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Champagne & Sparkling Wine 2010

Tasting Notes from the last two months

 

N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Premier - France, Champagne
Another good showing on this wine with apple pie, floral, lemon and minerals. A touch of sweet fruit on this one and a medium finish. A nice N.V. for $34. (91 pts.)

2001 Mumm Napa DVX - USA, California, Napa Valley
This is amazing stuff from the US with lemon, orange peel, chalk and minerals. It has a creamy texture in the mouth and medium finish. Very pleasurable and no flaws. (92 pts.)

2002 Louis Barthélémy Champagne Brut Saphir - France, Champagne
Nice wine but almost seemed like a Sparkling Riesling with grapefruit, lemon and minerals. On the palate it picked up some orange peel and dough character. Not a bad wine buy certainly not a WS 95. (90 pts.)

2000 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
A little disappointed with this one as it was no better than the N.V. I had 3 night earlier. Dark gold in color with yeast, floral, baked pie crust, and gold delicious apples. Medium finish and good flavors overall but lack acidity. (90 pts.)

1998 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé Rosé - France, Champagne
Myself and one other out of 11 liked this wine. Strawberry, pie crust, orange peel, floral and chalk notes. Not a big wine but more graceful. This should get better with age. (93 pts.)

1996 Henriot Champagne Brut Millésimé - France, Champagne
Another nice showing for this wine with dough, mineral, lemon, apple and good acidity. On the palate some candied fruit and really good mineral streak. Should improve with cellar time. (93 pts.)

2000 Moët & Chandon Champagne Cuvée Dom Pérignon - France, Champagne
For the price I am not a buyer and this is really young but the Henriot Vintage from 96 is better and half the price. Chalk, orange peel, minerals, and dough on the nose and palate. There is a creaminess on the palate and has a medium finish. (92 pts.)

2007 Schramsberg Vineyards Blanc de Blancs - USA, California
Very nice and it is fun to see my wife like a Sparkler under $50. Lemons, mineral, spice and good acidity combine to make this an outstanding value for $25. (91 pts.)

N.V. Mumm Napa Brut Prestige - USA, California, Napa Valley
Not too impressive but drinkable with subtle minerals, apple and pear. Short finish. (85 pts.)

N.V. Schramsberg Vineyards Mirabelle Brut - USA, California, North Coast
Shows some strawberry, spices, floral and mineral notes. Short to medium finish and not a bad QPR Sparkler. (87 pts.)

N.V. Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
Much better than the last bottle which I am sure was a previous N.V. which is why I hate the way Champagne does N.V. as you can never know which one you are drinking and as we all know they vary a lot. Nice aromas of dough, minerals, lemon and floral notes. A great acid profile and very nice finish. One of my favorite N.V. Champanges. (90 pts.)

N.V. Taittinger Champagne La Française Brut - France, Champagne
Nice overall with shells, lemon, orange peel and minerals. Good acidity and very pleasant finish. Not a bad price at around $30. (89 pts.)

N.V. Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
This is a nice sparkling wine that is as good as many N.V. Champagnes especially for the money. Lemon, dough, golden apples and minerals on the nose and palate. A clean and refreshing finish. (88 pts.)

2006 Domaine Carneros Brut by Taittinger - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
Another solid effort but not as impressed with this one as the 2005. Dough, flint, apple, pear and straw. The finish is on the shorter side but nice overall. For $20 it is solid but I won't be buying anymore. (88 pts.)

2006 Domaine Carneros Brut by Taittinger - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros
I need to add this as a day 2 review as this wine is much better than my note on day one. Nose of dough, tropical fruit, lemon, minerals The palate is more complex with dough, tropical fruit, minerals, apple and spice. Medium finish and much more intense than the day one review. Based on this information I am going to buy 2 or 3 more and lay them down for a year or two. I am glad I saved some of this wine. (91 pts.)

N.V. Scharffenberger Brut - USA, California, North Coast, Mendocino County
A pleasant surprise and a solid Sparkling wine at $14.99. Compared side by side with the Roederer Brut from Anderson's Valley this was a little better and a few more bucks less. Mineral, lemon and dough are the main components and this wine is really dry. Crisp acidity and a nice example of a Brut style US Sparkling wine. (90 pts.)

N.V. Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
I enjoyed this wine and featured strawberry, minerals, dough, raspberries and a touch of lemon. Good acidity and medium finish. For $22.99 on sale not a bad purchase. (89 pts.)

N.V. Korbel Brut California Champagne - USA, California
Exactly what you would expect from Korbel which is a Sparkler that is drinkable but not complex. Some minerals and apple notes but a short finish and nothing that stands out. (81 pts.)

N.V. J Vineyards & Winery Cuvée 20 - USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley
Not bad better out there in the price range. Toast, lemon and minerals combine with average acidity and a short finish. (87 pts.)

N.V. Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée Brut - France, Champagne
This is nice and features dough, mineral, apple, apricots and biscuit. The complexity is there and it really coats your mouth with interesting flavors. Medium finish and one of the better N.V. Champagnes I have sampled this year. (91 pts.)

N.V. Cristalino Cava Brut - Spain, Catalunya, Cava
I do enjoy trying low end Sparkling wines to confirm why I hate them which is they offer no flavor. Other than tasting like a carbonated mineral water there is not much to say but at $6.49 at least this mineral water has alcohol. (78 pts.)

N.V. Gruet Brut - USA, New Mexico
Mineral, apple and pear are the key descriptors on a otherwise simple Sparkling wine. For $12.49 on sale it fits the quality level. (84 pts.)

N.V. McGuigan Sparkling Brut - Australia, South Eastern
Simple Sparkling wine made from Shiraz with black fruits, minerals and raspberries. For $7.99 not bad for a party. (83 pts.)

N.V. Schloss Gobelsburg Brut Réserve - Austria, Niederösterreich, Kamptal, Langenlois
A fun Sparkling wine with some sweetness but balance overall. Floral, mineral and orange peel combine with a medium finish to create an interesting Sparkling wine to serve at a party. (87 pts.)

2006 Argyle Brut - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
Another good showing for what I consider the best Sparkling wine in the US year in and year for $20. This features apple, dough, pear and minerals. Crisp acidity and a nice food wine. (90 pts.)

2000 Argyle Extended Tirage Brut - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley
A complex Sparkler with strawberry, minerals, lemon, dust and biscuit on the nose. The palate is showing more earth character with the biscuit and dust really evident. Medium finish and good acidity. I have sampled many vintages of the Extended Tirage and it really exceeds most N.V. $60 Champanges. (92 pts.)

N.V. Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
I find this wine to yeasty which hides a lot of the fruit I would like to see. There was some apple and floral character but the yeastiness just dominates. I have been unimpressed with the last 3 bottles of this wine. (85 pts.)

N.V. Wolf Blass Yellow Label Sparkling Brut - Australia
Simple with lemon and chalk. (82 pts.)

N.V. Domaine des Baumard Crémant de Loire Carte Turquoise - France, Loire Valley, Crémant de Loire
Not a fan of this style and too bitter. Floral and minerals are the main characteristics of this Sparkling wine made from Chenin Blanc. (84 pts.)

N.V. Nino Franco Prosecco di Valdobbiadene Rustico - Italy, Veneto, Prosecco di Valdobbiadene
Light and refreshing with minerals and lemon. Acidity profile is average and I find Prosecco wines a bit boring. (85 pts.)

N.V. Domaine Chandon Brut - USA, California
Simple Sparkling wine with minerals and straw character. Short finish. (85 pts.)

N.V. Domaine Chandon Brut Rosé - USA, California
What a strange Sparkling wine and was really bitter on the palate. The main element was a floral quality and it featured a short finish. Not well made at all! (77 pts.)

N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut - France, Champagne
I have never had a bad bottle of Veuve Clicquot's N.V. offering and this one features lemon, lime, minerals dough and chalk. Complex and has a medium finish. Well done again. (90 pts.)

N.V. Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Rosé - France, Champagne
Very nice Rose Champagne with floral, strawberry, minerals and spice. Medium finish and nice acidity. Recommended. (91 pts.)

2000 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut La Grande Dame - France, Champagne
Dough, raspberry, strawberry, minerals and floral notes. Complex overall with a medium finish. I did not like this as much as the 1998 and at $120 a bottle I will pass. (92 pts.)

N.V. Moët & Chandon Champagne Brut Impérial - France, Champagne
Drinking well right now with lemon, yeast, golden apples, and minerals. On the palate there is a fresh fruit explosion and good acidity overall. Nice wine. (91 pts.)

2000 Perrier-Jouët Champagne Cuvée Fleur de Champagne - France, Champagne
Nice and got better as the bottle was consumed. A 90 to start and then a 92. Lemon, dough, minerals, golden apples and pear. The wine is complex overall and has a medium finish. At $100 a bottle not a good QPR. (92 pts.)

2005 Domaine Carneros Brut by Taittinger - USA, California, Napa Valley, Carneros (11/21/2010)
Expressive nose of spice, dough and minerals. The palate is bright and features lemon, dough, minerals, chalk and nice spice flavors. Medium finish and acidity is excellent. This is better than almost all of the N.V. Champagnes I have sampled this year and a lot cheaper. (92 points)

N.V. Duval-Leroy Champagne Brut - France, Champagne (11/19/2010)
Shells, lemon, spice, and orange peel. Sharp acidity and really too much earth on the palate and the fruit is struggling to shine through. Average N.V. Champagne. (87 points)

N.V. Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley (11/12/2010)
Vibrant nose with lemon, shells, dried pineapple and chalk. On the palate crisp acidity along with a nice balance of minerals and fruit. Medium finish and really well done. The best Roederer Estate N.V. I have ever tasted. (89 points)

 

 

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