Now this is what I’m talking about! Best of this Bouchard haul. I wonder how much vintage played a role. Dense and intense, yet so chiselled. Aromas of pears, peaches, brioche, white flowers, spices, and even a touch of jackfruit were just bursting out of the glass. Super dense, precise, and long on the palate. Has a really interesting plummy mid-palate note, and lovely salinity. Loved it! — a month ago
Haven’t sipped this in quite awhile. 375ml to refresh my palate memory.
40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier. Varietals fermented separately in stainless steel vats. 5 to 10% of wine is vinified in old Burgundy oak barrels.
Texture is round and elegant. The fruits are; both peach, mango, apricots, slightly oxidative white citrus-lime hovers the edges & pineapple juice. Nougat, marzipan, toasted nuts, brioche, saline, crushed chalk, white spice that presses into the palate, notes of cheese cloth, limestone marl, moist, pulpy, grey volcanic minerals, yellow lilies with spring white flowers, jasmine blooms, round, soft acidy and a well; balanced, structured & tensioned finish that lands squarely on mid minerality and lasts 90 seconds.
Photos; Charles Heidsieck signage, Charles Heidsieck, chalky tasting area in their cellar and Cote de Blanc vineyard. — 20 days ago
From magnum, the 1996 Grande Année pours a brilliant pale gold color with a persistent mousse. Initially, the wine showed more oxidative notes but it freshened up considerably with air (in fact, a tiny amount was leftover for the next morning and it remained brilliant, racy even!). On the nose, notes of almond, citrus, honey, chalky minerals and brioche. On the palate, wine is developing with absolutely brilliant acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. The 1996 vintage is simply amazing. Here we are, 28 years past vintage and this bright and full of life! Granted, it’s a magnum, but still. Drink now with patience or enjoy through 2046+. — 12 days ago
Lee Pitofsky
2018 Disgorgement is on fire tonight, intensely aromatic and simply unmistakable with its infinite layers of spiced red berry fruit, blood orange and chalky minerals that wrap around the palate, with singular texture, weight and density, giving way to a chiseled, vibrant and incredibly long finale. Just nothing like it. — 6 days ago