Pierre Et Francois Hure
Francois la Pierre
Grande Réserve Castelbeaux Pinot Noir 2016
Fantastic with slow roasted lamb — 8 years ago
Château Pierre de Montignac
Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2012
The reviews I read are not as great as I would expect. I think these critics need to be less Francois Simon and more little-old-lady-who-reviews-The-Olive-Garden-for-her-local-newspaper. This is a most delicious blend of vanilla cake with ice cream and dark roast French pressed coffee. The guy at the tasting bar told us this is meant to be consumed with food, but what does he really know about binge drinking? This is an excellent stand alone wine. And the couple who sidled up next to us at the bar certainly didn’t seem to want to ruin this one with food, either. Or French stodginess. — 9 years ago
Domaine Francois Bertheau
Chambolle-Musigny Pinot Noir 2015
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of a couple hours. The 2015 pours a ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. In typical Francois Bertheau fashion, this was initially quite shy on the nose but with about 30min of air in the glass, the wine is developing with notes of ripe and tart red fruits: strawberry, cranberry, red flowers, chanterelles, forest floor and a gentle mix of cool and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is medium+. Never one to shout above a crowd to announce its presence, instead, the wines of Pierre e Francois Bertheau allow their quiet confidence to make the statement; an increasingly rare characteristic. An elegant, ethereal beauty. Drink now with some patience and time for deliberation and enjoyment, through 2035. — a year ago
Pierre et Francois Hure
4 éléments Champagne Pinot Noir 2013
Speciell doft, lite spretig. Marsipan och fat, lite gummi. Gulrosa färg. Djup fin syra, lång, lång smak med gulgröna äpplen. — 8 years ago
Pierre et Francois Hure
4 éléments Champagne Chardonnay
Wow - much better this time around. Tense, precise BdB. — 4 years ago
Taittinger
Comtes de Champagne Grand Crus Brut Blanc de Blancs 2007
Well...this was one hell of a week. There is only one way to wind it down. Reach for an excellent bottle of vintage Champagne.
My first thoughts are how delicate this is on the palate. Further, how unbelievable it will be with another 8-10 years in bottle.
The nose shows; slightly sour lemon, the good parts of lemon Pledge, lemon meringue, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, brioche, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanilla, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies.
The body is light on its feet and dances on the palate. Delicacy abounds. Its soft, gorgeous mousse right there with the best money can buy. Slightly sour lemon, lemon meringue, green & with more bruised golden apple, white stone fruits, pineapple fresh with lots of juice, grapefruit, lime pulp, touch of apple cider, honeysuckle, soft, haunting caramel, ginger ale into cream soda, brioche, nougat, toffee notes, lighter nuts without skin, limestone & slightly, dirty, grey volcanics, saline, sea fossils, sea spray, bread dough, vanillin, marzipan, white spices-light ginger with spring flowers, mixed floral greens & lilies. The acidity is mellow yet lively, gorgeous and as good as it gets. The finish is all luxury. So well knitted & balanced, elegant, rich but not overpowering and gently persisting several minutes.
Photos of; The House of Taittinger, their caves so chalky white and built on the famous Crayères Cellars of Reims: 2.5 miles of tunnels (they own 1/4 to 1/3 of it) cut out of chalk by the Romans, the portrait of Thibaud IV who was a king, lord, manager, singer, conqueror, explorer & 11th century Crusader all rolled into one from which, this Cuvée was the catalyst creation and part of the 600 plus hectares they own in Champange.
Some producer notes; Taittinger's history can be traced back to 1734, when it was originally known as Forest-Fourneaux, founded by Jacques Fourneaux who worked closely with local Benedictine monks to learn how to produce wine. They were just the 3rd Champange house.
The estate was bought by the Taittingers – a family of wine merchants – in 1932, and thanks to the great depression and subsequent low land prices, the family also picked up huge swathes of vineyard. From 1945-1960, Francois Taittinger established the cellars in the Abbey of Saint-Nicaise, and after his death in 1960 his brother Claude took over, pushing the estate into a Champagne house of world renown. Such was the status of the label that the Taittinger family soon expanded its business into other luxury goods. However, this eventually led to financial difficulties, and in 2005 the Taittinger brand – including the Champagne house – was sold to the American owned Starwood Hotel Group. The sale was badly received by the Champagne industry, with many fearing the new owners – unfamiliar with the culture of Champagne – would put profit ahead of quality.
Just one year later, Claude’s nephew, Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, who had always been opposed to the sale, negotiated a €660m deal with the Starwood Group, and the Taittinger family resumed ownership of the company.
In 2017, Taittinger planted its first vines in England, near a village in Kent, for its venture into English sparkling wine. The first bottle will be ready in 2023.
1/8/21 — 5 years ago
Sipping Fine Wine
Aromas of citrus and flinty stone fruits. On the palate flavors of peach and citrus with floral notes and slight spice. Medium+ finish, vivid acidity ending with citrus and stony mineral spice. — 8 months ago