were the last ones to leave. Don't judge us. Jay-Z wouldn't.
Oh by the way, we learned that the Pommard clone is more mushroomy and pungent and the Dijon 777 was more floral.
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