The first run of the holidays are over and now it’s time to get back to business…the business of drinking the sweet nectar of the gods that is.
We’re moving on from the turkey day Beaujolais to the Christmas bubbles and boy are we excited. To kick things off, my tasting group had a vintage sparkling tasting and two of them just absolutely shone.
Duval-Leroy’s tete de cuvee ‘La Femme de Champagne’ from the ’95 vintage. What was most impressive about this example was the youth and vitality. I mean this wine is nearly 15 years old and though showing some maturing coffee and caramel notes, it has a remarkable freshness with a particularly fine mousse and bright red cherry and candied lemon notes. Having had the opportunity to taste through the Duval lineup for the past few years, the vintage juice always stands out among the rest. I also highly recommend the ’96 Brut.
Gatinois Champagne, 2002. Once again, it is impressive how fresh and expressive this sparkler is. This grower Champagne spends 6 years on the lees and is comprised of 90% Pinot Noir. The nose is incredibly complex with fresh mint, brioche and ripe red apple notes, while the palate is focused and well structured. Only 200 cases are imported to the states, so it might be a little difficult to find but definitely worth the effort. Worst case scenario- buy the non-vintage version because it also delivers a serious amount of awesomeness.
And as always, if you want to try one of these delicious beings, you can come and visit your favorite wine bar. I was referring to Social by the way.
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