WINE REVIEWS
Champagne Krug
Grand Cuvee Brut
168Eme Edition
Visionary Joseph Krug established this brand in 1843. House director Olivier Krug is a sixth-generation family member dedicated to maintaining the uncompromising quality of this renowned house. There are 150 reserve wines from 12-14 vintages that make up the blend. It takes 20 years to craft a Krug Grand Cuvée. This wine has an energetic quality along with an extreme sense of elegance and grace. There is a dramatic display of fine persistent bubbles, brioche and racy yellow fruits that intertwine, creating a breathtaking finish that lasts for several minutes.
Champagne
Ruinart Rose´
The official founding of Ruinart was in 1729 by drapery merchant, Nicolas Ruinart. After encouragement from his uncle Dom Thierry Ruinart, this house abandoned the clothing trade and blossomed into a contender in the world Champagne market. This definitely is the year when the Ruinart Rose´ shines into the stratosphere. The pale salmon color opens to a lightly perfumed Champagne of red flower blossoms. It is softly textured and immediately appealing with layers of framboise and rose petals. They are held together nicely with a touch of pastry cream.
Champagne
Dom Perignon
Vintage 2008
Within the house of Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon has been the reference point for Cuvée de Prestige Champagnes since its inception. From the first vintage in 1921, Dom Perignon has been produced only in vintage years. As I have admired Dom Perignon from afar during the past, this bottling is a quintessential example of one of their greatest efforts to date from the highly regarded 2008 vintage. This energetic Champagne is powerful and tightly wound with bold textural components. Crushed yellow plums, warm spices and poached pears are nicely intertwined with minerality and delicate acidity. This ultra-complete wine is immensely gratifying and a legendary achievement.
Champagne
Moet & Chandon
2012 Grand Vintage Rose´
This international brand was founded by wine trader Claude Moet in 1743 and has evolved into the world’s largest premium Champagne producer. It is now part of the LVMH luxury portfolio. Under the guidance of Chef de Cave Benoît Gouez, this house pursues consistency and perfection. This Champagne delivers a generous concentration of blood orange and snappy red fruits married with light stony minerality and spring flowers. Complexity and energy are nicely packaged together in this well-textured Champagne.
Champagne
Bollinger Rose´
The house of Renaudin-Bollinger & Cie was founded in 1829. They have a high percentage of vineyards planted to Pinot Noir, which explains the dominance of this varietal in their Champagne. There is power and elegance to this Champagne that captivates with its pale salmon tint and wild berry elements. Warm spices unfold into a long and caressing finish.
Champagne
Veuve Clicquot
Vintage 2012
In the 1800’s, Madame Clicquot perfected many innovations in the production of Champagne and was referred to as the “Grande Dame of Champagne.” Veuve Clicquot remains the number one selling Champagne in the US market. Pale yellow and topped off with lightly baked bread. This 2012 vintage dated Champagne possesses an expansive middle of creamy white fruits, citron and spiced apples that are long and balanced on the palate.