By: Ryan Tedder
Its a 24-7 Champagne Campaign with our valued members and this last monday was no different. We started out with some NV Bruno Paillard Brut Rose, NV Francois Diligent Trois Pinots & NV Francois Diligent Brut Rose that were all beautifully balanced, minerally, highly aromatics Grower Champagnes that could be opened and enjoyed every day. Then we got into some of the vintage stuff. We had my current favorite Grower Champagne – 2006 Chartogne Taillet Fiacre. This lush, mature, salty and savory bottling got my mouth watering and wanting more minerally bubbles. We went to the top of that mountain next with a bottle of 1999 Champagne Salon – The finest Blanc de Blancs made only in declared vintages. Electricity, melted minerals, limes, green apples, dry power and an endless finish. Impressive! We finished with a pair of rockstar 2002 bottlings from Dom Ruinart. The 2002 Dom Ruinart Brut Rose was creamy rich and full of ripe red fruit and strawberries. Ginger, jasmine, citrus blossoms and an impressive richness filled the glass. We finished this Champagne night with a Magnum of 2002 Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs. Drinking young, powerfully and as long as the day is bright, this is a wine to seek out and stockpile! The 2002 version of Dom Ruinart is legendary status and every bottle over the last 1 1/2 years has been a stunner. We are lucky enough to have a handful of bottles left in the cellar-yippy!
As always happens, we also drank copious amounts of great still wine throughout the night. They included:
3 Liter of 2000 Bruno Giacosa Le Rocche Serralunga di Alba Barolo Riserva
2012 Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Spatlese Riesling
2006 Marcassin Marcassin Chardonnay
1988 Haut Brion
2012 Bevan Ontogeny
1988 Camille Giroud Corton Bressandes Grand Cru
2012 En Route Pinot Noir
2010 Hollywood & Vine 2480 Cabernet Sauvignon
2010 The Grade Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Robert Biale Meade Ranch Zinfandel.
Great times had by all!!