I don't suppose this has been released yet? Noticed it for $100 even at Premier Cru on pre-arrival. Haven't seen it cheaper anywhere. Based upon the '96, I think this is probably a buy at that futures price...

I noticed that yesterday too. Any idea how the '98 champers vintage compares to '96? I might take a flyer anyway, but if the vintage is anywhere near as good, it might be a serious flyer.

This is only $10 per bottle more than what they sold the '96 at, so not too bad if the vintage is highly regarded.

Mike

The 1998 Vintage for Champagne was very good for Chardonnay and so so for Pinot. Thus the Blanc de Blanc's should be pretty good. Note that for some reason Roederer did not produce Cristal in 1998 although they did produce Cristal in 1997 and 1999.

Someone needs to get a bottle of this and take one for the team. I would but BS is not available in Texas for the most part and it's too hot to ship.

Skwid - is there any on the west coast yet?

Woodland Hill Wine Co. says they have this in stock but the price is $130.

Hmm, that is many $$ for that wine. It would have to be REALLY good.

Skwid, have you tried the 1999 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Champagne Brut Rosé Vintage? I ordered some from PC but who knows when I will actually see them.

I'm not sure if I've tried the 1999 Veuve Rose.

Hey Winetex,

I've tried both the '98 and '99 Veuve Rose. I tasted the '98 at the Moet Hennessy vintner's dinner at the NOWFE and tasted the '99 the following weekend, so I was able to make a pretty fair comparison......although there was not much to compare. They were night and day. Here is my TN for the '98:

1998 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rosé Vintage--Interesting. Very red Burgundian nose of cranberry and strawberry. You don't get the fresh acidity on the nose that one would normally expect from a rose. Until you taste it, you would think it was a red wine. Pale pink salmon color and the tiniest bead of all three champagnes tonight, which provides for an nice dry sandy, almost crunchy texture and mouthfeel. Slightly overwhelming flavors of somewhat unripe berry ( raspberry, strawberry, & cranberry ), and a strong steely metallic, like a hint of sour copper on the finish....like you're sucking on a penny. Also found it to be a little bit hot on the back end, which I really don't find too often in champagne. It was paired with the caviar, but I saved, and preferred, the '98 Dom and the '96 La Grande Dame to drink with the caviar instead, as they made for a much better pairing. This was rather rustic in flavor. Not what I expected, but not horrible. Just not exactly what I prefer in a champagne. Some people might like it. In fact, several people at my table thought it was nice. 87 points

The '99 was very similar, but also very different in many ways:

1999 Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut Rose Vintage--Darker pinkish/orange hue than the '98. Less effervescence, as well, but not so that is it noticable on the palate which still bursts forth with pinpoint prickles as the fruit washes down. Still the Burgundian nose, but with more ooomph and a discernable acidity. The nose is full of strawberry, cherry, pomegranite, and, oddly, a hint of cinnamon. In the mouth, flavor is rich, and lacking the sour metallic taste that I did not enjoy in the '98. Lots of tart cranberry, a creamy, bready, flavor almost like a cream cheese and strawberry tart, and some peaty earthy undertones that add to a warm richness. No alcoholic heat to be discerned anywhere. Acidity is lively, without being mouthpuckering, which I find all too often in Rose. I very much enjoyed this. It would match well with seafood, sushi, or especially well with certain salads ( a nice Jicama and Fennel salad with a peppery vinaigrette comes to mind ), but may not stand up to something with more power. It may not be Krug or Deutz, but an easy early drinker worth the reasonable price. 91 points

Let me know what you think of the '99 when you taste it.

Jester