LeDomduVin: Smooth wines - Champagne Taittinger, Domaine Étienne Sauzet et Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils

 

Smooth wines: 

Champagne Taittinger, Domaine Étienne Sauzet et Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils

The common point that immediately struck me among these 3 wines was “smoothness”. 

2012 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut

The power and grace of the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs stem from the remarkable conditions in the Côte des Blancs area. Situated on the slopes south of Épernay, overlooking the chalky Champagne plain, the region is predominantly planted with Chardonnay. This results in champagnes with a light, delicate aroma that is rich in character and vitality. 

Crafted entirely from Chardonnay sourced from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs (Avize, Cramant, Chouilly, Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Oger), a small portion (5%) of the blend is aged in new oak barrels to achieve a subtle balance of toasted notes. It is then aged for up to 10 years in the chalk quarries beneath Saint-Nicaise Abbey before release with a dosage of 9 g/l. 

Spawned from an outstanding vintage in Champagne, the 2012 Comtes de Champagne is a real masterpiece. Beyond its attractive pale golden hue, it displays fresh aromas of stone fruits and lemon mingling with nutty, toasted, and mineral nuances. The palate is rich, layered, complex, ample, and sophisticated, yet cozy, comfortable, and extremely well-balanced, with a seductive creamy, silky texture and solid structure, leading to the lingering finish with finesse and class. A stunning champagne!

2020 Étienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru « Champ Canet »

Domaine Etienne Sauzet is a bit sentimental for me, as it was, along with Domaine Leflaive, one of the first white Burgundies I ever tasted in my life at the very beginning of my sommelier career back in 1997.

The 2020 Etienne Sauzet Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru 'Champ Canet' is an intricate white Burgundy Chardonnay and one of the finest examples of this 1er Cru. In the glass, it displays a very pale golden color with green reflections. The nose is fresh, with yellow and stone fruit aromas, combined with floral, mineral, lemony, and buttery notes. The palate is smooth, ample, and suave, like gently coating buttercream, presenting fruit ripeness and minerality, good acidity (though a bit low for my taste, probably due to the ripeness caused by the hot, sunny 2020 vintage, yet enough to keep it fresh), and very good balance, with ample volume in the mid-palate that persists in the long finish. Gorgeous wine!

2020 Bouchard Père & Fils Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru

The 2020 Bouchard Père & Fils Chambertin-Clos de Bèze Grand Cru is a celebrated, robust red Burgundy, offering ripe, intense aromas of red cherry, raspberry, and smoky minerals, with warm, oaky, and earthy notes. It is deep, complex, and savory with hints of black fruit, truffle, and coffee, complemented by bright acidity, layered structure, smooth texture, and present, yet integrated and silky tannins, with savory notes in the long, creamy finish. From beginning to end, it exhibits a "classic," smooth profile with deep, vibrant, ripe fruit rather than a jammy, overly warm character. Too young, and yet already approachable, it will benefit from a few more years to reach its full potential. Beautiful wine!

*******work in progress******

Santé! Cheers!

Dom 

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