#367 Off par Champagne


High end champagne.  Excellent wine worthy of kings or overrated fizz that is overpriced?  Like everything wine related, there is no firm rule.  I conducted a tasting of three champagnes from three reputable producers that I know can produce outstanding wines.  Their 2000 offerings were not really up to par though...

2000 Taittinger Comte de Champagne
Light, fresh and with a slight underripe brie element on the nose and a little bit of struck match. Some salt too, a bit of fresh lemon, very clean and zippy fruit.  Very clean finish, all citrus and a bit of watery lemon on the finish. 88pts

2000 Dom Perignon
Light and fresh with a bit of pencil lead  and a lot of lemon pith and lime skin. Very soft, a little redcurrant comes through with some pith, grapefruit and a lot of pencil lead.  Good balanced round palate with lovely pithy flavours on the back end.  89pts

2000 Bollinger Grande Annee
Very fresh and clean but with a rounder funkier element thrown into the mix. There is some lemon cake, a bit of mango coming through and with some honey notes as well.  The palate is full, some darker biscuity and yeasty flavour, a bit of spice on the back end as well. Very nice but just a bit fat on the back end. 88pts

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