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Champagne: Odd Bottles

Non-vintage wines include an approximate purchase date as well as date of consumption. Click to locate stockists:

Billecart-Salmon Brut Réserve Champagne NV: A pale golden yellow, with a very fine bead. Fairly delicate on the nose, with floral hints and a subtle, bready note. More showy on the palate, with a full body and good, creamy mousse, although quite foamy, with a somewhat sherbetty edge which I always find distracting. Strong acidity. Little complexity to the acidic, citrus fruits. Another that would benefit from six or more months in the cellar. Good. (Autumn 2002, 29/1/03)

H. Blin & Co. Brut Champagne 1996: Here's a real bargain with no lack of quality. A good colour in the glass, with a strong bead. An exuberant nose when served at cellar temperature - full of creamy white fruits, nuts and yeast. A similar richness is present on the palate, a developed yeast and nut character, with a creamy mouthfilling richness, all backed up by correct acidity. Extraordinarily drinkable. Very good. (8/1/03)

F Bonnet Brut Heritage Champagne NV: A pale golden colour. Fresh citrus fruits on the nose, with bready notes. Moderate, fairly elegant mousse. Fresh citrus flavours follow on from the nose, with appropriate acidity, but more buttery and yeasty notes evident towards the end-palate. A clean finish. Good drinking. Good. (Autumn 1999, 21/8/00)

Raymond Boulard Brut Tradition Champagne NV: A golden yellow colour, but with a hint of copper, and a fine bead. On the nose, freshly peeled Gala apples, and a nose full of biscuity, yeasty autolytic aromas. A gentle but fresh mousse, with a strong backbone of acidity. Nuts, cream and apple flavours, and more autolytic notes. Quite a rustic mouthfeel. Enjoyable wine, but perhaps another six months in bottle might soften that acidity. Good. (14/8/01)

Canard-Duchêne Brut Champagne NV: Attractive lemon-gold, with a fairly coarse bead. The nose is initially mineral and white citrus fruit, but it quickly develops bready, leesy, yeasty notes. The palate has a sharp mousse, fresh acidity, mineral notes, is also quite bready. Finishes with a creamy touch. A good NV, with a hint of elegance on the nose. Good. (Summer 2000, 20/8/00)

Canard-Duchêne Charles VII Brut Grande Cuvée Champagne NV: The wine has a lemon-gold hue and a fine bead. The nose is lead by a delicious yeasty, autolytic aroma. Behind this there is a fresh, lemony fruit aroma, with a slightly herbaceous element. A lovely mousse on the palate, which quickly fades to leave a delightful, creamily textured wine coating your mouth. There is good lemony acidity to balance this richness, and that yeasty flavour is also there. Slips down beautifully, with good length. Very good. (16/5/00) Retaste: A nose of citrus fruits at first, but aromas of coffee and toast signify some development here. Similar flavours on the palate, moderately rich, good acidity. Improved. Very good. (Spring 2000, 3/5/01) Label

Cattier Premier Cru Brut Champagne NV: Purchased December 2004. Quite a pale hue with a sparse but fine bead. The nose is a little yeasty and also a little cheesy, perhaps reflecting the blend which is 35% PM and 40% PN with only 25% Chardonnay. Similar character on the palate, which seems nicely evolved in terms of interesting flavour, but doesn't have the weight to match. So a little on the lean side, with firm, correct acidity and a nice fresh mousse. I've a feeling it may develop with bottle age. Good at the price I paid - about £12. 15.5+/20 (4/1/05)

Comte Audoin de Dampierre Grande Cuvée Brut NV: I rather liked the Comte Audoin wines when tasted at the CIB tasting earlier this year, and found the man himself to be charming, as is this wine. It has an appealing partridge eye appearance from skin contact, with a fine bead. An aromatic style, broad and complex, showing some maturity, and certainly an interesting style. Fresh, full, creamy, yet gentle and balanced on the palate. Fine, persistent, really very delicately poised. Quite complex and certainly an impressive and good value NV cuvée. 17.5/20

Heidsieck & Co. Monopole Blue Top Brut Champagne NV: An attractive light onion-skin colour. Fairly coarse bead. The nose carries a light yeastiness together with some citrus fruit. A middle of the road palate, with more subtle biscuity yeasty notes sitting with sharp citrus fruit acidity. Mousse is a little aggressive. Pleasant drinking. Quite good. (Summer 2000, 7/9/00)

Jacquart Brut Tradition Champagne NV: A pleasing pale yellow hue, with reasonably fine bead. Good yeast-edged lemony fruit on the nose. Nice texture on entry, cream-edged mousse, and correct acidity. Not a complex Champagne, but great for supping by the bucket-load over the festive season. And a wonderful price. Good. (4/12/02)

Jacquart Brut Mosaïque Champagne 1992: Lemon gold in colour, with a powerful mousse, this is a vibrant and easily enjoyed wine. There are some toasty and smoky nuances on the nose, cutting through a thick seam of white fruit. On the palate the unsurprisingly fresh and persistent yet soft and silky mousse provides plenty of interest. There is plenty of fruit, with a rich, creamy, complex and savoury edge, and great acidity. It finishes with some finesse. I enjoyed this wine most when it had been open for an hour or two, the mousse had settled and the complex flavours were showing. This wine has the necessary structure for ageing, but is still enjoyable now. Very good. (8/11/01) Label

Jacquart Brut Blanc de Blancs Champagne 1992: Rich, yellow-golden colour. A change on the nose since last tasted, with more obvious maturity. Complex aromas of coffee, marzipan. Creamy, mouthfilling texture and mousse. A tropical note to the fruit, with toffee and coffee character. The previously obvious acidity, something that I have found to mark the 1992 vintage, has lessened and the wine has nice balance as a result. Creamy, complex finish. Ready now, but should drink for another three to five years. Very good. (22/7/03)

Krug Grande Cuvée Champagne NV: A shimmering, mid-gold hue and a small bead. Wonderful nose - very powerful and typically Krug. The aromas are suggestive of the barrel fermentation employed by Krug, with rich oatmealy, oiled oak alongside notes of hazelnuts, butter, lemons and thyme. Very sharp, clean entry, with fine, prickling mousse and fairly prominent acidity which keeps it fresh and elegant despite considerable richness. Develops a creamy feel through the midpalate, helped very much by a relaxing of the mousse. Flavours very much mirror the nose. Fans out somewhat on the finish and already shows a decent length. Although generally ready when released this cuvée will undoubtedly benefit from further time in the cellar - allowing some of that acidity to dissipate. Excellent, potential for improvement. (Autumn 2003, 6/1/04)

Charles Lafitte Grande Cuvée Brut Champagne NV: A very pale lemon colour, but with an attractive, quite fine bead. Sharp, lemony, pithy citrus fruit nose, with little yeasty complexity. On the palate, quite a sharp mousse, although this fades with time. The acidity is also quite sharp, and thus this wine was best with food. Lemon, mineral, citrus fruit flavours. Clean finish, but no length. Quite good. (Summer 2000, 31/8/00)

Laurent Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut Champagne NV: Lovely colour, a vibrant pink, with a salmon-tinged edge. Good bead. Plenty of strawberry fruit and brioche on the nose. A full bodied palate, rich with a creamy edge and full mousse. Plenty of flavour, and good acidity. Delightful. Very good. (Summer 2002, 15/8/02)

Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle 'La Cuvée' Champagne NV: Purchased summer 2003; I suspect it is the 95/93/90 blend. Good colour. A nose of almonds and cream, swirled with lemon juice, over a layer of brioche. Lovely, full, creamy and quite svelte palate, with a biting mousse. Very backward and youthful at present, with firm acidity which dominates a little. A very good length too. Great finesse here, but it is still just a baby. Needs 5-10 years in the cellar. 17+/20 (1/9/04)

Massé Albert Etienne Champagne 1990: A lemon-gold hue, with a fine bead. Nice mineral quality to the nose. With time developed some biscuity, yeasty notes, and hints of peach. A soft mousse. Good creamy texture, rich fruit, citrus acidity. Quite good, until the finish which seems a little astringent, bitter even, marring the overall impression. Quite good. (6/8/00) Retaste: Gorgeous nose, which has developed coffee and nut complexity. Good texture, creamy but light rather than rich, and well balanced. No problems with the finish this time. Good. (26/3/01)

Moet et Chandon Cuvée Dom Perignon Champagne 1995: Opened to celebrate the outcome of a recent job interview. Very pale in appearance. A sparse bead with moderate sized bubbles. It remains quite restrained on the nose, with mere hints of aromas that typify youthful Dom Perignon – a mixture of almonds, cream and white fruits. The palate maintains this reserved, closed-down theme, as it remains very tight. Much more grip and acidity than fruit or flavour at present, but there is a fine mousse. This is a great wine in the making and I look forward to opening the remaining bottles in the distant future. Hold for three to five years minimum. Good, potentially excellent. (23/10/03) Label

Moët et Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon Champagne 1992: A mid golden hue to this wine, with a very subtle bead. The nose conjures up images of almonds swirled in cream, with a backdrop of yeasty, home-baked biscuit aromas. As the bead would suggest, a soft yet persistent mousse on the palate. Very nicely poised, well balanced, with the required acidity maintaining a good presence throughout, supporting quite a creamy, medium-bodied texture. An almost sour-savoury finish leading into a good length. Potential for some further development. Very good. (3/7/01) Label

Moët et Chandon Brut Impérial Champagne NV: A pale golden hue. The nose carries pithy citrus fruits, with background nuances of butter and bready yeasts, which become more prominent with aeration. A sharp, acidic mousse, although this also settles with time. Fairly rich, with good leesy complexity. Clean citrus finish. Good. (Summer 2000, 27/8/00)

Mumm Cordon Rouge Brut Champagne NV: Attractively packaged, and the wine itself has an attractive colour and good bead. The nose has considerable appeal, with warm brioche, lemony fruit, and a suggestion of a developing nutty, marzipan element. The palate has fairly aggressive acidity, with a somewhat sour character towards the finish, but some good fresh fruit and a toasty edge. Firm mousse. Quite acceptable, particularly in this price bracket, and time in the bottle will tame that acidity. Good. (Spring 2002, 3/4/02)

Mumm Grand Cordon Champagne 1990: Lemon gold, with a prominent bead which rapidly fades. Interesting nose of marzipan, pistachio nuts, and a hint of oxidation. The mousse is very alive on the palate. Light yet creamy texture, with oysters and nuts. Sharp finish, with a pleasing although slightly astringent length. At the time of writing available for £25 at a variety of retail outlets. Usual price £50, at which it would represent poor value. Good. (23/1/01)

Mumm Cordon Rouge Cuvée Limitée Brut Champagne 1990: A pale colour doesn't suggest an overly rich wine, and indeed it isn't. Lemony fruit on the nose, with some yeasty, doughy notes. A quite finely balanced palate, with fresh, lifting acidity, this being the wines most attractive characteristic. It balances out the autolytic, biscuity, yeasty complexities quite well. Good. (5/1/01)

Piper Heidsieck Champagne 1990: A rich lemon-gold colour, with a fine but energetic bead. Plenty of sweet, baked apples and yeasty, doughy aromas on the nose. On the palate, a fine yet sharp mousse is immediately apparent. There is plenty of flavour, with a slightly sour, acidic apple profile offset with a slightly creamy richness, which builds as the wine sits on the palate. Nevertheless, the acidity persists through the endpalate, cutting through this richness, providing a slightly astringent finish. It all suggests that this wine would be better for a few more years in the cellar. Good. (31/7/01)

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Rose Champagne NV: A gorgeous, deep salmon-pink with a hint of orange. Redcurrants and strawberries on the nose, with herbaceous notes, and hints of yeasty bread. Good mousse on the palate, good weight, attractive raspberry fruit. Very good. (Spring 1998, 23/8/00)

Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne NV: A lemon-gold hue. Some rich fruit aromas on the nose, with a smoky, brioche edge. Creamily textured on the palate, with firm mousse and sharp acidity. Good fruit. Very fresh and a step up in quality for Piper-Heidsieck. Would benefit from six-twelve months in the cellar. Good, potentially very good. (Autumn 2002, 29/1/03)