CHAMPAGNES
| The Champagne appellation cover nearly 84,000 acres of vineyards, largely centered around four regions: the Montagne De Reims, Vallee De La Marne, Cote Des Blancs, and Cote Des Bar. |  |
Blanc de Blanc 1997 $400. |
Salon Le MesnilWidely regarded as the quintessential Blanc de Blancs, Salon was created in 1911 for the private consumption of Eugene-Aime Salon, the house’s founder. It was commercially released in 1921. The house is unique in Champagne in that it has only ever produced one wine. Salon is a racy and elegantly complex champagne that requires a good deal of aging. It generally shows its best at about 20 years of age.
Elegant and refined, with a firm underlying structure and a long aftertaste.
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Krug Rose 375ML $199.
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KrugThe Krug style is one of great complexity, richness, and finesse, achieved through fermentation in wood and a mastery of blending: indeed, many would argue that no house is as skilled at blending as Krug. The Krug philosophy finds its ultimate expression in the Grande Cuvee.
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| 1995 Oenotheque $399.
Magnum $525.
2002 $169.
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Dom PerignonRichard Geoffrey is not only a brilliant winemaker, but has been a special friend for over 20 years. He makes champagne with an ability to age gracefully. Perhaps the world’s most famous champagne, Dom Perignon was created as a prestige cuvee by Moet & Chandon in 1936, when they launched the inaugural 1921 vintage. Today, it is a separate brand, although it continues to benefit from Moet’s vast and unparalleled collection of vineyards. It is a pity that most bottles of Dom Perignon are drunk far to young, when it is still rather mute, because as it ages, it develops a superb complexity and finesse. The rose version is, if anything, even more impressive, possessing an ethereal fragrance and impeccably graceful refinement.
Ripe apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this flashy opulent Dom Perignon.
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Perrier Gifr Presentation
w/glasses $145.
P.J. Flower Rose 2002 $225.
P.J. Fleur 2002 $150.
Grand Brut $44.95
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Perrier-JouetFounded in 1811, this Epernay house is renowned for its Belle Epoque bottle, which was first created in 1902 and is used today for the house’s prestige cuvee, which was launched in 1969. The Perrier-Jouet style is one of extreme delicacy, as exemplified by its citrussy, light-bodied non-vintage Grand Brut. The Belle Epoque, called Fleur de Champagne in the US, maintains the same delicate style, while adding more complexity and finesse. Even the house’s rose champagnes are made in an unusually discreet and light-bodied style.
A firm elegant Champagne with a whiff of fresh chanterelle that gives way to honey and lemon.
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| Blanc de Blanc $79.
Rose $90.
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RuinartRuinart is the oldest champagne-producing house in the region, having been making sparkling wines here since 1729. Frederic Panaiotis is in charge of the cellars today, making fresh, lively champagnes. Chardonnay plays a prominent role in the house style, and Ruinart’s non-vintage Blanc de Blancs is one of the house’s best-known wines.
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| Brut Reserve $79.99
Brut Reserve 375ML $29.99
Rose $89.99
Rose 375ML $39.99
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Billecart-SalmonFrancois and Antoine Roland-Billecart are the seventh generation of their family to manage this famous house since its founding in 1818 by Nicolas Francois Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon. Billecart-Salmon might be best known for its non-vintage rose, but the true gems here are the vintage champagnes. The Cuvee Nicolas Francois combines strength and finesse, while the Grande Cuvee shows additional complexity from longer lees aging. An elegant Brut Rose from Billecart-Salmon is one of the most consistently delicious roses readers are likely to find.
Full bodies, showing earthiness in the aroma, with plenty of ripe, candied fruit on the palate.
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Cristal 2002 Magnum $695.
Cristal Rose Vint. $625.
Cristal 2002 $250.
Carte Blanche $44.99
Brut Premier $49.95
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Louis RoedererOne of the finest houses in Champagne, Louis Roederer’s roots date back to 1776. Today, the house is widely known for its prestige cuvee, Cristal, which was originally created for Russia’s Tsar Alexander II. Cristal is indeed among the best champagnes being made, but don’t overlook the rest of the house’s range. All of Roederer’s vintage wines, including Cristal, are made exclusively from vines owned by the house, and they are uniformly superb, demonstrating the freshness gained by the avoidance of malolactic and the refined complexity and finesse that are the hallmarks of the house’s style, always haunting bouquet and pure lace.
Full bodies and powerful, hinting at red berry citrus and honey notes.
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2000 Comte De Blanc De Blancs $165.
1986 Hartung $350.
1998 Zao Wou Ki $540.
2002 Amadou Sow $399.
Prestige Cuvee Blanc $45.50
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TaittingerWith a rich and colorful history that dates back to 1734, Taittinger is one of Champagne’s most famous houses, and its tradition chalk mine cellars are renowned as being some of the most beautiful in the region. As the Taittinger style emphasizes finesse over richness, it is easy to see why the finest wine in the cellar is a Blanc de Blancs: the Comtes de Champagne is a prestige cuvee of exceptional refinement and harmony that is capable of a detailed complexity with sufficient age. Its rose counterpart is no less elegant, and will also reward patience if left in the cellar.
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Special Cuvee $72.
R.D. 1988 $279.
2002 $142.
Rose $135.
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BollingerGrand Anne
Rockets-to-the-Sky old style without question the top quality champagne. This is lovely, big stuff. Founded in 1829, Bollinger has enjoyed a rich and distinctive history. The Bollinger style is one of both richness and finesse, aided in the non-vintage Special Cuvee by partial vinification in barrel and an extraordinary collection of reserve wines.
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| $55.00 |
DeutzGrand Anne
Deutz has a history going back to its founding in 1838, but its modern story dates from 1993, when it was purchased by Louis Roederer. Today, the house is in top form, creating champagnes that emphasize harmony and finesse. Deutz champagnes are not necessarily light-bodied , but when tasting these wines, finesse always comes before power, as evidenced by the racy, zesty Brut Classic.
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Henriot $45.
Henriot 375ML $29.99
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HenriotThis Reims house makes rich, mouthfilling champagnes that derive a great deal of complexity and finesse from long aging on the lees. The non-vintage Blanc Souverain is the flagship wine of the house, and an excellent introduction to the style. Vintage champagnes are aged for five to eight years.
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Grand Siecle $195.
Rose Brut $105.
Brut 375ML $21.
Brut $45.
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Laurent-PerrierToday, Laurent-Perrier is renowned for its grand Siecle, a prestige cuvee blended from three different years, as well as its non-vintage rose, made by maceration rather than blending.
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| Rene LaLou 1998 $135. |
Mumm Cuvee R. LaLouThe Mumm style is for light, fresh champagnes, such as the Mumm de Cramant that is a particularly delicate interpretation of the cru. However, in comparison, the newly created prestige cuvee, R LaLou, is a serious, complex champagne of depth and character that is sourced exclusively from the house’s top vineyards.
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| 1999 SirWinstonChurchill $275.
Pol Roger Brut $59. |
Pol RogerEpernay
One of Champagne’s best-known houses, Pol Roger produces substantial, richly flavored champagnes. The Brut Reserve is a world-famous non-vintage brut, yet arguably even better is the Pure, a non-dose champagne made from a slightly different blend. Pol Roger is famous for being a preferred champagne of Winston Churchill, and in turn, the house named its prestige cuvee after him, created in the 1975 vintage.
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| $55. |
Veuve ClicquotThe widow Clicquot is one of Champagne’s most legendary personalities. She played a major part in the introduction of the riddling table- the table that holds the bottles upside down to let the sediment settle at the top so that it can be drawn off, leaving a clear wine.
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| Brut Excellence $53. |
GossetWhile Gosset champagnes have a reputation for being powerful, contemporary releases demonstrate a marvelous finesse, complexity, and balance, which is enlivened by the absence of malolactic. The Grand Reserve is an elegant upper-tier non-vintage brut, while the vintage-dated Grand Millesime is consistently graceful and refined.
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| Brut N/V $99.
Rose Brut $219.
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Beau-Joie Rose Champagne – The Knight is Shining CopperStylist & Designer Publications are raving about this new luxury spectacular Champagne that is packaged so beautifully.
Will copper be the new platinum? The Champagne, which has the slogan of Tonight’s the Knight, comes in a bottle encased in a 100% (recycled) copper, handcrafted suit of armor. Beau is made of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay derived from the finest grapes of Epernay, France. The zero-dosage brut champagne has none of the added sugars common in other champagnes. The suit of armor not only keeps the Champagne colder, longer, but also provides improved grip when opening and serving. It has a rubber punt to ensure enhanced stability when pouring. This makes a statement – and continues after the cork is popped.
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