Wow, is it Champagne week here at afw? I am looking to purchase a
high-end bottle (relative, I suppose...not too many teachers buying
those 700-clam Bordeauxs), and have a single specific question,
followed by a series of broader questions.

First, our state store (I live in Utah, it's all we have) is selling
88 Salon b-de-b, le Mensil for $115. Underneath the bottle is a blurb
from something (WS?) indicating a SRP of $200. Any idea why? Somehow
Utah must have acquired a case, because every wine store in the area
has one. Why the low price?

Second question: these are some other vintage wines. Of these and the
aforementioned, what do you recommend (to be opened soon, not
cellared)?
96 Bollinger Gr. Annee $86
95 Perrier-Jouet Fleur $?? (around $100, I think)
95 Vueve Ch. $72 (I don't think this was the la Grande Dame)
95 Pol Roger rose $63
96 Gosset Gr. Millesime $73

Third: are there any others floating around--say, in the NJ area
available on line--that you might suggest, $150 or less?

Finally: What's the deal with NV champagne?! Is it always a "drink it
now" deal, and if not, how would one know when? Hence my selection of
vintage only.

Big, bubbly thanks to all.

In article >,
J Derby > wrote:
>
>First, our state store (I live in Utah, it's all we have) is selling
>88 Salon b-de-b, le Mensil for $115. Underneath the bottle is a blurb
>from something (WS?) indicating a SRP of $200. Any idea why? Somehow
>Utah must have acquired a case, because every wine store in the area
>has one. Why the low price?


You can find it for as little as $100 (plus shipping), but $115 is a great
price. Forget the rest and buy the Salon.


Dimitri

(J Derby) wrote:

> Second question: these are some other vintage wines. Of these
> and the aforementioned, what do you recommend (to be opened
> soon, not cellared)?
> 96 Bollinger Gr. Annee $86
> 95 Perrier-Jouet Fleur $?? (around $100, I think)
> 95 Vueve Ch. $72 (I don't think this was the la Grande Dame)
> 95 Pol Roger rose $63
> 96 Gosset Gr. Millesime $73

I wouldn't call these "older vintages". 1996 has just been
released by some of the better houses and it really is an
exceptional year that will reward very long further ageing. I had
the chance to taste the 96s of Veuve Clicquot and Pommery last
week, also the Clicquot Rosé 1996 which needs at least 5 to 8
years of bottle age.

1995s are much rounder and easily accessible - just right for
immediate consumption.

From your list I'd recommend Perrier Jouët Belle Époque and
Veuve Clicquot.

I will do a comprehensive champagne tasting with just about
everything available on the Austrian market within the next 14
days. I will report here.

M.

Good evening John,

Since some months, this year,
I have been hearing, everywhere, in serious sparkling places - wine-shops,
wineries,
wine competitions, from wine-merchants, sparkling wine-makers and great
experts in bubbles ...,
that, at the moment,
the Top quality is Bollinger 96 Vintages* ( plural* )
ex.

1) Vielles Vignes Françaises scored 99 / 100
2) Grande Année scored 97 /100
from Tom Stevenson ...
have a look there ( it's free ! really) :
http://www.wine-pages.com/guests/tom/fizz2003.htm

About Prices,
french prices
have look here
http://www.thechampagne-avenue.com

Best sparkling wishes,

Francis ° o O ° o O ° o O °




"J Derby" > a écrit dans le message de
om...
> Wow, is it Champagne week here at afw? I am looking to purchase a
> high-end bottle (relative, I suppose...not too many teachers buying
> those 700-clam Bordeauxs), and have a single specific question,
> followed by a series of broader questions.
>
> First, our state store (I live in Utah, it's all we have) is selling
> 88 Salon b-de-b, le Mensil for $115. Underneath the bottle is a blurb
> from something (WS?) indicating a SRP of $200. Any idea why? Somehow
> Utah must have acquired a case, because every wine store in the area
> has one. Why the low price?
>
> Second question: these are some other vintage wines. Of these and the
> aforementioned, what do you recommend (to be opened soon, not
> cellared)?
> 96 Bollinger Gr. Annee $86
> 95 Perrier-Jouet Fleur $?? (around $100, I think)
> 95 Vueve Ch. $72 (I don't think this was the la Grande Dame)
> 95 Pol Roger rose $63
> 96 Gosset Gr. Millesime $73
>
> Third: are there any others floating around--say, in the NJ area
> available on line--that you might suggest, $150 or less?
>
> Finally: What's the deal with NV champagne?! Is it always a "drink it
> now" deal, and if not, how would one know when? Hence my selection of
> vintage only.
>
> Big, bubbly thanks to all.

"francis boulard" > wrote in message news:<

> the Top quality is Bollinger 96 Vintages*

Francis, would this be a bottle to cellar, or could it be enjoyed now
above the others I mentioned, in your estimation? Maybe I need a few
bottles?

Not all NV Champagne is drink it Now.
One of the best Champagnes is KRUG
You can't buy a better cuvee.

"J Derby" > wrote in message
om...
> Wow, is it Champagne week here at afw? I am looking to purchase a
> high-end bottle (relative, I suppose...not too many teachers buying
> those 700-clam Bordeauxs), and have a single specific question,
> followed by a series of broader questions.
>
> First, our state store (I live in Utah, it's all we have) is selling
> 88 Salon b-de-b, le Mensil for $115. Underneath the bottle is a blurb
> from something (WS?) indicating a SRP of $200. Any idea why? Somehow
> Utah must have acquired a case, because every wine store in the area
> has one. Why the low price?
>
> Second question: these are some other vintage wines. Of these and the
> aforementioned, what do you recommend (to be opened soon, not
> cellared)?
> 96 Bollinger Gr. Annee $86
> 95 Perrier-Jouet Fleur $?? (around $100, I think)
> 95 Vueve Ch. $72 (I don't think this was the la Grande Dame)
> 95 Pol Roger rose $63
> 96 Gosset Gr. Millesime $73
>
> Third: are there any others floating around--say, in the NJ area
> available on line--that you might suggest, $150 or less?
>
> Finally: What's the deal with NV champagne?! Is it always a "drink it
> now" deal, and if not, how would one know when? Hence my selection of
> vintage only.
>
> Big, bubbly thanks to all.

"Howie The Hammer" > wrote in news:MWZnb.23985
:

> Not all NV Champagne is drink it Now.
> One of the best Champagnes is KRUG
> You can't buy a better cuvee.
>

so how long do you cellar a wine whose age you do not know?????

Its not one of the best...in my opinion Krug is the best. And their NV or
MV is better than most or all vintage also.

just my opinion


"Howie The Hammer" > wrote in message
t...
> Not all NV Champagne is drink it Now.
> One of the best Champagnes is KRUG
> You can't buy a better cuvee.
>
> "J Derby" > wrote in message
> om...
> > Wow, is it Champagne week here at afw? I am looking to purchase a
> > high-end bottle (relative, I suppose...not too many teachers buying
> > those 700-clam Bordeauxs), and have a single specific question,
> > followed by a series of broader questions.
> >
> > First, our state store (I live in Utah, it's all we have) is selling
> > 88 Salon b-de-b, le Mensil for $115. Underneath the bottle is a blurb
> > from something (WS?) indicating a SRP of $200. Any idea why? Somehow
> > Utah must have acquired a case, because every wine store in the area
> > has one. Why the low price?
> >
> > Second question: these are some other vintage wines. Of these and the
> > aforementioned, what do you recommend (to be opened soon, not
> > cellared)?
> > 96 Bollinger Gr. Annee $86
> > 95 Perrier-Jouet Fleur $?? (around $100, I think)
> > 95 Vueve Ch. $72 (I don't think this was the la Grande Dame)
> > 95 Pol Roger rose $63
> > 96 Gosset Gr. Millesime $73
> >
> > Third: are there any others floating around--say, in the NJ area
> > available on line--that you might suggest, $150 or less?
> >
> > Finally: What's the deal with NV champagne?! Is it always a "drink it
> > now" deal, and if not, how would one know when? Hence my selection of
> > vintage only.
> >
> > Big, bubbly thanks to all.
>
>

"Howie The Hammer" > a écrit dans le message de
t...
> Not all NV Champagne is drink it Now.
> One of the best Champagnes is KRUG
> You can't buy a better cuvee.

Yes, you are right,
I agree with you.

One of the best Champagnes is Krug,
and, or, Salon, and, or, Bollinger, and, or, Roederer,
and , or, Selosse, and, or Egly-Ouriet, and, or, Ruinart,
and, or, Pol Roger, and, or, Vilmart, and, or, Fleury,
and, or Dielbot-Valois, and, or De Sousa, and, or, ...
= around 100 better cuvées and producers ( houses and growers).
IMHO

I am not sure,
but because each people has his own taste, and own palate,
I am understanding that, perhaps, probably, there are many different
tastes... because the humanity is so complex,
there are probably ( ? ) many different tastes and palates.
Except if all the people, the humanity, is the same clone ( ? ).
I am not sure but, perhaps.
Why not ?

Francis

>Wow, is it Champagne week here at afw? I am looking to purchase a
>high-end bottle (relative, I suppose...not too many teachers buying
>those 700-clam Bordeauxs), and have a single specific question,
>followed by a series of broader questions.
>
>First, our state store (I live in Utah, it's all we have) is selling
>88 Salon b-de-b, le Mensil for $115. Underneath the bottle is a blurb
>from something (WS?) indicating a SRP of $200. Any idea why? Somehow
>Utah must have acquired a case, because every wine store in the area
>has one. Why the low price?
>
>Second question: these are some other vintage wines. Of these and the
>aforementioned, what do you recommend (to be opened soon, not
>cellared)?
>96 Bollinger Gr. Annee $86
>95 Perrier-Jouet Fleur $?? (around $100, I think)
>95 Vueve Ch. $72 (I don't think this was the la Grande Dame)
>95 Pol Roger rose $63
>96 Gosset Gr. Millesime $73

Salon rocks. If the bottle has not sat out too long for sale, go for it.
Champagne does not tolerate poor storage. 6 months on a warm store shelf at 72+
is all it takes for heat damage to begin to show.

1995 Perrier Jouet Fleur de Champagne is an embarassment and a stain on this
otherwise very fine house. The wine was released WAY too soon in order meet
12-31-99 demand and is disjointed, green and woefully light. It is good
champagne in the grand scheme of things, but for a $100 luxury cuvee from a top
house, it is not acceptable.

Bollinger is a great house, but not for everyone. I admire the wines but do not
personally care for them. Much age is warranted as well, a good 10 years for a
vintage like 1996 or 1990. Someone else mentioned the Vieilles Vignes which is
their super-rare and expensive bottling from one of the few pre-phylloxera
vineyards left in Europe (phylloxera destroyed most of the French vineyards
from the late 1800s until 1945 when Romanee Conti itself had to be uprooted.)
The wine is a marvel, but needs an incredible amount of cellar time. I last had
the 1989- a more forward vintage- about 3 years ago and felt it needed at least
another decade to show its best.

The others on your list strike me as excessively expensive (and the Bollinger
is a bit high too I think.)

Some others have mentioned Krug NV, and I agree this is as good as it gets.

You asked about when to drink an NV wine, and the answer is whenever you want.
The law prevents champagne houses from releasing NV wines before certain times,
so most will have some age when released. But beyond that Krug is meticulous
about ensuring their wines ARE mature and ready when released- moreso than the
other major houses for sure.

So a Krug NV is good to go when you buy it- though I tend to like to age the
Rose a few extra years to let it cream out.

Hope this helps!

Tom.

On 31-Oct-2003, (Elpaninaro) wrote:

> >Second question: these are some other vintage wines. Of these and the
> >aforementioned, what do you recommend (to be opened soon, not
> >cellared)?
> >96 Bollinger Gr. Annee $86
> >95 Perrier-Jouet Fleur $?? (around $100, I think)
> >95 Vueve Ch. $72 (I don't think this was the la Grande Dame)
> >95 Pol Roger rose $63
> >96 Gosset Gr. Millesime $73
>

The Pol Roger 95 Rose is fabulous! I wish that I could get a bottle in
Alabama

>
> The others on your list strike me as excessively expensive (and the
> Bollinger
> is a bit high too I think.)

These prices don't seem too out of line, unless you live in a state like CA
or NY that gets tons of stuff. I would gladly pay $63 for the
aforementioned Pol Roger.