Champagne Society June 2010

It's official our champagne club members are getting
two bottles this month.The spectacular Laurent Perrier
Cuvee Brut Rose and Eric Rodez Brut Cuvee des Crayeres
all for a paltry sum of $106.99 what a bargain!
The Eric Rodez Brut, Cuvee des Crayère is 50% Chadonnay
and 50% Pinot Noir all Grand Cru grapes.
It is silvery straw in color with peachy fruit on the nose.
The mousse is lovely, with a creamy and juicy mouthfeel,
there is plenty of ripe citrus and notes of vanilla blossom
in the finish. The Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose is orange-rose
in color the nose shows dried cherries with a touch of earth.
Medium bodied with lots of juicy strawberry fruit, toast, smoke
and white pepper on the finish.

Laurent Perrier Champagne is back!

It has been two years since we've carried the full bottles of Laurent Perrier champagne, the reason for this is that their pricing dramatically increased. We believe that the consumer shouldn't have to suffer because of corporate greed so we refused to carry their products. It took some negotiating and now they're finally ready to play ball and have adjusted their pricing. So as of last week we now have these terrific bubblies back on the shelf and at these prices one of these bubblies just might show up on our upcoming Champagne Club. We revisited these bottles recently and they're as fantastic as we remember, the Laurent Perrier Rose is still just as beautiful as the first time we tried it.

Our Favorite Champagnes Are Back!!!

The boat landed last week and in it were some tasty treats.
Now these aren't your well known Grand Marques but they are
very dear to us. We really would rather keep all of this to
our selves but our boss was against the idea.

Michel Loriot Blanc De Noirs Reserve Brut Champagne $33.99
The nose offers a nice, pretty light herb note. Steely and sleek
on the palate, the Champagne shows off spicy fruit dusted with
black pepper. All in all, it shows off a lot of power.

R.Renaudin Brut Reserve Champagne $32.99
The nose is big, toasty and bold and so is the palate.
This is a rich, hazelnut laced champagne, with lots of
juicy fruit. It comes across as very sexy in the Bollinger style.

R.Renaudin L'Espiegle Brut Rose Champagne $33.99
Light and delicate at first, opening to power, it shows off
floral fruit and a handful of nuts. There's great vibrancy
here and great finesse. It's creamy, with hints at pomegranate and lemon. Wow!

Voirin-Jumel Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru $48.99
The nose shows a bushel of fresh Bartlett pear fruit with flowers,
and a hint of green leaves. This is just alive in the mouth, the
mousse is so enthusiastic it wants to jump out of the glass.
Lush on the palate, with pear fruit and undertones of brioche.
It finishes up with the lightest, prettiest kiss of apple butter.

New Champagnes from Gonet-Medeville

We just passed these tasty bubblies:

Gonet-Medeville Blanc des Noirs Champagne $47.99

Silvery golden bubbly with a spicy, toasty nose.
It comes across the palate with serious power--big, rich,
layered champagne with a steely focus.

Gonet-Medeville Brut Tradition Champagne $41.99

Very pale gold with very fine beads, the nose wafts
leafy and herbaceous from the glass. Light and
lively on the palate, with red fruit flavors on a
very soft mousse, showing nice length.

New Arrivals!

We're ecstatic about all these champagnes that just came in. You folks better get some before we run out.

Billecart - Salmon 1997 Cuvee Nicholas Francois Brut Champagne
$89.99
Outpointing its middling reputation, this vintage of the Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart bubbly hits the mark smartly with yeasty, rich and ripe aromas that are this producer's hallmark. Except for an extra note of chalk in its aromas and flavors, the smells of vanilla, ripe cherries and sweet lemons could easily pass for something grown here in California. It is balanced, rich, creamy and well-bubbled.
Score: 2 Puffs, Connoisseurs' Guide

Bollinger 1985 RD Extra Brut Champagne
$279.99

Disgorged in 1997. Founded in 1829, Champagne Bollinger introduced the world to an instantly recognizable, dry, toasty style that connoisseurs around the globe covet. Six generations of the Bollinger family have maintained the trademark style of their namesake Champagne and it is one of a few remaining Grande Marque houses owned, controlled and managed by the same family since its founding. Bollinger relies on its own estate for more than 60 percent of its grape requirements, including the Pinot Noir that gives its Champagne much of its distinctive strength and structure. Bollinger is one of a select few houses that can control the quality of its grape supply so carefully. Bollinger is renowned for its use of traditional methods that include extensive use of Pinot Noir, individual vinification of each marc and cru, barrel fermentation and extra-aging of all of its Champagnes on the lees prior to disgorgement.

Bollinger 1990 RD Extra Brut Champagne
$259.99
Disgorged in 2002. A full-bodied, powerful Champagne featuring biscuit and ginger aromas and flavors, picking up a grilled nut character on the finish. Very firmly structured and dry, yet with the flavor intensity and fine texture to match, this is a tour de force. Endless finish. Drink now through 2020.
Score: 97 Points, Collectibles. The Wine Spectator.

Pierre Gimonnet et Fils 1998 Vieilles Vignes De Chardonnay 1.5 Liters - Magnum
$134.99
This is dry and brisk, yet with fine intensity to its lemon, bread dough and hazelnut notes. Balanced overall, it ends with a nice richness and length. An ideal food Champagne.
Score: 90 Points The Wine Spectator

Green-gold. Spicy, vibrant citrus zest aromas, with nervy mineral accents and a hint of white flowers. Pure and energetic, with wonderful lift and great clarity to the flavors of lime, Meyer lemon and ruby-red grapefruit. A brisk mineral note of talc dominates the finish, which is impressively long.
Score: 91 Points Stephen Tanzer's, International Wine Cellar,