One of those special Blanc de Blancs (100% Chardonnay) bubblies from Champagne that we love sipping on special occasions. We cracked this open for KCJ's farewell dinner with some tasty Teochew bites and it didn't disappoint.
Quite a strong canary yellow with glints of gold, the wine was rather muted at first (as it was left in the freezer for an hour) but notes of buttery brioche, ripe yellow fruits, pineapple, charred lemon peel, bruised apples and toasted hazelnuts slowly surfaced as the wine got a little warmer with some air. The bubbles were really really fine, having been disgorged in April 2008. On the palate, it was citrusy (the really ripe kind) and nutty with some well integrated oak flavours, oxidative tones and a slightly buttery texture. Quite harmonious, elegant and mellow at this juncture.
Honestly, this should be treated as a white wine more than a sparkling. And if you try serving this in an oh-so-salah Champagne flute, all the magic will probably be lost. Those who have never tried any properly aged Champagnes should give this a go at least once. After all, how many of us can afford to store a bottle of Champagne for 13 long years after its release? The good news is....limited bottles will be made available for the lucky few before MT drinks them all!
