1% of the production. That´s not much, even for a big company as Louis Roederer. But that is volume of the production of the vintage Blanc de Blancs. The other day I was fortunate to taste eight vintages, courtesy of VinUnic.
Thierry Wallaert from Louis Roederer guided us through the wines with charm and deep insights.
NV Brut Premier
We started things of with the Brut Premier from magnum, as all Champagne´s, always drinking better from large formats. The nose is cool, fresh and smoky with notes of yellow plums, freshly washed clothes and day old bread.
The taste is pure and fresh with a salivating acidity and a nice body. A long finish with lots of lemons, smoke and minerals. Very, very good.
90p (tasted 2018/11)
Flight I
2011 Blanc de Blancs
The 2011 shows of a really smoky nose, even some Islay feeling from this one. After some swirling additional notes of lime peel, oyster shells and grass emerges. Very fine.
The taste is chalky and racy with a young, stern character with lots of promise. A very fine dry finish. 8+ years.
91p (tasted 2018/11)
2010 Blanc de Blancs
The 10 is a beauty with a deep, refined nose with notes of white flowers, handcream, ripe lemons and a hint of petrol. Complex and fine, although still very young.
The taste is tight and pure with a lovely balance and notes of grilled lemons, chalk and cap gun smoke. Very, very handsome. 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2018/11)
2009 Blanc de Blancs
The 09 is the weakest wine in the lineup. Not a bad wine, but not reaching the level of the others. The nose is restrained and a tad hollow with notes of dried up lemon curd, flint and dry grass.
The taste is tight and seedy with notes of dry lemons, earth and hay. A good lenght with a fine acidity. Very good but again, not up to par with the rest.
87p (tasted 2018/11)
2008 Blanc de Blancs
Aaah, another stunner from the 08 vintage. The nose is deep and rich with notes of tangerines, smoke, lemon licorice and a fine, salty aroma. Very fine.
The taste is regal, racy and refined with a gorgeous yellow fruit, a crisp acidity and a structure that promises a long life. Great wine. 6+ years.
94p (tasted 2018/11)
Flight II
2007 Blanc de Blancs
The 07 reveals some maturity on the nose with notes of shellfish shell, sage, lemon cream and a hint of tobacco. A bit soft but a fine intensity never the less.
The taste is round and generous with notes of passionfruit, dry lemon, grass and smoke. Medium long. Very, very good. Drinking fine now.
90p (tasted 2018/11)
2002 Blanc de Blancs
The nose is a beauty with a hint of maturity, but the depth and concentration is of the charts. Stunning notes of chalk, grilled lemons, sandelwood, salt stone and dry milk chocolate fudge. Just lovely.
The taste is tight and complex with a fabolous intensity, persistence and lenght. An utter joy to drink. A beatiful wine that just entering the first stages of maturity. Will go on for a long time.
96p (tasted 2018/11)
1999 Blanc de Blancs
A fine, dry, somewhat mature nose with notes of dry caramel, birch sap, lavender and dried flowers. Very fine.
The taste is chalky and dry with notes of oyster shells, clay, dried lemons and grass. Long and juicy. A hint of maturity but I would wait 3+ years for the next bottle.
92p (tasted 2018/11)
1998 Blanc de Blancs
This 20 year old bubbly sparks things up with a deep, refined and high nose with notes of white currants, light tobacco, chalk, lemon cream and the scent of morning fog on a the late summers day. Very vital.
The taste is multi layered and sappy with notes of dry biscuits, lemon cream, chalk and flower soap. The finish goes for a minute with a gorgeous structure and crisp acidity. This will go on for 10+ years. Great wine.
94p (tasted 2018/11)
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