Vintage Champagne Tasting Notes
· Written Wine ReviewsJul 24th, 2012 | By Jayson Bryant | Category: Written Wine Reviews
Vintage Champagne Tasting Notes
It’s everybody’s dream wine tasting. The mere mumble of the words “Vintage Champagne” evokes a great response.
We tasted all wines blind. Removing the marketing from Champagne is important when tasting each wine on its own merit.
Most of the tasters had not had the pleasure of Tasting so many vintage Champagnes side by side. Most of them said they would prefer drinking Veuve Clicquot prior to the tasting.
At the end of the tasting they all agreed that Drappier Grande Sendrée was the best Champagne they had tasted.
1996 Duval-Leroy Cuvée Femme de Champagne
This wine has only been made three times. Golden yellow in colour. The smell of freshly baked brioche with a drizzling of lemon and topped with some fine rolled oats spill over the edge of the glass.
The palate is full, rounded, with some noticeable oak. Very layered and complex with long lasting finish.
94 Points, 5 Stars, RRP $260
1999 Gosset Grande Millésime Champagne
From one of the oldest Champagne houses. Deep golden colour. Rich and powerful yeast, fig, dried apple and spice on the nose. The palate has a deep, rich layering with a savoury finish. Although it’s drinking well now, this vintage Champagne will cellar for another 10 years.
92 Points, 5 Stars, RRP $100
Pol Roger 2000 Champagne
Starting to develop the signs of an aged Champagne. The colour is noticeably yellow. The nose is exuberant. The primary aromas of brioche, fig and honey, are underpinned by subtle characters of pineapple, nougat and dried candied fruit. The palate is broad. The edges have been rounded and yet the acid is still very present. This wine is full of flavour and character. It’s drinking well now and probably at its best.
88 Points, 4 Stars, RRP $125
Drappier Grande Sendrée 2000 Champagne
The star of the tasting. This wine is simply stunning. The delicate and seductive nose of baked apple, freshly squeezed citrus fruit and an edge of savouriness are stunning. The palate is full of intrigue. Full and lively. Beautifully balanced with great poise and certain femininity. This wine will show much more character over te next few years. It’s the Marilyn are Champagne!
95 Points, 5 Stars.
Charles Heidsieck Millésime 2000 Champagne
From one of the most awarded Champagne houses in the world. A rich creamy nose with fruit bread and herbs. The palate is broad, yet slightly unexciting. The bead is small. The wine well balanced, and the finish is long. It’s well made Champagne that just lacks that extra dimension to make it standout.
82 Points, 4 Stars, RRP $130
Piper Heidsieck 2000 Champagne
The non-vintage is one of the worlds best selling Champagnes, but the vintage was definitely not worth the extra money. There were some hints of what was once a good vintage Champagne, but the wine seemed tired. The lack of fruit and character was worrisome.
75 Points, 3 Stars, RRP $110
Moet et Chandon Grand Vintage 2003 Champagne
Everyone knows Moet et Chandon, although not everyone knows how to pronounce it. Vanilla, nashi pear, and dried apricots fill the room. The mousse explodes in your mouth. Slightly tight and angular fruit and acid sit uneasily next to one another on the palate. The finish is of biscotti and fortunately leaves and delightful taste in the mouth.
83 Points, 4 Stars, RRP $120
Dom Perignon Vintage 2003 Champagne
The big brother to Moet et Chandon. This is where Champagne starts. Named in honour of the monk that is said to have given the region secondary fermentation. The whole wine drinking world knows this wine. Nice citrus yellow in colour. The aromas are direct and straight to the point. This wine is quality, albeit from an unusual vintage.
Like a ballet dancer she dances across the palate displaying all she has to offer. Mineral and attractive floral notes abound. But this wine is also about balance, harmony and excitement. Drinking beautifully now, this wine will definitely reward cellaring for the next 10 years.
94 points, 5 Stars, RRP $299
Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin 2004 Champagne
The colour orange speaks volumes on a Champagne label. Some of the best wine branding. Veuve Clicquot is a Champagne for those that want/demand table presence. For people who want everyone to know the value of their wine.
Hints of elderberry, porridge, and subtle white flowers and citrus fruit are revealed on the nose. The palate is tight and youthful, almost arrogant. The palate is broad and mousse smooth and creamy. The fruit tastes very pure and clean. A subtle hint of Dutch liquorice and oak lead to a mineral finish. Elegant and will cellar for a few years yet.
87 Points, 4 Stars, RRP $140
Taittinger 2004 Champagne
Taittinger is one of the very oldest of all the champagne houses, and one of the few still under family control. The 2004 Taittinger is a blend of 50:50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The hay coloured wine in the glass is brilliant. The bubbles/bead are fine. There’s a real sense of quality with this wine. Lemon meringue pie and vanilla custard aromas spill over the edge.
The palate is clean and bright. The creaminess gives way to some direct citrus fruit characters. The finish is slightly short.
89 Points, 4 Stars, RRP $125
Drappier Millésime Exception 2004 Champagne
Predominantly Pinot Noir. All grapes have been harvested in vineyards formerly owned by the Abbey of Clairvaux. The ancestors took care to choose particularly well exposed and powerfully calcareous parcels (Jurassic Kimmeridgien) of land producing expressive wines.
This wine already has a feeling of maturity about it. Straw yellow in colour belies its youth. The youth of the wine is displayed on the palate with zingy acid and citrus. The marriage of freshness with complexity is seamless. The taste is of almond, peach, pear coupled with rounded corner make this wine deeply complex. Great mineral finish, almost drying.
Mature beyond its years, there’s still plenty of life in this wine yet.
92 Points, 5 Stars, RRP $110
