2006 Champagne
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
The 2006 epitomises Taittinger’s famed purity and elegance. This is a wine of the very highest calibre. The nose is beautifully poised, clean and pure with waxy lemon notes and the merest hint of biscuit. The palate is effortless, so fine, yet has no shortage of complexity or length. Citrus-laden, a tiny hint of white chocolate comes with the creamy texture. Tasted alongside the 2004 it is clear that the 2006 is going to develop in a similar, fine, fashion and I suspect, given the precision it displays now, the 2006 is likely to surpass that fine vintage in time.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
This is a vintage Pol Roger which is immediately very, very likeable – positively luxurious in its weight and complexity. On the nose it is showing layers of character, soft peach and ripe, almost autumnal apples with a frame of fresh honeycomb. The palate is no different, the weight of fruit in the mid-palate means that this can be enjoyed now. The white pear, crisp apple and spicy white pepper notes taper to a taut close with finishing acidity which is trademark Pol Roger.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
From the warm 2006 vintage, this has arich bouquet with hints of zesty fruit, lilies and light toasted hazelnuts. As it develops in the glass the fruit aromas become more intense and complex. The palate confirms the delicate fruit with a deep, ripe flavour and silky texture, finishing crisply with a pure, mineral balance. As a young wine this is already deliciously balanced and charming, and promises to be a magnificent Champagne in full maturity.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 4cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Jeroboam 1 x 300cl 1cs
Magnum 1 x 150cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 8cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
This is tightly wound at the moment, with small, crunchy red berries and lemon pith on the nose. Taut across the palate as well, with a very delicate mousse and saline, mineral finish and some stone-fruit fleshiness. Very complete and recognisably Dom Pérignon, this will benefit from a couple of years in the cellar to fatten up. A hybrid of the 2002 and 2004, this sits very neatly in the line-up of recent releases from this esteemed brand. Drink now to 2030.
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 1 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 1 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 1 x 75cl 1cs
Ben Grosvenor, Fine Wine Account Manager
Bottle 6 x 75cl 5cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 5cs
Champagne Gosset is the oldest wine producer in Champagne, dating back to 1584. Situated in the tiny Grand Cru village of Aÿ, 5km from Epernay, Gosset has some rather famous neighbours, including Bollinger. Gosset’s blends come from some of the best villages across the Marne Valley encompassing both Grand and Premier Crus. It may not be the most famous of the Grande Marques simply because they don’t produce vast quantities, making only 1.3 million bottles a year, yet the quality of production here is at a very high level.
With this small production, Gosset concentrates on the quality of its wines rather than the quantity. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Gosset style comes from their decision to create most of their cuvées without the use of malolactic fermentation; this preserves the purity of the fruit in the wine. This is evident in the 2006 Gosset Grand Millésime. Having spent eight years maturing in the darkness of the Champagne Gosset cellars in Epernay, this 56 % Pinot Noir and 44 % Chardonnay wine is an excellent expression of the 2006 harvest (disgorged in spring 2015). With a “low dosage” and no malolactic fermentation this is a very precise Champagne, with a move away from the brioche, toast notes one often
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Sir Winston Churchill was of course Pol Roger's greatest exponent, and in celebration of his remarkable life and legacy, the Champagne house have released a small quantity of these commemorative magnums, something that Pol Roger have not done in 20 years and are unlikely to do again. They were only hand labelled and hand disgorged earlier this year meaning they have seen extended lees aging, over 9 years, helping to add further nuance and additional weight to the final product.
Magnums of vintage Pol Roger are only ever produced in very small quantities making this limited release even more enticing, and for each magnum produced the Champagne house are donating £5 to the Churchill Charity.
The label and box design comes from the winner of the 3rd annual ‘Winston Churchill Design Competition 2015’ which invited entries from over 100 international art and design colleges in more than 20 countries. The eventual winner was Sara Griffin from the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.
Magnum 3 x 150cl 2cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
As you taste through Vilmart’s range, this single plot (55-year-old vines) of predominantly Chardonnay really does shine at the apex; so justly called Coeur de Cuvée – literally too, as the very best juice at the heart of the pressing is used for this Champagne. The sheer wealth of fruit is amazing, but, as always at Vilmart, this is superbly balanced with invigorating acidity and supple oak which blossoms beautifully as it lingers in the glass. Good anytime with scallops or lobster, or on cooler evenings with grouse or partridge.