2001 de Venoge Coteaux Champenois La Forete -- old-vine Pinot Noir from the Champagne region and, according to the back label, a favorite of Louis XIV, this wine was a leftover from the Vancouver International Wine Festival, and now I understand why. A horrible substance to put into one's mouth. Fairly dark in colour, with a deceptively appealing nose of cherry and roast beets; screeching, almost blistering acidity and almost no fruit in the mouth; and wait until that mass of drying tannins kicks in on the finish and sucks all the moisture out of your face directly to the back of your throat. At C$70, possibly my all-time worst wine purchase, and certainly in my top 50. (I bought this planning to take it to a blind tasting one day-- how many people have drunk still Pinot Noir from Champagne?-- but I'm glad now that I didn't do it; I would have been ashamed to admit I brought this wine.) Yuck.

A friend who has traveled frequently to Champagne tells me that Bollinger produces a very clean and interesting Pinot Noir, so perhaps there is some potential for a still red in this region, but why?

Thanks for the TN - now go redeem thy soul by bathing in some Blanc de Blanc!