Advice on champagne

[Saltywings]

Amongst my aged Champagne treasures, I have a 1979 Clos du Mesnil - yes, the first vintage!

Having made the mistake of checking the current pricing, I have not been able to bring myself to pop the cork.

Don't get yourself into the same position.
(Fortunately, I have not the vaguest idea what I paid for the 1979.)

My goodness - what a glorious day it will be should you ever choose to pop! Or - touch wood - the tragedy of a tainted wine after an eon in storage. I guess you'll never have to confront that possibility if you never open it - Schrodinger's champagne, as it were.

 

[pagingjoan]

My goodness - what a glorious day it will be should you ever choose to pop! Or - touch wood - the tragedy of a tainted wine after an eon in storage. I guess you'll never have to confront that possibility if you never open it - Schrodinger's champagne, as it were.

I did ask a friend, who is a wine buyer, for advice as to whether I should sell it, drink it, or ....

His response:
"You should drink it.
With me."

 

[qaz]

Review: "Sparkling - The Story of Champagne"

Director Frank Mannion visits the region’s most famous houses. But does this “love letter” to the celebrated drink fizz or fall flat?

cluboenologique.com

The Finest Bubble Tasting - Louis Roederer Cristal 2008, 2012, 2013 - Essi Avellan MW, Cristal’s creator Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon

[VIDEO] TASTING INTERVIEW: CRISTAL 2013 WITH JEAN-BAPTISTE LECAILLON OF CHAMPAGNE LOUIS ROEDERER - JamesSuckling.com

Wine videos and documentaries from the internationally acclaimed wine critic and journalist

www.jamessuckling.com

Louis Roederer Cristal 2013 And Cristal Rosé 2012: As Good As Champagne Gets - Quill & Pad

Ken Gargett just had the chance to try Louis Roederer's Cristal Rosé 2012 and Cristal 2013 champagnes. For many, a good sparkling rosé is a thing of beauty and this one tops most. While Ken's usual response to a young Cristal is that it is fabulous, he feels it something of a shame that the 2013...

quillandpad.com

They definitely now make you work for it! Gone are the glory days when I was able to buy a Krug Clos d'Ambonnay that was listed for $4000 with 30% CR + 5% Wish = $2660. Best absolute saving ever!

1998. Also nabbed a 2000 Clos du Mesnil in the same same sale. Both too early to drink imo.

it wasn't $2470.78 or $2686.01 for the d'Ambonnay? and i don't see any cashback - or du Mesnil, how much was that?

 

[pagingjoan]

Thank

Review: "Sparkling - The Story of Champagne"

Director Frank Mannion visits the region’s most famous houses. But does this “love letter” to the celebrated drink fizz or fall flat?

cluboenologique.com

Louis Roederer Cristal 2013 And Cristal Rosé 2012: As Good As Champagne Gets - Quill & Pad

Ken Gargett just had the chance to try Louis Roederer's Cristal Rosé 2012 and Cristal 2013 champagnes. For many, a good sparkling rosé is a thing of beauty and this one tops most. While Ken's usual response to a young Cristal is that it is fabulous, he feels it something of a shame that the 2013...

quillandpad.com

it wasn't $2470.78 or $2686.01 for the d'Ambonnay? and i don't see any cashback - or du Mesnil, how much was that?

Thanks, qaz.
Think we can skip the “love letter”, after that review.
And that quillandpad article was on the weird side, no?

 

[Saltywings]

Review: "Sparkling - The Story of Champagne"

Director Frank Mannion visits the region’s most famous houses. But does this “love letter” to the celebrated drink fizz or fall flat?

cluboenologique.com

Louis Roederer Cristal 2013 And Cristal Rosé 2012: As Good As Champagne Gets - Quill & Pad

Ken Gargett just had the chance to try Louis Roederer's Cristal Rosé 2012 and Cristal 2013 champagnes. For many, a good sparkling rosé is a thing of beauty and this one tops most. While Ken's usual response to a young Cristal is that it is fabulous, he feels it something of a shame that the 2013...

quillandpad.com

it wasn't $2470.78 or $2686.01 for the d'Ambonnay? and i don't see any cashback - or du Mesnil, how much was that?

Looks like I undersold even myself (regarding the Ambonnay at least)!

However it does look like I misremembered - conflating a clearance sale for a cashback! No wonder 30% stuck in my head...






I guess I should've called it the @qaz cashback

 

[Mynameismynameis]

Coles online 30% off on selected items - CHEERS30

Mumm Grand Cordon Rosé Champagne 750ml $56

 

[Tommo_Aus]

G

Coles online 30% off on selected items - CHEERS30

Mumm Grand Cordon Rosé Champagne 750ml $56

Good price, is this bought through shop.coles.com.au? It isn't listed for me

 

[Mynameismynameis]

G

Good price, is this bought through shop.coles.com.au? It isn't listed for me

You may have to select a different store.

It should pop up on the main Coles shopping page.

 

[pagingjoan]

Not available in Vic at that price, alas.

 

[Tommo_Aus]

Meh, doesn't seem like anywhere stocks it even tho they've got a Liquorland with stock... tried a bottle of Veuve as a test and it let me add it but then said it wasn't available for collection at any day/time I selected, ordering not very friendly

 

[qaz]

Not available in Vic at that price, alas.

try changing locations e.g. collect at Elsternwick (also Richmond South, but for me it always end up being out of stock upon fulfilment, the perils of a dark store)

https://shop.coles.com.au/a/elsternwick/product/mumm-mumm-grand-cordon-rose-gi

Looks like I undersold even myself (regarding the Ambonnay at least)!

However it does look like I misremembered - conflating a clearance sale for a cashback! No wonder 30% stuck in my head...

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View attachment 251863


I guess I should've called it the @qaz cashback

but you seem to have paid full price for du Mesnil?

 

[Saltywings]

but you seem to have paid full price for du Mesnil?

Honestly not sure what happened then. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have bought it at full price without some sort of incentive...but on the other hand, as it was 3 years ago and I've clearly forgotten about my line of thinking then...guess it doesn't matter all that much

Can't seem to find a bottle in AU now that's <$1750 so I guess it became an investment!

 

[Mynameismynameis]

Piper Heidsieck Vintage Brut is $70 at First Choice currently.
10% off, and 12% CB.

Brings it to around $55

 

[Tommo_Aus]

Piper Heidsieck Vintage Brut is $70 at First Choice currently.
10% off, and 12% CB.

Brings it to around $55

... or in the $30's for the NV, is the vintage worthwhile? I have a bottle but haven't tried it yet, will need to do a NV vs vintage tasting at some point. Current specials put Tattinger NV slightly below Piper vintage pricing.

 

[Mynameismynameis]

... or in the $30's for the NV, is the vintage worthwhile? I have a bottle but haven't tried it yet, will need to do a NV vs vintage tasting at some point. Current specials put Tattinger NV slightly below Piper vintage pricing.

I would say very different Champagnes.

Tattinger NV is Chardonnay, Piper Vintage is Pinot.

 

[pagingjoan]

I would say very different Champagnes.

Tattinger NV is Chardonnay, Piper Vintage is Pinot.

What?

 

[Mynameismynameis]

What?

Grape variety.

Some may prefer Champagne derived from certain grapes over others.

 

[Daver6]

I would say very different Champagnes.

Tattinger NV is Chardonnay, Piper Vintage is Pinot.

With all due respect, you have no idea what you're talking about. That's factually incorrect.

PH vintage brut is generally a 50/50 blend of PN and Chardonnay and Taittinger brut NV is a blend of all three main varieties (40 % Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier)

 

[Mynameismynameis]

With all due respect, you have no idea what you're talking about. That's factually incorrect.

PH vintage brut is generally a 50/50 blend of PN and Chardonnay and Taittinger brut NV is a blend of all three main varieties (40 % Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 25% Pinot Meunier)

I just listed the main grape variety listed on First Choice for each Champagne.

 

[mitti]

I think the point is Taittinger brut is actually MORE pinot (60% in total blend of noir & meunier - much more similar than chardonnay), PH just doesn't use pinot meunier.

So it doesn't really tell us much about the flavour profile, and the generalisation is plain wrong. They are both standard brut blends, rather than blanc de blanc or blanc de noirs.