Tasting Notes

Egly Ouriet Blanc de Noirs NV. Tasted 11 December 2009
Egly Ouriet is a small family producer located in Ambonnay which is itself located in the Montagne de Reims region of Champagne. Pinot Noir is the predominant grape variety in the Montagne de Reims, hence the Blanc de Noirs.

This wine was golden in colour with a touch of brown and it showed a candied, toffeed aroma that in a way is a trade mark aroma of Egly Ouriet. I suspect this is a result of more oxidative handling of the wine prior to tirage bottling.

The palate was quite intense with the toffeed flavours coming through before the enslaught of acid. The acid was quite dominant on the palate and it was almost a little painful until we matched this champagne with some terrine and cheese which helped to sooth its aggession.

J L Vergnon Blanc de Blancs 1998. Tasted 6 December 2009
J L Vergnon is an independant grower producer in Mesnil-Sur-Oger in the Cotes des Blancs region of Champagne. They produce fine, delicate yet steely champagnes which age exquisitley. This is certainly true for their 1998. This wine was light and delicate with racy acidity when I first tasted it in 2004. My recent tasting in
December 2009 saw a more developed and luxuriously flavoured wine with a slight golden hue. The aroma was quite toasty whilst still showing plenty of youthfulness and the palate had filled out considerably exhibiting a greater level of intensity balanced with a lingering crisp finish.

Pol Roger Chardonnay 1998. Tasted 6 December 2009.
Pol Roger is best known to most champagne drinkers for their blended vintage wine. Less well known is their Chardonnay champagne. Interestingly they don't call it a Blanc de Blancs. Previous tastings of this wine have been excellent as the wine has displayed tremendous finesse and that trade mark Pol Roger creaminess on the palate. Unfortunately this bottle was slightly corked which took the edge off the palate and the wines bouquet. I have no doubt as to the pedigree of this wine and I look forward to tasting future bottles.