Winegeek
San Francisco
Grape Puncher
Posts:778
 | | 07/16/2006 3:15 AM |
| Stunning Champagne. Full bodied and rich yet light on its feet at the same time. Vibrant. Already complex, this is likely to get better and better with time.
Richard | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 07/16/2006 5:30 PM |
| | I had this Friday along with the 1996 Taittinger Blanc de blanc. There was no comparison, the PR blew the Taittinger away. A very very nice bottle of Champagne. I think this is about at the level of the Krug vintage bottlings (definitely at the level of the 1995 Krug, note that I've only had each once). I might have to "back up the truck". | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10799
| | 07/16/2006 5:41 PM |
| It would have to be very good to blow the Taittinger away. Interesting, very interesting...
And is it worth the $125 or so? I've had previous vintages of this wine and it was pretty good, especially out of magnum. | | | |
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Dave
Wine Thief
Posts:2899
| | 07/17/2006 12:19 AM |
| | Please define "back up the truck". I have trouble saying no to 1996 Champagnes. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 07/17/2006 2:52 PM |
| Quote:
Please define "back up the truck". I have trouble saying no to 1996 Champagnes.
You get a truck, you go to your favorite wine retailer and clean the store out (i.e. fill up the truck). Repeat at the next wine retailer. | | | |
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Lakersguy
Orange County, CA
Grape Fermenter
Posts:524
| | 07/17/2006 4:15 PM |
| I haven't had a 96 WC but the 1990 Taittinger was a step ahead of the 1990 WC.
WHen you say it blew it away, can you explain why? The 96 Comtes is nowhere near ready to drink. | | | |
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skwid
Wine Connoisseur
Posts:5452
| | 07/17/2006 10:08 PM |
| Quote:
I haven't had a 96 WC but the 1990 Taittinger was a step ahead of the 1990 WC.
WHen you say it blew it away, can you explain why? The 96 Comtes is nowhere near ready to drink.
Perhaps the bottle of the 1996 Taittinger wasn't a representative bottle, but it seemed oxidized and had a fair amount of sulpur it seemed. One of the folks I shared it with someone who said two other bottles he had were better but not much. We only drank half the bottle and then I took the rest home. I finished the Taittinger the next morning with breakfast and it had definitely improved. However folks normally don't save Champagne until the next day like they can/do with still red wines so I consider this a problem. Either way the 1996 Pol Roger Winston Churchill was a fantastic bottle of Champagne. It was about on par with the 1990 Krug Brut (a champagne of which I've purchased about six cases). | | | |
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Lakersguy
Orange County, CA
Grape Fermenter
Posts:524
| | 07/17/2006 11:25 PM |
| | Thanks Skwid, Looks like I'll have to seek out a bottle. I drank a 1990 PR WC about 6 months ago and i thought it was still very young. I still have a Magnum to hold for another few years. | | | |
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Dave
Wine Thief
Posts:2899
| | 07/18/2006 2:11 AM |
| | I had previously orded 6 bottles from Premier Cru. It is going to be a challenge to clean them out though. They have an unfair advantage. They just keep taking my money and not delivering any wine. Someone will have to blink soon. | | | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10799
| | 07/18/2006 2:18 PM |
| Dave -Quote:
They just keep taking my money and not delivering any wine.
I thought it was just my orders. LOL, sorta.
Skwid -Quote:
Perhaps the bottle of the 1996 Taittinger wasn't a representative bottle, but it seemed oxidized and had a fair amount of sulpur it seemed.
Based on the two bottles of this I've tried you might have had an off bottle. There was no sulphur or oxidation in the ones I tried. I had it at 95 points both times even for a young, tightly wound champagne.
But I'm going to buy this based on Skwid's reco - and not from PC. I don't think you can have too many good 1996 champagnes. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12265
| | 07/22/2007 1:27 PM |
| 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Brut - France, Champagne (7/21/2007)
WIML94,NOWA,WS??
Tasted July 21, 2007. No notes taken. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with light to medium mousse. Nice nose of toast, yellow apples and pears. Racy flavors of citrus fruits, pears and yellow apples. Moderate to full acidity, medium to full body. Always a pleasure to simply sip and enjoy. Sticking with my previous rating. Drink or hold. (94 pts.)
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Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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Winetex
Austin, Texas
Master of Wine
Posts:10799
| | 07/22/2007 1:54 PM |
| Do you think this one is worth the $$$? ~$160 or so. When they get that expensive I want them to deliver...
Have you or anyone tried the 1996 Bollinger RD? seems like its in the same class and price range. | | | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12265
| | 07/22/2007 3:05 PM |
| I tell ya, I'd be torn. I'm betting this wine will pick up another point or two with more time in bottle. I'd love to have the opportunity to try it again in 5-10 years.
I haven't tried the 1996 RD yet. The closest I've gotten is the 1995. | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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wineismylife
Arlington, TX
Master of Wine
Posts:12265
| | 06/20/2008 3:35 PM |
| 1996 Pol Roger Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, Brut - France, Champagne (6/19/2008)
WIML94
Tasted June 19, 2008 at an offline.
Opened and served immediately. Light yellow color in the glass, clear hue throughout with light beading. Hint of toast on the nose followed by yellow apples, pears and parrafin. Flavors of tangy apples, cherries and lemon zest. Bright acidity, full body. Big, full mousse. I'll stick with my previous rating of WIML94 but I can see this one scoring higher, especially once it gets some more time in bottle. Hold. (94 pts.) | |
Joe
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Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone. | |
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