Sunday, December 4th we’re having our Annual Champagne Tasting where we’ll be pouring the most interesting Champagnes that we’ve tasted this season. These wines jumped out of the glass at us as we were trying quite a few bubbles. The tasting starts at 5:30pm. We’ll have some appetizers to go with and still get you home for Sunday dinner. The cost is s $25 (plus tax). Space is limited so contact us if you want to attend.
Tribaut–Schloesser, Brut Origine $38
40% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier
A low dosage blend that sits for 3 years on its lees and then blended with 15% of back vintages . The Tribaut has aromas of dry fruit, apples, biscuits and apricots.
Bourdaire Gallois Brut $43
100% Meunier
The aromas of this wine jump from the glass, cocoa, toasty notes and raspberry fruit with lemon peel and citrus curd flavors. The base wine for this is 2012 with 2011 blended to complete the package.
Coquillette Carte d’ Ort Brut 1er $55
66% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay
This fresh and creamy Champagne offers notes of honey graham cracker dust, toast, tangerine blossom, orange, lemon drop and crisp apple. The extremely fine bubbles give it a delicacy and elegant taste.
2002 Moutard Millesime $54
Chardonnay
Champagne Moutard’s cellar books date back to the 17th century. All the grapes for the vintage champagne come from family-owned vineyards giving great control over the finished wine. The prolonged ageing on the lees create a very special champagne full of fennel thyme, honey and biscuit notes, and a fine, structured palate and a pleasing herbal finish.
Gaston Chiquet Cuvee de Reserve $55
1/3 each Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, & Chardonnay
The base wine for the reserve is 84% 2004 vintage, with the balance being 2001. That is a lot of lees contact for the money. Firm and yeasty, with toast and malt accents, ripe pears, peaches, hazelnuts and dried flowers come together beautifully in the glass. It naturally shows a little more oxidative character owing to the extended lees aging for a portion of the wine, but that just makes it more complex and interesting.
2006 Pierre Paillard, Grand Cru, Brut Millesime $60
50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Pierre Paillard is a small grower with eleven hectares of vines, all located in Grand Cru Bouzy. The winery has been in the family for eight generations. The 2006 is just released. It has complex aromas of ripe brie, lemon peel, yeasty toast and a creamy mouthfeel.
Madrona Wine Merchants offers free wine tastings featuring 4-5 selections on a theme every Saturday from 2 until the bottles run out and on Sunday we offer a mini-tasting of two wines all day from 11-5.