Fresh from some Bordeaux shenanigans last Tuesday, our Wednesday afternoon was whiled away sipping some prestige cuvee Champagne. James R was in and he didn’t waste any time in treating us to two of the most glorious bubbles around.
First on the table was a 1999 Salon Blanc de Blancs. This was refined elegance in bottle. Beautiful and layered nose of citrus blossoms, lemon, green apple and nuance of flinty/smoky minerality pop from the glass. Unbelievably fresh in the palate. Silky textured, extremely refined bubbles, just seamless. Flavors were consistent with the aromas; citrus, white peach, white blossoms, green apples builds in the mouth. The wine finishes with persistent length and a precise minerality that keeps the wine fresh and readies you for the next sip!
The 1985 Dom Perignon, on the other hand, showed tremendous power and structure. This had a more savory edge with dried mushrooms, roasted nuts, toast, honeycomb, peach, and quince holding forth on the first sniff. In the mouth, this showed a creamy mouthfeel, flamboyance, and richness of fruit that I loved!