So here it is, the fifth Grand New Year Blind Champagne Tasting. A little shorter than last year’s (only 48 minutes!), but with two more wines, and some quality chat, not just on the subject of Champagne and sparkling wine. Eight Champagnes, three English bubblies, a Franciacorta and a Tasmanian fizz all in the mix. Some surprising results.
The wines, in order:
(1) Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2009 England
(2) Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2005
(3) Champagne Marc Chauvet 2006
(4) Champagne Delamotte NV
(5) Champagne Veuve Clicquot 2004
(6) Champagne Jacquesson Cuvee 736
(7) Ridgeview Grosvenor 2009 England
(8) Champagne Egly Ouriet Les Vignes de Vrigny 1er Cru
(9) Bellavista Gran Cuvee 2007 Franciacorta, Italy
(10) Champagne de Saint Gall Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru NV
(11) Champagne Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs NV
(12) Mill Down 2010 England
(13) Arras Blanc de Blancs 2004 Tasmania
Excellent as always. Maybe an American sparkling or another Cremant next year?
Great stuff Jamie – really enjoyable stuff! So glad to see Ridgeview and Nyetimber performing so well
This list should not be described as a Champagne Blind tasting because you’ve got several sparkling wines that are not champagnes. Let’s be proper with the terms!
I am here, gonna watch now.
Bob Alberta.
Entertaining and informative as always. Happy New Year to the whole crew.
Wonderful video. I’ve made a transcript (only comments made by you Jamie) that shows that you actually did quite good in telling the champagne from the other sparkling wines:
(1) Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2009 England
very good, crisp, I think it’s French, could be wrong here, its very classy, fine, focussed, linear, young, not massively complex, lovely fruit, 8.5/10
(2) Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 2005
lots of flavours, layers, peanut, cherry, fruity, very nice, it’s champagne, it’s not the greatest one in the world, 8/10
(3) Champagne Marc Chauvet 2006
it’s interesting, fresh, like it a lot, lemony edge, lovely complexity, citrussy, classic blanc de blanc, quite rich and concentrated, de saint gall is a good call, 8/10
(4) Champagne Delamotte NV
this is interesting, apple, this is very nice, concentrated, bit obvious, but delicious, it’s very fine, 8.5/10
(5) Champagne Veuve Clicquot 2004
great acidity, I think it is champagne, blanc de blancs, lemony character, 9/10
(6) Champagne Jacquesson Cuvee 736
very thight isn’t it? high acidity, very pure, crisp, well-made, I reckon it is the Mill down from Hamilton?
(7) Ridgeview Grosvenor 2009 England
It is quite serious this one. linear and pure, nice concentration of flavour, fruit, herbs, lemons, nice toasty character, it’s not too showy, but nice concentration, 9/10
(pretty good)
(8) Champagne Egly Ouriet Les Vignes de Vrigny 1er Cru
deeper in colour, this is very nice, rich flavours, peach, pear, could be 2006, it’s beautiful, concentration, thightness, it is really good
(my favorite)
(9) Bellavista Gran Cuvee 2007 Franciacorta, Italy
Very creamy isn’t it, very toasty, very rich, peachy, cream, very delicious in a simple sort of way, I’d say it’s not French, but has complexity.
(Franciacorta is n 9)
(10) Champagne de Saint Gall Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru NV
Toasty, very delicious, it’s a good upper/middle order champagne, it’s a bit lacking focus, a bit of a simple, but still delicious wine
(11) Champagne Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs NV
Very distinctive, I love that one, complex, precise, linear, fruit, edginess to it, a grower champagne, low dosage, 9/10
(12) Mill Down 2010 England
very thight and youthful, wow, good acidity, very high acidity, English, pure, focused, precise, lack of biscuity, so focused and thight it is almost hard work
(13) Arras Blanc de Blancs 2004 Tasmania
it’s herbey and lemoney, great fruity style to it, good acidity, not champagne, creaminess, finish is quite herbal, this is the Tasmanian one. Ths finish on this one just lets it down a bit
Top:
1 really good
3 slightly better
4 same quality as 1
5 same quality as 3
7 really good
8 really good
11 really good.
top: 11, 8, 7
8 : comtes de champagne?
Yes it was an entertaining, humorous, educational & enjoyable video to watch, I especially enjoyed the whole family photo/video bit at the end.
While watching the video I think I learned something about Champagne & especially regarding the whole zero vs. low dosage issue. It was all rather easy to follow & down to earth; I was also glad that you added some non Champagnes this year.
I must say trying the Tasmanian sparkling was brave of you and also interesting to see how it fared going head to head with some classic Champagnes.
Cheers!
Solomon Mengeu
Great show all round, always look forward to it. Found this discussion on Jacquesson 736 and 737 on Wine Beserkers>
http://www.wineberserkers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=93722&p=1342365#p1342365