Lightning strikes twice
Blog readers will recall the great occasion last autumn when we staged a completely blind tasting of Grandes Marques Champagnes against our Palmer and our André Roger Grands Crus which summarily wiped the floor and are now the much enjoyed selected Champagnes at illustrious City Law Firms, Pinsent Masons.
Andre Roger Vieilles Vignes NV
One of the judges has since left PM and joined a new US-based law firm who have recently opened a practise in The City and summoned me in to re-enact the blind tasting so her new law firm could select their House Champagne for the up-and-coming inaugural party and summer season.
And so, last Thursday evening, 6 lady partners gathered to blind taste the 6 Bubblies that I assembled including our Cremant de Bourgogne by Louis Picamelot, affectionaly known as ‘Sparky’, Nyetimber Classic Cuvée 2006, Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, André Roger Grand Cru Grand Reserve followed by André Roger Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes and then we finished off with Pol Roger’s White Foil.
The tasting was completely blind and I kept my big gob shut so as not to influence the 6 lady judges.
We decided to cull the least favourite 3 and so poor old Sparky fell at the first fence as it just didn’t have the weight and flavour to keep up with the Champagnes. Then Veuve Clicquot was considered to be flash-in-the-pan with a very over excitable effervescence, not much depth to the flavour and was terribly short. Then, much to my surprise, Pol Roger White Foil missed the cut on taste; I was only surprised as a dozen
Jascoteers had so enjoyed this Champagne in particular when we visited Epernay in January.
Then we re-tasted the three remaining Bubbles again and our Roger’s Grand Reserve was enjoyed but Nyetimber’s Vintage Classic Cuvée was sweeter and nudged it into third place, kudos to Sussex, but, exactly as last year, André Roger’s limited edition Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes from Ay was unanimously and unambiguously voted the best Champagne of the day!
I do love it when David slays Goliath all over again and David just happens to be our champion Grand Cru Champagne!!!