19/07/2025
The second tasting: Top Champagne and White Burgundy (a bespoke tasting)
One of our lovely customers asked us to put on a tasting at home for some wine loving friends. The theme was top Champagne and White Burgundy and the boat was well and truly “pushed out”. And what an opportunity and privilege to taste these fabulous wines. A brilliant lineup.
The Line-up
1. Dom Perignon Champagne Brut 2012 – 96/100
2. Dom Perignon Champagne Brut 2008 – 96/100
3. Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Millesime Brut 2008 – 98/100
4. Dom Perignon Champagne Oenotheque Brut Millesime 1996 – 96/100
5. Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne “Les Chenevottes” Premier Cru 2019 - 93+/100
6. Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet “Les Pucelles” Premier Cru 2020 - 95/100
7. Domaine Faiveley Bartard Monrachet Grand Cru 2019 - 95+/100
Both the Champagnes and White Burgundies were all beyond outstanding and it was mentioned more than once that, while we were always comparing, any one of these wines would be quite sensational on their own. That said it was interesting to draw some generally agreed conclusions.
The Champagnes🍾
The 2012 Dom was a great way to start, showing power, finesse, balance and a seductive richness. This is a vintage generally considered to be the best since the sublime 2008 and here the 2012 Dom was a mere tick behind the 2008 Dom, which is more restrained and structured – it was outstanding on the night. The 2008 Cristal probably edged out the 2008 Dom but only just – showing more purity, complexity and development at the beginning of its undoubted journey towards the stuff of legends.
Then came the 1996 Dom Oenotheque, approaching full maturity and drinking superbly, a truly wonderful Champagne at the height of it’s powers. So, in terms of sheer quality the Oenotheque and the Cristal were top, followed by 2008 Dom and then the 2012. In terms of value for money at this level, probably it is the reverse order. The 2012 Dom looks a very good buy.
The White Burgundies 🤍
The whites were stunning. The Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne “Chenevottes” 2019 reflected the producer’s stellar reputation, although a tad pricey. Tangy plum fruit, good acidity and a touch of ginger.
Next was the 2020 Leflaive Pucelles but the price evolution over the past decade has been breathtaking – Textured, creamy, pear, peach, apple and grapefruit peel, concentration, structure, and length. A superb wine but very expensive.
If these two were great, then Faiveley’s Batard Montrachet 2019 was exceptional. Living up to its Grand Cru status and (relatively speaking) its price tag, Notes of pear, citrus zest, honeycomb, full-bodied, great intensity and in short, very impressive.
Keep an eye out Sunday for news of our upcoming tastings, tempted to join now you have seen the fabulous line ups we offer?
