Champagne Tasting at Wine Watch

And Now our Biggest Event of the year at the store our ANNUAL CHAMPAGNE TASTING!!

This is one of our annual events and one of the most popular, the Champagne and Sparkling wine tasting at Progresso Plaza has become one of the hottest tickets events that we do all year. Not only will we have an incredible line-up of Champagne and Sparkling wines from your everyday non-vintage brut, rose brut, to tete de cuvee vintage Champagne, but we will also be sampling some great methode champenoise sparklers from California and Italian Prosecco. There will be over 50 sparkling wines in all available to tasting and Wine Watch Catering will be here serving up a few tasty treats to accompany the bubbles. We will have stations set up both inside the store and outside in the courtyard to accommodate a maximum of 75 tasters, the fee for this tasting is $45 + tax. Can you think of a better way to start Saturday night? For reservations call 954-523-9463.

Champagne and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Wine Watch
Saturday, November 26st
7pm

Antares

Charles Collin Champagne Brut Selection N/V  
Price: $39.00       Sale $34.32          Case $398

Origin and Blend: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
20 to 25% of the blend is made from ‘reserve’ wines, unified in a single blend Hand harvested with strict grape selection.
Dosage: 9 g/l Brut
Ageing: Ageing on the lees for 3 years minimum.

Bright and clear in appearance, with rich lemon hints. The nose is very appealing and expressive with stone fruit character such as white peaches or perhaps pear, with some biscuity notes. In the mouth, the wine is delicate and yet rich with a harmonious and long, refreshing finish.

Charles Collin Champagne Tradition Rose Brut N/V
Price: $48.00       Sale $42.24          Case $490.00

A single blended rosé made from 100% Pinot Noir, of which 10 to 12% is vinified as red and of which 20% comes from ‘reserve’ wines
Hand harvested with strict grape selection.

Dosage: 9 g/l. Brut
Ageing: Ageing on the lees for minimum of 2 years

A bright salmon pink colour. The nose is very expressive, of red fruits, perhaps even blackcurrants and blueberries but also hints of pink grapefruit. In the mouth, the dominant fruit character is red fruits and wild strawberries, the finish is long with a complex and elegant breadth of flavours.

Lanson Champagne

NV Lanson White Label Champagne Dry Sec
Price: $42.75       Sale $37.62          Case $437

22 Grams of residual but this the same blend as the Black label but a higher dosage. A bit too sweet for me but I can see this would be appealing to entry level bubbly drinkers. Very Good

NV Lanson Black Label Brut Champagne
Price: $42.75       Sale $37.62          Case $437
Quantity in Stock: 1

Established in 1760, they are the 5th oldest, partly owned by Bruno Paillard, Philipponat are part of the group and this is a non malo style aged for 36 months and it is a Point Noir Driven style but has all three of the main varietals in Champagne. Created in 1937 by Victor Lanson black associated wtih elegance created for their biggest market the UK has been the official supplier to the British court since 1900 when Henri Marie Lanson was awarded the title of “Purveyor of Champagne to Her Majesty” by Queen Victoria. Non-vintage cuvées are therefore composed of reserve wines and more than 10 different years of harvests, and are left to age in the Cellar for at least three years. this was disgorged in January 2013 and that would make it 2009 based. Aromas of fresh bread dough, apple and plum fruit with almond and that classic chalky mineral nuance along with some floral notes. nice freshness on the tongue, tree fruit, notes of candied ginger spice and a smooth creamy texture and a tongue tingly mineral sea shell quality to the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent

NV Lanson Rose Label Brut Champagne
Price: $57.75       Sale $50.82          Sale $590

This winery was started by the Delamotte Family. This is esentiually the same blend as the black label they own 120 hectares and like most of the bigger houses, they are #8 and they have three press houses, 1% more Pinot Noir but they use 6% red wines from Bouzy. Fresh strawberry and raspberry fruit on the tongue with pretty floral notes rose petal and more chalky mineral notes, a bigger wine with a bit of tannins at the end but lovely balance of fresh fruit and tongue tingly minerality through the finish. Finish 40+ this wine was disgorged in September 2013. Excellent +

Breakthru

Delamotte Blancs de Blancs Champagne Brut
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

(92 Points)   Based on vintage 2007 - with reserve components principally from two predecessors - Delamotte's NV Brut Blanc de Blancs L16612 incorporates fruit from Mesnil as well as Avize, Cramant and Oger, and spends four years on its bottle lees. Persian melon, raw almond and apple are garlanded with orange blossom and peony and tinged with orange rind and chalk. The seven grams of residual sugar are very supportive of the wine's succulent overall personality, even though one might expect a less effusive fruit expression from the vintage on which this is based. There is the refinement of texture and buoyancy here that seem - along with pure fruit and mouthwatering salinity - to be common characteristics of Delamotte cuvees. I would expect this fine value to perform admirably for at least 3-4 years.  eRobertParker.com #1113 Nov 2013

Bollinger Special Cuvee Champagne Brut NV
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier.
Over 85% Grands and Premiers crus.

Gosset Brut Excellence Champagne
Price: $43.50       Sale $38.28          Case $444

(92 Points) Refined and creamy, with delicate acidity that finds fine balance with the layers of poached apple and pear, lemon cake, ground ginger, smoke and almond cream flavors. Very elegant. Drink now through 2020. 28,000 cases made. “AN Wine Spectator Issue: Dec 31, 2011

Champagne Ayala Rose Majeur
Price: $52.50       Sale $46.20          Case $536

THE ELEGANCE OF A ROSÉ MADE PREDOMINANTLY FROM CHARDONNAY Rosé Majeur is the perfect embodiment of the originality and finesse of the House’s wines. Made predominantly from Chardonnay it is crafted with the addition of a small proportion of Pinot Noir from the best crus of the Montagne de Reims. A low dosage enables it to express the House style, both feminine and generous, with great elegance.

TASTING NOTES Colour Pale, with a delicate pink hue. Nose Charming, generous and open. Reveals aromas of red berries (strawberries, raspberries) and vine peaches. Palate Light yet expressive. Shows great freshness, due to the high proportion of chardonnay in the blend. Notes of red gooseberries and raspberries, with a lengthy and voluptuous finish.

Billecart Brut Reserve Champagne NV
Price: $54.75       Sale $48.18          Case $559

(91 Points) Aromatic and spicy, with cedar, honey and ginger notes matching a firm structure and lean, intense character. Fine length. Drink now. –BS  Wine Spectator Issue: Nov 30, 2006

Larmandier Bernier Latitude Champagne
Price: $52.50       Sale $46.20          Case $536

(100% Chardonnay) From Vertus  vineyards, Latitude is a non-vintage cuvee with 70% base wine (2009 vintage) fermented in stainless steel & 30% reserve wine from foudre & neutral oak.  Aging on the lees for over  two years and  a 4gr/l dosage. This wine was formerly known as “Tradition.”

(92 points)  “Bright straw.  Elegant, high-pitched aromas of Meyer lemon, quince and white flowers.  Vibrant, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit flavors shows excellent clarity and lift, picking up notes of anise and honey with air.    Finishes taut and focused, with repeating mineral and floral notes.  This graceful Champagne would be fantastic with simply prepared crab or shrimp dishes.  ” – Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar, Josh Raynolds

2013 Raventos I Blanc De Nit Conca Del Riu Anoia           
Price: $27.00       Sale $23.76          Case $276

All of the wines are vintage date and have a disgorgment date and this wine spends 18 months on the lees this wine was disgorged at the end of 2015 only local varietals this wine has 8% Monastrell, this is a new DO in eastern Penedes.  The family has been here since 1497 and in 1872 they made the first sparkling wine in Spain.  1986 is the first vintage of this label the heir to the Codorniu, light nose a bit of a smoky flinty note, light red berry fruit plum.  Nice richness on the tongue with a creamy texture fine bubble

2012 Raventos I Blanc De La Finca Conca Del Riu Anoia
Price: $34.50       Sale $30.36          Case $352

From The terraces next to the river Xarello is the main varietal here and this wine is aged for 30 months, almond and fresh bread dough like aromas to the stone fruit on the nose white flowers disgorged 2/16    

Bertin Henri Selections

NV Paul Dethune Brut Champagne Ambonnay Grand Cru
Price: $52.50    Your Price: $46.20

A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay matured in steel, fresh lemon citrus and green apple fruit on the nose with notes of candied ginger and white flowers. Smooth mousse on the tongue fine with a good balanced of fresh fruit, light dosage on the dry side with notes of light ginger spice on the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent

NV Paul Dethune Rose Brut Champagne Ambonnay Grand Cru
Price: $63.00    Your Price: $55.44

Light raspberry and strawberry fruit on the nose with notes of fresh flowers. Fresh and vibrant on the tongue bubble a bit more course but has excellent concentration of light raspberry fruit rose petal floral notes and excellent crispness on the finish. Finish 40 EXCELLENT

2000 Paul Dethune Brut Millesime Champagne
Price: $90.00    Your Price: $79.20

Almond nutty aromas 60% Chardonnay 40% Pinot Noir candied lemon white flowers and ginger spice biscuit notes. Smooth and creamy mousse a very unique finish with light metallic earth motes quinine like, very complex finish. Finish 45+ EXCELLENT +

Vigneron Importers, Inc.

NV Paul Etienne St. Germain Tradition Brut Champagne
Price: $49.75    Sale Price: $43.78

GRAND CRU – BLANC DE BLANCS – 100% Chardonnay – Côte des Blancs ( Cramant, Avize ) BRUT – Sugar : 10,8 g/l – Harvest : 2008 This is done in a traditional way in thermo-regulated stainless steel vats where partial malolactic fermentation occurs. ( 29% reserve wines ) No animal proteins are used to clarify the wines and they are stabilised to prevent tartrate precipitation. Composition: This Champagne is made according to an original composition and expresses the exceptional Appearance: the wine is clear and brilliant with gold reflect. Foam is delicate and persitante, forming a steady stream of fine bubbles. the bouquet is rich of the white flowers. The elegant nose reveals freshness and roundness of one spirit wine In the mouth: a distinct immediate freshness of the greatest Chardonnays. The palate is floral aromas of linden and hawthorn. Its perfect poise lends a lightweight sensation.

Paul Etienne Saint Germain Grand Cru Rose Champagne NV
Price: $53.00    Sale Price: $46.64

A blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay from the Montagne de Reims.   Smoky yeasty notes to the red berry fruit, raspberry and strawberry, fruity but has nice minerality also.  Bright red berry fruit smooth creamy mouse with a tangy finish.  Finish 40+ Excellent

Paul Etienne Saint Germain Charme Grand Cru Brut Champagne NV
Price: $55.25    Sale Price: $48.62

A blend of 75% Pinot Noir Montagne de Reims and 25% Chardonnay Cote des Blancs.  Pear and quince like fruit almond, honey and white Acacia flower on the nose very rich with smoky brioche and citrus notes.  Full and round on the tongue with a creamy mouse, very rich and with a nice hand of dosage but has piercing acidity to balance it out.  Finish 40+  Excellent

Amici Imports

2008 Lo Sparviere Franciacorta Brut
Price: $27.50    Sale Price: $15.00

Lo Sparviere Franciacorta Brut Millesimato (vintage-dated) is produced exclusively from Chardonnay grapes grown in Lo Sparviere’s historic estate vineyards in the communes of Monticelli and Provaglio d'Iseo. Its clay-silt soils impart a pronounced minerality, resulting in a wine that exhibits an admirable marriage of complexity and elegance, with a crisp, dry palate that shows fine fruit and earthy mineral. Annual production around 20,000 bottles, with a sur lie maturation for a minimum of 48 months.

Lo Sparviere Franciacorta Monique Brut Rosé
Price: $43.50    Sale Price: $19.75               

Franciacorta Rosé Monique is a Rosé de Noirs made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes, which gives the Franciacorta its distinctive body, flair, and vitality. The Pinot Noir grapes macerate on the skins just long enough to give the wine the pinkish hue classic to Pinot Noir, as well as its most delicate and stylish fragrances. The grapes are sourced primarily from the Badia vineyard in the commune of Monticelli Brusati. Annual production around 8,000 bottles, with a sur lie maturation for a minimum of 24 months.

Pommery Champagne

NV Pommery Brut Royal Champagne
Price: $39.75    Your Price: $34.98               Case $406

(90 Points) Lightly toasty, with a lively bead and flavors of poached pear, dried apricot, brioche and honey. Displays chalkiness without being too angular, and culminates in a lasting, apple-tinged finish. Drink now through 2015. 8,500 cases imported. “AN Wine Spectator, Issue: Nov 15, 2012

Louis Roederer Champagne

2007 Roederer Estate L'ermitage Anderson Valley
List Price: $47.25               Sale $41.58          Case $482

This wine is the marquee Tete De Cuvee bottling from Louis Roederer's domestic, a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, aged for 5 years, this wine has a rich toasty biscuit like nutty aromas to the ripe tree fruit peach and candied lemon citrus. Wow, a very rich and layered wine on the tongue with silky smooth creamy bubbles, a good amount of that nutty and toasty biscuit like character through the finish, very rich and layered with more fruit than minerality but still has some minerality adding some pop to the finish. Finish 45+ Most Excellent

Louis Roederer Brut Premier NV
Price: $45.00    Your Price: $39.60               Case $459

A blend of probably 2010 vintage 70% for the base wines and then 30% of the reserve wines blended into the cuvee, Jean Baptiste has been the Chef Du Cave for over 20 years, pretty floral nuance and almond , 60% of the production of Cristal is organic but only 70% of the juice is estate in this cuvee, Louis Roederer one of the largest proponents of organic farming in France, Lemon and pear fruit with smooth creamy texture and chalky like mineral notes and that distinct mineral. Finish 45 Excellent

2010 Louis Roederer Rose Brut Champagne
Price: $70.50    Your Price: $62.04               Case $720

2008 Louis Roederer Rose Brut Champagne
Price: $75.00    Your Price: $66.00               Case $765

An evanescent light pink color, with shiny salmony hints. Delicate bubbles, which quickly form a steady, creamy flow. The intense deep bouquet reveals a succession of finely complex aromatic 'layers.'

First of all fruity, almost tart aromas of wild raspberry and bilberry, reminiscent of a mountain fruit sabayon. Next, sweet, warm, delicately rosy 'pink macaroon' floral hints, along with pithy citrus, orange and pink grapefruit. Finally, there are warm, sweet, spicy notes recalling the subtle use made of oak wood by Louis Roederer: hints of lightly toasted dried fruits, cocoa and chocolate. It has a lively bite in the mouth – full-bodied, creamy, dense and balanced: a 'gourmet' treat! The tactile approach of the ripe Pinot Noir is very clear: rich and meaty, concentrated but not at all heavy, a combination of ripe fruit and precise, fresh flavors. The delicate, almost teasing bubbles add to this suave impression, which literally encompasses the sharp freshness. Following this first highly seductive contact, the 'tight,' 'sculpted' winy structure of the Pinot Noir appears once more, along with almost jam-like fruity, floral flavors, blending in perfectly with the minerality and freshness of the Chardonnays.

2006 Louis Roederer Brut Nature Champagne
Price: $90.00       Sale $79.20          Case $918

(91 points) The 2006 Brut Nature is Roederer's first non-malolactic, zero dosage vintage Champagne; it is equipped with a distinctive label from French designer Philippe Starck. Based on 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Meunier and 20% Chardonnay from late ripening plots on dark clay soils in Cumières (which are picked and processed together), the Brut Nature shows a great purity and freshness on the delicate nose. Pure, lean and mineral on the palate, this is a finesse-full and very straight, lemon-fresh and tension-filled fizz with a very good finish. Disgorged in March 2014. (SR) (5/2016) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

2008 Louis Roederer Blanc De Blanc Brut Champagne
Price: $90.00       Sale $79.20          Case $918

(95 points) The 2008 Blanc de Blancs offers a very subtle and substantial, multi-layered bouquet of wet chalk, hazelnuts, stewed apples, lemons, toast, jasmine. Full-bodied and vibrant, this is a highly elegant, very mineral, pure, fresh, firm, tense and persistent Champagne of great complexity. It is still very young but has a great aging potential. (SR) (11/2014) Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

LVMH

2008 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Brut Champagne
Price: $78.75       Sale $69.30          Case $804

Its clear, brilliant, gold color lights up in the delicate tumult of fine bubbles produced by its persistent and remarkable effervescence. The nose is fresh, refined and elegant. Fragrances of citrus fruit and stone fruits (peach, apricot) appear first, which are then enriched by delicate, warm notes of sweet pastries, (almonds, Mirabelle plum tart): a subtle alliance of freshness and fullness. On the palate, the frank lively and pure attack moves into a powerful, structured palate, delicately chiseled from the minerality of Champagnes' chalky terroir. The generosity of the Pinot Noir's fruitiness resonates harmoniously with the freshness of the light candied citrus fruit aromas (lemon) which are embellished in the finish with delicate hints of toasted notes and dried fruit (apricots). Vintage 2008 is the perfect combination of power, freshness and finesse, and ends with an incredibly long finish.

2008 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Rose Brut Champagne
Price: $90.00       Your $79.20         Case $918

(93 Points) "Rich and smoky on first impression, yet this harmonious Champagne is elegant overall, with sleek acidity and a minerally underpinning deftly married to flavors of strawberry pâte de fruit, toast, mandarin orange peel and crystallized honey. Offers a lasting, vibrant finish. Disgorged March 2015. Drink now through 2028."  Wine Spectator

NV Ruinart Blanc De Blanc Brut Champagne
Price: $67.50    Your Price: $57.38

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs embodies purity of the Chardonnay grapes from which it is made exclusively. Made primarily with Premiers Crus from the Cote des Blancs and Montagne de Reims terroirs, it is intensely aromatic. The nose is powerfully reminiscent of fresh fruits with dominant notes of citrus and exotic fruits, followed by a touch of jasmine, white peaches and pink peppercorns. The palate is both precise and clean as the wine delivers a radiant balance between roundness and smoothness.maturity: 2008-2011.

Ruinart is Champagne's oldest house, with a history that dates back to 1729. The wines are quite well-known around the world, but less so in the US, where the estate is making an effort to re-establish its presence. Today the wines are made under the guidance of Chef de Caves Frederic Panaiotis, who clearly has an outsize passion for these Champagnes as well as the house's rich heritage. Although Ruinart is best known for their vintage Blanc de Blancs, the Rose is perhaps even more fascinating, particularly after a few years in bottle, which in important vintages allows for the Pinot Noir to speak with great eloquence. The Ruinart wines tend to be medium in body and are made with levels of dosage that are closer to the high end of the spectrum. Although the back labels show codes which can be tracked to disgorgement dates, it would be nice to see Ruinart provide disgorgement dates for its wines. Wine Advocate # 180, Dec 2008

NV Ruinart Rose Brut Champagne
Price: $77.75    Your Price: $66.09

(92 points) Light orange. Sharply focused red berry and tangerine scents are complicated by suggestions of allspice and cinnamon, with a hint of smokiness in the background. Sappy and minerally on the palate, offering fresh strawberry and blood orange flavors lifted by juicy acidity. Packs a serious punch but carries no excess weight and finishes stony and very long, with echoing red berry character. (JR) (1/2015) Vinous

Twenty One Wines

Ployez Jacquemart Extra Brut Champagne NV
Price: $40.00       Sale $35.20          Case $408

Ployez Jacquemart Extra Brut Champagne NV (375ml)
Price: $22.50       Sale $19.80          Case $230

This estate was founded in 1930 and they 3rd Generation is now in charge Laurence. They own 3 hectares of Pinot Noir grand cru and Pinot Meuiner premier cru and they are dealing with growers in the Cotes De Blanc, Premier and Grand Cru working with 8 year contracts and 12 different vineyards. This cuvee is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and 25% Chardonnay, they do a bit of Malolactic here. Has a note of coco and spice in the bouquet with 5.8 grams per liter of residual sugar and only the first pressing is used here. A good amount of apple and quince like fruit on the nose with a hint of white flowers. A good amount of tiny bubbles on the palate with excellent freshness and nice coco and ginger spice on the finish. Finish 40 Excellent

Ployez Jacquemart Extra Brut Rosé NV
Price: $55.00       Sale $48.40          Case $561

Ployez Jacquemart Extra Brut Rosé NV (375ml)
Price: $30.00       Sale $26.40          Case $306

They blend in a little red wine, their goal is always to make very high quality still wines and age the red for 1 year in oak barrels making the red wine 1 year older than the white, there is 9% red used in the blend. They always try to avoid contract with lees to keep the fresh fruit flavors, no battonage just a few rackings and that's all. Strawberry and raspberry like fruit, creme de cassis and a touch of coconut and red licorice spice. Fresh and bright red berry fruit on the tongue with smooth and silky mousse very fresh and bright on the finish with an abundance of fruit and a light hazelnut note at the end. Finish 40 Excellent

Ployez Jacquemart Blanc de Blancs 2005
Price: $87.75       Sale $77.22          Case $896

(93 Points) The 2005 Vintage Blanc de Blancs is beautifully focused in the glass, with a touch more freshness than the straight Vintage wine. Intense smoky and mineral-inflected notes open into pear, white peach and slate. The 2005 is tightly wound and even a bit austere, with a slightly reductive personality, yet all the elements are in the right place. Antonio Galloni - Antonio Galloni's Vinous, July 2015

Jeeper Champagne Grand Assemblage
Price: $58.50       Sale $51.48          Case $597

Stone fruit aromas, with light toasted notes. Great persistence and a lingering exotic fruit note. A creamy texture with fine, lively bubbles. As a blend of 37 parcels, this offers the perfect expression of the three varieties used in Champagne. This is a champagne made for pleasure and excellence. It is the perfect aperitif.

Assemblage:  Chardonnay: 60%, Pinot Noir: 15%, Pinot Meunier: 25%
Dosage:  Brut : 7g/l

Jeeper Champagne Blanc de Blancs
Price: $69.00       Sale $60.72          Case $704

A brilliant pale gold colour. Mineral and floral aromas. Silky-smooth, lively and fruity in the mouth, with citrus notes. A powerful start and a long finish. An extremely refined champagne, this is a blend of 11 of the finest Chardonnay vineyards in Montagne de Reims, the Côte des Blancs and Vitryat country. This makes a perfect aperitif, but is also strong enough to pair with fish and white meat.
Assemblage: Chardonnay: 100%
Dosage Brut:  7 g/l

Jeeper Champagne Rosé Brut 
Price: $78.00       Sale $68.64          Case $796

A brilliant pale pink colour. Fruity and floral aromas (peony, rose). Fine and fruity, supple and fresh with delicate red fruit notes (a striking strawberry flavour which develops into black cherry). Based on our Blanc de Blancs (88%) and blended with our own red wine (Pinot noir vinified in red), this champagne is rich, subtly persistent and extremely refined.

Assemblage:  Chardonnay : 88%, Pinot Noir : 12%
Dosage Brut: 6 g/l

Cima di Conegliano Prosecco NV
Price: $20.25       Sale $17.82          Case $207
               
Made entirely of Veneto's Glera grape, Cima da Conegliano Prosecco Extra Dry is straw-colored with aromas of green apples and a soft, long-lasting finish on the palate. It's perfect as an aperitif, with brunch dishes, or with light lunches. With its refreshing acidity, pleasant aromatics and delicate flavors of peach and green apple, Cima da Conegliano Prosecco is a perfect sparkler for summer.

Terroir Selections

Lallier Grand Reserve Grand Cru NV
Price: $51.75       Sale $45.54          Case $528

From 1906 originally related to the Deutz family, 400,000 bottles produced annually, the own 15 hectares in Ay, they only use Grand Cru so no pinot Meunier, they have 40% of the juice that they need and they buy the rest. family owned, the owner is the winemaker 4th generation, used to work from Pommery and Ruinart. A blend of 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they use natural yeasts so they have less sulphur in their wines, so less headaches. Aged for 3 years before disgorged and the gosage is around 6-8 grams per liter. A very fresh style with ripe tree fruit, lemon citrus and hints of fresh flowers along with chaly mineral notes, very clean and fresh through the finish. Finish 40+ Excellent

Lallier Millesime Grand Cru Champagne 2008
Price: $75.00       Sale $66.00          Case $765

The 2008 harvest Lots of worries and changes marked the growing season. The winter coolness and the gloomy weather during the spring have delayed the vegetation growth. May was cloudy but the warm and the dry weather stimulates the growth of the vine. The vine was first threatened by downy mildew and then by powdery mildew. After mid-June, temperatures significantly went down and disturbed the flowering (coulure, millerandage). August was relatively cold and cloudy compared to the past ten years. The beginning of September was gloomy and rainy. The sun appeared few days before the first grapes had been cut. The harvest began between the 12th and the 27th of September. During the majority of the harvest time, the weather stayed dry and particularly cool, especially at nights. For the first harvested crus, the growers delayed or even stopped the harvest during several days. Eventually, the health conditions are perfect for our two grape varieties, despite the climatic hazards.

Paul Clouet Rose Grand Cru NV
Price: $60.00       Sale $52.80          Case $612

A blend of 75% Pinot Noir, including 12% from the Bouzy red wine, 25% Chardonnay, 20% reserve wines. A tender pink appearance, a gracious sparkle born of very fine bubbles, an unbelievably precise fruity flavor which comes in waves, a fleshy structure with unestimable depth, and a beautifully balanced mouth revealing rich flavors of wine strawberries and raspberries.

Pretty red cherry color with aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, fresh flowers, rose petal and red licorice spice notes. A burst of strawberry and red cherry fruit on the tongue smooth creamy texture on the tongue with tongue tingly acidity and a long persistent finish echoing the red berry fruit and light spice, chalk like minerality showing up at the end, lovely creamy texture. Finish 45 Most Excellent

Marguet Pere Grand Cru Brut Shaman Rose 2009
Price: $95.75       Sale $84.26          Case $977

Stacole

Egly-Ouriet Brut Tradition Grand Cru N/V             
Price: $87.00       Sale $76.56          Case $888

75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay from 35- to 40-year-old vines; 100% grand cru. Crushed almonds over a peach tart and a touch of cherry juice show in the wine's complex perfumes. Fresh ginger and lemon zest are lively on the palate, with savory notes of lemon butter and toast adding complexity and depth. A remarkably fresh yet profound "basic" brut that is leagues above many other comparable bottles.

Le Mesnil Grand Cru Brut N/V  
Price: $42.00       Sale $36.96          Case $429

This particular cuvee is made by blending various parcels of Chardonnay grown in Le Mesnil sur Oger. The wines used are specially selected for their finesse and ethereal qualities which give the wines their complex and mouth-waterring flavours. This seductive Champagne is a reflection of the house style of Le Mesnil and is perfect throughout a meal, from aperitif to dessert and indeed at any any time of the day or night.

Barnaut Brut Rose Grand Cru Authentique N/V
Price: $57.00       Sale $50.16          Case $582

(90 points) Bright orange. Potent red berry and blood orange aromas are complicated by notes of dried rose, smoky minerals and anise. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering bitter orange pith and red berry skin flavors that gain sweetness with air. At once ample and lively, finishing with very good cut and lingering toastiness. (JR) (1/2015) Vinous

Loimer Brut Rose Organics N/V  
Price: $30.00       Sale $26.40          Case $306

Marques De Gelida Brut Gran Reserva 2012       
Price: $19.75       Sale $17.38          Case $201.45

Adami Bosci Gica Prosecco Valdobbiadenne N/V            
Price: $19.75       Sale $17.38          Case $201.45
Menu

Caviar stuffed baby potatoes with sour cream, purple onion confit, diced chive and shaved egg
Pork Empanadas with orange marmalade lacquer
Whipped Goat Cheese & Strawberry Champagne Jam Crostini
Caramelized Vidalia Onion & Brie Tartlette
Salmon & Dill Slider with Lemon Caper Mayo
Shrimp-Avocado-English Cucumber Ceviche Shot

The fee for this tasting is $45 + tax. Can you think of a better way to start Saturday night? For reservations call 954-523-9463.