There’s been quite a bit of Champagne in the last few weeks. The most extraordinary was a last bottle of Lilbert et fils Perle Blanc de Blancs which thanks to an informative back label was disgorged in 2017. The years spent resisting temptation were worth the restraint. Grand cru Chardonnay worthy of the name which had developed perfumes of wattle blooms and the best flower honey that went on for light years. If you’ve $170, the current release is available in Australia at The Prince Wine Store amongst others. Not sure I’ve the money, patience or the years left to risk another. The original post from a few years ago.
A friend devoted to still buying Champagne offered this Drémont Marroy as a swap for some spare auction bottles. As it comes from the usually well chosen selection of champagne-de-vigneron.com, it should be a good buy. Particularly as the importer has been pursuing good value on the ground for quite a few years. The hunt ranging west along the Marne to Charly sur Marne, just about halfway to Paris from the Côtes des Blancs. And another producer more interested in their farming than label bling as the back of the bottle explains a lot more than some…
Fruit so ripe these days of warming weather that there’s zero added sugar to hide any shortcomings. The wine itself, after all Champagne is wine, is beautiful but shy. There seems to be a wound up depth of crystalline citrus, lemon and maybe grapefruit that slowly unwinds after an initial hit of what could be confused with a good breath of fresh, saline seaside breeze. Most of all, it’s the sense of power in the middle that promises all sorts of mineral and stone depths to come with time. Add some delicious, life giving breath in the form of well modulated acidity and it’ll be a wonder in a few years. Nonetheless, a great bottle to share and wonder how much Champagne has changed for the better in quality if not price. Cheers indeed.
12.5% alcohol. Diam I think. Great swap for a few dodgy old auction bottles.
Another bottle of great bubbles shared with no little joy but not much objectivity was a Vilmart & Cie Premier Cru Grand Reserve. Really rich but light on its toes with a great depth of middle mouth fruit and the sort of ripe acidity that tingles and glides and shows how inadequate are some of the luxury goods companies’ bottles. Direct import from The Prince Winestore.
The great disappointment was a Champagne Veuve Monsigny Brut Selection from Aldi which has had some good reviews. Horribly cork tainted. I was many kms away from the nearest Aldi and not sure I could face explaining the problem to probably the only poorly paid and overworked staff member dealing with the madness that’s Xmess shopping. $35 dollars would have been better spent on a Barbadillo Sherry under screw cap and still had change.
Cognitive Bottle Therapy 