Wine Tasting: Tete de Cuvee Champagnes

Wow, that was fun. A special tasting of the prestige "tete de cuvee" bottles from the best known Champagne houses. In other words, the stuff that hip-hop royalty drink, over $100 a bottle. And they were all good (they better be!). Here's what we had (note that prices for high end champagnes vary widely from retailer to retailer -- shop around!):

1. 2000 Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne ($220): disappointing! probably too young, tight, metallic, showing little fruit, but improved the longer it was open, I'd love to try this again after 10 years!


2. NV Krug Grand Cuvee Brut Champagne ($129): my favorite champagne, year in, year out


3. NV Veuve Clicquot Brut ($39): just to give us a benchmark, this is a lovely bottle, available everywhere, but totally outclassed by these others - bigger bubbles, less complexity, clumsy finsh


4. 1998 Veuve Clicquot Grande Dame ($119): ah, here's Veuve's star, shining through; favorite of the evening for many, beautiful, elegant, light style; complex, long finish, exactly what you expect from a fancy bottle; I'll be buying one for Christmas eve to pair with crab


5. 1985 Charles Heidsieck "Champagne Charlie" Cuvee Prestige Brut ($109): 22 years old, and still killer; consensus favorite of the night, much more complex, darker flavors, smooth, fabulous


6. 1999 Moet & Chandon Cuvée Dom Pérignon Brut Champagne ($125): very good, likely to get even better with time, a darker, yeast-ier style than the Grande Dame


7. 1996 Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Champagne (~$70): another favorite, maybe the darkest flavors of the night, great toast, honey flavors


8. NV Taittinger "Prestige" Rosé ($55): lovely rose, exactly what you'd want when reaching for elegant pink bubbly


9. 1999 Bollinger Grande Année Champagne ($99)


10. 1998 Taittinger Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne ($125): the only blanc de blanc (all chardonnay) of the night, and a fantastic example; minerals, ultra dry on the palate, like a fine white burgundy, but with bubbles; probably the best oyster/shellfish wine of the night

And we ended the night with two of my favorite "affordable" champagnes, reaffirming my affection for my old stand-by, Perrier Jouet:

• NV Perrier Jouët Grand Brut ($30): has all the "fancy champagne" taste, without anything going off balance


• NV Moet & Chandon White Star ($32): a reliably lovely bottle, maybe the best for sipping by itself, but a hint of sweetness

Thanks to everyone who brought food, who brought bottles, and who brought both. And thanks to everyone for ponying up the extra cash to make this possible!