Champagne Night at Rude Tasters

Ed and Linda Cox really out did themselves. We ended up with ten selections plus and extra bottle of Champagne de Castellane brought by the Volkhardt’s. The food was extra special and really showed how well Champagne pairs with just about anything. We did not do an official scoring or rating so all of the notes and scores (20 point AWS method) are mine alone.

WARM UPS

2017 Saint-Hilaire Blanquette de Limoux 12.5%ABV $10.29 FRANCE No secret why this wine flies off the shelf at most big box stores. With some interesting fermentation smells a bit of citrus and a clean mineral finish, it’s hard to beat for the money. 15 Points

NV Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut CAVA 11.5%ABV $10.79 SPAIN Though not a bad wine, it really suffers by comparison to the Saint-Hilaire. Very simple and a little clumsy with not much complexity. 12 points

TASTING

2014 Domaine Carneros by Taittenger Brut California 12%ABV $28 USA The big toasty nose shows extensive lees aging. The very complex and powerful bouquet carries well into the palate and finishes just as complex as it smells. 19 points

NV Veuve Cliquot Brut Champagne Reims 12%ABV $47 FRANCE Another huge toasty wine with a slightly medicinal liquor-like nuance. 17- points

2006 Pierre Moncuit Brut Millesime Grand Cru Champagne Mesnil-Sur-Oger 12%ABV $72 FRANCE Wow, this is really complex with minerals, tons of toast, earth and lots of spritz. The creamy texture really lasts. 19+ points

NV Barnaut Blanc de Noirs Brut Grand Cru Champagne Bouzy 12.5%ABV $52 FRANCE For not a lot more than the cost of the “lesser” wines, this one really delivers. It is the fullest bodied of the tasting with very rich almost tannic mouth feel refreshed by an avalanche of tingling sparkle. 19 points

NV Pol Roger Brut Reserve Champagne Epernay 12.5%ABV $45 FRANCE Ed commented that this is classic old style Champagne with a much lighter elegant style, clean and fresh but not a lot of body or complexity. I agree. 17 points

NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige California 12.5%ABV $16 USA Though not the top wine of the tasting, it might be the best buy. It clearly offered most of the complex leesy toasty flavors and an interesting confection-like yeastiness which some might find a bit heavy, though still refreshing. 17+ points

NV Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut Champagne Epernay 12%ABV $43 FRANCE The typical nose of toast and “sweet sour” give way to ample mouth coating texture. Nice wine but kind of gets lost here. 16 points

NV Andre Clouet Brut Grande Reserve Champagne Bouzy $68 FRANCE Made from the 1995-6-7 vintages and recently disgorged in June of this year, it shows very strong sour yeasty toasty smells with a huge grip on the palate though still fresh yet with an old complex sense to it. 16+ points

FINALE

NV Champagne de Castellane Brut Red Stripe Epernay FRANCE Not a lot of nose but what is there shows age complexity and class. On the palate, steely minerality and a long finish are enjoyable. 18 points

I was surprised how well the California wines showed. In the past, they seemed to lack the age and complexity of their French cousins, but, tonight, they seemed worthy companions.

Enjoy in Good Health,

Brian Cain, the Michigan Vintner