Champagne Inflorescence blanc de noirs brut

Finally, Crystal wines has brought in Inflorescence Champagne.

I would call this a boutique champagne, as the Champagne house only started making Chmapagne since 2000.. The maker of the champagne Cedric Bouchard is considered a rising star as a Champagne maker. His style, which is quite unusual for Champagne, is that he insists on bottling single vineyard, single variety ( chardonnay of Pinot noir ), and single vintage Cuvee.

more inside on Monsieur Bouchard can be found on www.polnerselections.com

Champagne Inflorescence Blanc de Noirs Brut uses 100% Pinot Noir grapes (2006) and come from the vineyard ' Val Vilaine '

Eys: Light straw colour. Nose: fine, fresh with green apple, pear and a tint of dry citrus and sweet. Body: medium to full body. Fine bubbles, not much. Palate: lingers for 30 seconds.

Elegant Style.

THE MOST INTERESTING thing is that Monsiuer Bouchard recommends the champagne to be decanted and served in a normal glass.

- which i totally agree. After 10 min. the champagne tasted even better. Just like a great wine!

yummy! can't wait to savour Champagne Blanc de Noir " La Parcelle"

Inflorescence.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin champagne

I am very fortunate that some of my friends have great nose and palate. Hence, most of the time when we gather to drink , I get to savour some of the finest wines; not necessarily expensive but definitely of good value. We always joke; 'that's only so much you can drink , why waste on bad alcohol?' We try not to 'insult' each other's taste buds by serving a mass produced, min quality controlled wine.

Nope, we are not snobs but just choose to savour the best of the crop.

Having said so, I usually would not shun any champagne unless it's so bad that it gives me a headache.

Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne is considered a mass market champagne due to their massive marketing campaign.
However, I still think highly of it, as a champagne for all occasions.
Beautiful yellow colour, medium bubble size, fresh and dry nose. On the palate, one can taste a bit of raisin, a little bit of tanginess, subtle sweetness and a tint of lime at the end of the palate.

Nice!

However if one has the oppurtunity, one must try the rich cousin of Veuve.
- the La Grande Dame

I will use this as an excuse to drink and log in again.. yippie!

Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve 2004

I always enjoy diecovering a value for money, good champagne.

Billcart Salmon is until 4 years ago , together with increase demand of champagne , a champagne of my choice . The price of Billecart has increase 30% since then .

Billcart Salmon is more famous for it's Rose , i would say. Indeed i agree that the Rose is one of the most value for money and tasty i ever had. I am not a Rose fan but i will drink , anytime , a Billcart Salmon Rose.

I also have the oppurtunity to taste some of the vintage Billcart Salmon ( if not for it's dramatic increase in price, i would have a vertical as well as a horizontal collection )

- Billcart Salmon vintage cuvee Nicolas Francois 1998

-Billcart Salmon Brut Rose Cuvee Elisabeth Salmon 1996

non vntage

- Billcart Salmon Blanc de Blanc

Today , i'll be talking about Billcart SalmonBrut Reserve 2004 which i bought in Paris airport.

Maybe D and i was too eagered to drink another bottle of champagne during dinner that we open the bottle.

Billecart Salmon Brut Reserve 2004 has it's distictive elegant nose- a tint caramel sweet , and fresh. Beautiful light yellow- golden colour. The bubbles are uniform and fine. Taste of cinamon, caramel and orange peel on the palate. Palate just a little bit short.

Even after the bubbles reduced and less chilled, one still can taste the slight sweetness of the champagne.

I definately think it will taste better a few years later, if we have just a little bit more of patience.

Champagne Penet-Chardonnet, Grand Reserve NV

Few days back D and i , with the recommendation of Irene tried an interesting champagne, a boutique champagne i would say :

Champagne Penet-Chardonnet, Grand Reserve NV
Search on the internet:

" Penet-Chardonnet is an independent, traditional Champagne house that produces wines from exclusively Grand Cru vineyards. After 400 years of supplying the French market, current owner Alexandre Penet has crossed the Channel to enter the UK market for the first time..."

"This is a 'zero dosage' wine, aged seven years on the lees and including 15% of reserve wine that had been kept in barrels. It has a bold lemon yellow colour and small bubbles that disippate quite quickly. On the nose, a big, bold rush of sour apple and nettle fruit with plenty of citrus too. On the palate this wine is racy and crisp, the mousse like little pin pricks on the tongue rather than anything creamier, and the fruit as clean as a whistle, the crunchy green apple and lemon pith character streaking through to finish"

I totally agree on the discription, a very interesting , clean , crisp champagne. too bad the bubbles dissapear quickly; have to drink fast as after 20-30 minutes ( esp in Asian temp) the bubbles totaly gone.

Superb for a boutique chmapagne.

Joseph Perrier 99

Hmm.....Soon you guys would think that I am paid to 'advertise' the Joseph Perrier champagne house. That is of course not true because I have not received any thank you letter, with / without a cheque in it. hah.

I do like how the house make their champagne . It is quite value for money as compared to the champagne from similar class.

Joseph Perrier 99 is definitely value for money. It is of course not as great drinking as the 96 ( think might need to age but of course 96 is a better year for champagne )

Joseph Perrier- nice nose: slight tint of honey. taste: smooth, uniform and fine bubbles, slight tint of sweetness at the end of the palate.

one should leave the bottle to rest for 10-15 min ; then can enjoy the full taste of the wi

Moet and Chandon brut/ Rose

Every time I have a sip of Moet and Chandon it reminds me the first time I tasted champagne - Nice fresh scent , some sprinkling ( from the bubble) on the nose, tingling on the tongue and palate and some nice fruity-floral after taste.

Very nice, as compared to the hard liquor ( Jack Daniel, Bourbon, Vodka ......... ) and beer.

Of course that was when I was younger. Since then, I've tried many different types of alcohol beverages but my heart, obviously, is still with champagne.

I have not had Moet and Chandon for quite a while now. It is a decent drink but I have found other brands which I think are more suited to my palate. Also, Moet and Chandon is so popular that the price has sky rocketed well above its value, in my own opinion.

Having said so, I do not mind forking out more, for the other champagne from the house: Dom Perignon 90 .

Moet and Chandon: just a very light tint of floral-fruity scent on the nose. Nice palate- not too dry, light body, smooth but ends quickly. And as in most non-vintage champagnes - a tint of alcohol - bitter at the finishing. For a seasoned champagne drinker, that can sometimes be a bit offensive.

Moet and Chandon Rose. I am presently surprised that I prefer this than the normal brut. Maybe it is an unfair comparison as I did not give enough time for the palate to rest or maybe I just prefer anything more "flavourful" .

- nose: ripe fruit scent. Palate- just a little more dry than brut. smooth, light body. short finish ( longer than brut) , much less alcohol-bitter taste.

Moet and Chandon is one of the preferred choice , among the same class of champagne . Something to unwind after a long day of work, something before dinner; and of course something to open up the palate before the more complex Reds or some vintage champagne.

Pommery Wintertime Blanc de Noirs Brut

D always says that i am spoilt; that i only prefer vintage/aged champagne . Well, i am blessed to have a handful of friends that enjoy sophisticated and fine wines. Their wine / champagne are not necessarily expensive but they have the passion for fine wines , and some collects the wines for many years!

Well, i do admit that i have a rather expensive palate for champagne; No thanks to the increase popularity to champagne , in recent years and climate change, the price of champagne has sky rocket. Even the French government has increase the area / zone of the district of Champagne, just to 'elevate' the sparking wine ( wine with bubbles ; not allow to be called Champagne unless from the region ) to Champagne, to meet demand.

My philospohy in enjoying champagne is: know your preference but do not shy away from trying others/ new. Ultimately , drinking is an acquired taste.

So, the champagne i post here is what i have tried, comment is strictly personal and what i prefer. i will try to keep a bias -free opinion.

D and i was curious and equally excited over Pommery Wintertime Blanc de Noirs Brut

There are only a number of champagne houses that make interesting blend of champagne and Pommery is one of them.

Champagne Pommery is a champagne house located in Reims. The house was founded as Pommery & Greno in 1858 by Alexandre Louis Pommery and Narcisse Greno . Under the guidance of Alexandre's widow, Louise Pommery, the firm was dedicated to Champagne production and soon became one of the region's largest Champagne brands.

I do not usually drink Pommery . But both D and i was interested how a "Blanc de noir" - champage made of only pinot noir and pinot meunier grape ( no chardonnay grapes ) would taste like.

i must say that Pommery Wintertime Blanc de Noirs Brut has a quite unique taste. On the nose- fruity, light , fresh, subtle.On the Palate -crisp, slight tint of fruit( apple ) , short- medium palate., small uniform bubbles.

I really wonder how it would taste like if the wine is left to age prior to bottling ( vintage wines) I really feel that there's is lots of potential in the Blanc de Noirs ; just a bit 'offesive' now as it's young and one can always taste theslight tint of ' offesive' spirit -like taste at the end of the palate, even after 30 minutes. But i must say there are still enough bubbles after that time.

Pommery Wintertime Blanc de Noirs Brut is quite a unique blend , a good taste from the norm. Let's see wheter i can find any vintage, Blanc de Noirs