Veuve Clicquot’s 1996 La Grand Dame Champagne
As we discussed in our article on Champagne, there are a wide variety of different Champagnes to choose from. Since Champagne is THE wine of celebrations, which Champagne does one choose for those really special celebrations? When that milestone birthday or anniversary comes around or when you accomplish a major lifetime event and you want to go all out and really celebrate the occasion, this is when you pull out your Tête de Cuvée.
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1996 Cos d’Estournel
We had big expectations for this wine and it didn’t disappoint. It took some time to open up to the point that when first opened, we were worried it might be off. After a two hour decant it started to sing! Dark red in colour, it’s a very complex wine revealing notes of plum, cherry, blackberry, earth and tobacco. A lovely textured mouth feel with a very nice long finish. Still seems to have time but we thoroughly enjoyed it.
Excellent+
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2007 Pegau Cuvée Reserve
Medium to dark red in colour. The nose was a bit muted at first but when it opened up it offered dark cherry and herbs. The body was medium and carried the wine with a sense of restrained power. The tannins were fully resolved and there was moderate acidity on the back end. The flavours of Kirsch and macerated cherries were joined with herbal notes, mushrooms and forest and a good dose of cracked black pepper on the finish. Fully mature, this top level Chateauneuf-du-Pape was drinking on point. The intensity of the fruit and the balance suggest at least another 5 years of good drinking.
Excellent
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1996 La Grande Dame
In 1971, 12 growers in Champagne got together with an idea to make a special Champagne that would showcase their individual terroirs and their excellent wine making capabilities. For decades the Grande Marques (what the Champenois call the big, prestige producers) had been producing their tête cuvées which consumers knew were the best of their best. These would include Dom Perignon from Moët & Chandon, Comtes de Champagne from Tattinger, Cristal from Roederer, Cuvée Winston Churchill from Pol Roger and the like. These tête cuvées showed just how good Champagne could be when blended by the hands of a master. Blending grapes, sometimes from up to 60 different vineyards, showed the Grande Marque’s house style at its finest. As a response, these 12 growers decided to band together and create a special blend that showcased the very best of individual terroir from the Champagne de Vigneron (Champagne of Winegrower). These wines are called Special Club Champagnes.
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1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Medium red in colour with a medium to full body showing some age on the rim. This is a beautiful example of an elegant CDP at its peak. An exquisite floral nose with candied cherry, plum, earth, and spice on the palate. Tons of complexity in this wine and quite enjoyable to see what new characteristic each glass would reveal. One of the wines that made us fall in love with the region and at 19 years old, it’s certainly not breaking down but we don’t think ageing it any longer will make it better—if you’ve got it, drink it!
Excellent+
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