2002 Champagne Tasting – Episode #758

October 23, 2009

Gary Vaynerchuk tastes two different Champagnes from the incredible 2002 vintage.

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Comments on this episode(146) Leave a comment ›

“QOTD – 1995 Taitinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc; shared a bot…” by Todd Smith
“I have been surprised (as of late) by how many flavor profiles there a…” by David Scott
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2002 Legras Brut Champagne Presidence VvFrench Brut Vintage
2002 Pehu Simonet BrutFrench Brut Vintage

Links mentioned in todays episode.

The “Crush It!” Book Tour

146 Responses

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November 9, 2009

Todd Smith
QOTD – 1995 Taitinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blanc; shared a bottle of this with a fiend a few years ago and it rocked. Blew me away. Also a big, big fan of Pierre Peters Blanc de Blanc.
November 6, 2009

David Scott
I have been surprised (as of late) by how many flavor profiles there are to discover in Champagne. For me, it’s always been sweet vs. Brut, period. But there are so many characteristics that quite honestly, you can’t get in anything else.

I am going to grill my apples. See you later.
November 4, 2009

Bill from Wine For Newbies
In the last year or two I’ve really developed a taste for Champagne and other sparkling wines made in the style of Champagne. Unfortunately, Champagnes (and especially vintage Champagnes) are often too pricey for most people to be able to enjoy them more often. I’m a firm believer that Champagnes should not be reserved for special occasions.

Fortunately here in the US, we have some California sister wineries of Moët & Chandon, Mumm, and Piper Heidsieck: Domain Chandon, Mumm Napa, and Piper Sonoma. Domain Chandon and Mumm Napa have been making their wines long enough now that they have a good, deep library of wines to use for blending. With their prices running around $20 in our local grocery store, they are a great way to enjoy sparkling wines of quality without breaking the bank.
November 2, 2009

alisha
I love all the bubbles… but my favourite lately is Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir. So yummy!
November 2, 2009

Brently
The best champagne I’ve had was the Cameron Hughes Lot 25 Carneros. It was awesome. Cameron Hughes scooped up 6,000 cases of this sparkler from a Napa vineyard who were going to release the wine for $50 a pop, but changed their minds and decided to stick to still wines. Cameron slapped their label on it and sold them for 20 a pop and Cost Plus World Market had it on sale for $9!!! The best was leaving this champagne open for at least 30 minutes and you’d get bread, biscotti, lemon, apple, and cane sugar! Just wonderful. I bought like at least half a case. I wish there were some more out there.
November 1, 2009

RuyGuy
I’m a big fan of Wilson Creek’s Almond Champagne, can’t beat the value.
October 30, 2009

Maurice van Bussel
Krug is definitely on the top of my list. Depth, character, huge complexity. Still, I’m aware of the price, which is probably even higher in the US than it is in Europe. So my top 5 for more affordable non vintage Champagne is:

1. Jacquesson, Cuvee 732
2. Ruinart, Blanc des blancs
3. Gosset Brut Excellence
4. Boizel Brut Reserve
5. Billecart-Salmon Brut rosé
October 30, 2009

jayhitek
Not a fan of champagne. Gives me a headache.
October 30, 2009

JasonA
Not my best champagne experience, but interesting non the less.

For our 10 year wedding anniversary I bought a 1998 Jacquart Blanc De Blanc from here. Had to have it sent my sister’s place in NC, and then she brought it to me when she came in for a visit. That caused the suprise to be spoiled as we were not sneaky enough to get it past my wife. No big deal.

We didnt open it for some reason during our trip to asheville NC. So we decided to have the bottle with friends who actually met at our wedding and got married later.

As I was twisting the cork ever so carefully off, the bottle slipped and I dropped the bottle. Half of it spilled onto the floor . I was very tempted to lick it off the floor haha

Oh well, we all still enjoyed the half bottle. And to date is my best sparkler.

jason
October 29, 2009

ChinonRouge
Best Champagne, 1996 Salon. Hands down.

Runner up 1996 Krug.

2002 Cristal is up there too.
October 29, 2009

M
QOTD: I had never had a Dom P and we were given a 1990 Dom P when our first child was born in 1998. I actually forget which year we opened it but we enjoyed it with family on a Father’s Day.

Another story is that my husband and I visited Champagne in 1996 and we visited many cellars/houses/ wineries (whatever you call them) and we had a wonderful time visiting France.
October 29, 2009

Ore
QOTD: IronHorse Brut Rose – yummy, elegant, firm, robust, masculine – it’s cool drinking a super yummy pink wine with bubbles!
October 29, 2009

nickcaruth
another legras, really?
what ever happened to expanding your palate?
this is what, the fifth legras on the show
this brand has been approx 25% of your champagnes on the show…
October 28, 2009

Sander
You made me SO curious about the Pehu Simonet.
October 28, 2009

Pierre C
Best so far… Krug!
October 28, 2009

Tommi From Finland
QOTD: damn, have to go get some bubbles then, never had Champagne :/
October 27, 2009

A dumb Rhine king
QOTD: I don’t have any bubble stories. I couldn’t even tell you one sparkling wine brand/vintage that I’ve had. Not that I don’t enjoy it, I just haven’t ventured too far into the bubble zone.
October 27, 2009

Stefanie
greatest bottle of champagne i had so far – Ayala Brut Nature (Zero Dosage). i simply love the concept of zero dosage as such – and this really was a great experience. can’t stop thinking what it must be like decantered. and was also not very pricy – € 30,00 or something.
October 27, 2009

Brian
Qotd~never had wine so I cant answer that question.
October 27, 2009

Phil G
Hey GV – though you are traveling all over the place, thanks for taping all these shows. I can only imagine how difficult it must be to get all these tasting in…
October 26, 2009

jwink
Grabbing a glass of Dom from a baller’s magnum at Tryst night club at Wynn Las Vegas. He probably paid $1500 for the bottle, beats were pumping, ladies dancing and it was a very very good night that saw the sunrise before going to bed.
October 26, 2009

pawncop
It has been twenty five (25) years since I last had bubbles. Cannot recall the brand, or any other details except that it was the night of my second wedding. No more details.
October 26, 2009

Tad Lincoln
My wife and I took a bottle of Veuve Clicquot’s 1988 Rich Reserve to our honeymoon dinner at the French Laundry. It made for some nice pairings, older sparklers like that are my fave. This one had teeny teeny bubbles, nice and carmel tasting, honey all over my face.

Keep the bubble shows coming!
October 26, 2009

JonT
QOTD best champagne I ever had was at my highschool graduation (dating myself since I was legal) a 1970 Taittinger Comte de Champagne Blanc de Blanc Brut balancing acid, yeast, cream, and the tiniest bubbles
October 26, 2009

The Mosk
I’ve never had the oportunity to get too much into bubbly, but I tell you what GV, with all the shows you’ve done recently on sparklers, I’m gonna have to go out and do some “experiencing”. Cool show, still, I like the long shows as they show your realness and more of your kickass personality to all of us. Thanks!