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21/06/2013

Spoilt for Choice - BI's 2013 Champagne Tasting

by Anthony Field-Johnson & Michael Mullin (Sales)
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Anthony Field-Johnson (Private Sales)BI's 2013 Champagne Tasting
We held our first Champagne portfolio tasting of 2013 last night, and what an evening it was! Where to start... to experience some of the most sought-after wines from many of the most celebrated houses in Champagne, we were truly privileged. The team and our customers were spoilt by the presence of Pol Roger, Gosset, Krug, the latest releases from Bollinger, Dom Perignon, Laurent Perrier, Veuve Clicquot and Taittinger - all living up to and surpassing expectation. The room was lit up by mags of 1990 Veuve Clicquot Cave Privee, 1998 R de Ruinart and the Jeroboam of 1997 Bollinger Grand Annee (a sight to behold in itself).

Amongst all this, Gosset’s 2000 Grand Millesime and the 2002 Dom Ruinart I thought were truly magnificent. The 2000 Grand Millesime is a champagne of perfect balance, elegance and great staying power. Tones of jasmine, white lilac and vanilla mingle with scents of apricot, peach, pear and toasted nuts in its powerful bouquet. This is a crisp and graceful champagne that has a rich and lasting flavour that recalls notes of cinnamon, almonds and dried fruit that is delicate and creates an enduring excitement. (92 pts AF-J)

Then there was the imposing 2002 Dom Ruinart. This is an impressive Blanc de Blancs and the jewel in Ruinart’s range. It is light gold colour and has an expressive bouquet combining rich fruit notes of pear, kumquat and mango with mineral undertones and appealing pastry notes. The palate is rich and silky with citrus and bready flavours. I loved it now but I am sure you could leave it to open up further and age gracefully. (96 pts  AF-J)

Many thanks to all involved for making the evening such a wonderful experience - it was great to see so many new and familiar friends of Bordeaux Index. The bar has now been set high if this evening was anything to go by - I am very much looking forward to the next!
 

Michael Mullin (Private Sales)
What a way to kick things off. After one month behind the desk at Bordeaux Index, I was told we would soon be having a champagne tasting for some clients on our fourth floor (which doubles as a wine school). With a few years in the industry under my belt, I am more than used to attending dull and stuffy tastings of over-rated and often disappointing wines. Not this time – this was something special and utterly unique. The room was packed, the mood was buzzing and the champagne was flowing. The real highlights for me were the jeroboams of 1997 Bollinger Grande Annee and the 1995 Veuve Clicquot. However the big surprises came in the form of Vilmart Grande Cuvee 2005 and the NV Gosset Blanc de Blancs, which stood strong in a room of heavy weights. One of my clients, looking around the room in awe stated, “I turned up wondering which of the top producers would be here, the real question is, which of them aren’t here”. I couldn’t have put it better myself.
 

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