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Whereas writing about wine is much from profitable financially, sure perks make it a particular gig. Such was the case final month once I was invited to attend La Fête du Champagne, billed as “The World’s Premier Celebration of the Wines of Champagne”.
La Fête began in New York Metropolis ten years in the past and has grown in measurement and scope, branching out to Los Angeles, London, and Houston for the previous two years. This 12 months, I attended two occasions, La Fête Tasting and later that day, La Fête Dinner, held at Bludorn Restaurant in Montrose.
There have been seven producers arrange within the restaurant and out on the patio, and the 2 hours allotted have been simply sufficient to cease and check out all of the champagnes on provide, since, effectively, I may. So far as I may inform, I used to be the one individual spitting on the occasion and was even requested just a few instances about it, however when tasting over thirty wines, even given the small pours (roughly an oz. or two), if I don’t spit, it may get messy. I want to keep away from mess.
Actually, all of the wines have been tasty, however three actually stood out.
First off, for me was Vilmart & Cie., one of many premier grower champagnes.
It was the second desk I visited, however Laurent Perrier’s Grand Siècle Itération No. 23 (from magnum) turned out, not less than for me, to be one of the best wine on the tasting. A mix of the 2002, 2004, and 2006 vintages, and aged for 16 years on the lees. This comes actually near being the “good” champagne. Whoa. Nonetheless mild and stylish however layered and profound with one of many longest finishes I’ve ever skilled in champagne. Extraordinary. 99 Factors. Warning: it’s a bit dear at ~$550 and solely offered in magnums.
The standout of the three unimaginable wines was the 2006 Pléntitude 2, which retails for a cool $550/bottle. Nutty and wealthy on the nostril after 17 years of getting older on the lees. Improbable and layered with that nutty brioche. Yowza. Extraordinary. 97 Factors.
Whereas the wines have been definitely implausible, maybe the spotlight of the tasting for me was the prospect to fulfill and chat a bit with Peter Liem, cofounder of La Fête and the preeminent American Champagne professional.
The staff at Bludorn was onerous at work, getting ready some tasty bites that every one paired effectively with the assorted champagnes.
Lanson is a favourite of mine, and we all the time have a bottle of the black label chilly and able to go in our home.
One other implausible grower, A. Margaine was there…
…as was Sacha Geoffroy, sixth era winemaker at Geoffroy in Aÿ.
Delamotte was additionally there, one other of our favourite homes, a sister firm of the elusive Salon.
The largest shock for me was the wines of Cédric Moussé. His grandfather based the home 101 years in the past, however Cedric has actually elevated the wines. Comprised of 100% Pinot Meunier (not usually a favourite of mine), his Non-vintage Moussé Fils l’Or d’Eugène is predicated on the 2019 classic, however features a solera mix of all of the vintages from 2003 to 2018. Fruity and layered with a complexity that I often discover missing in Meunier (80% Pinot Meunier, 20 Pinot Noir). That is fairly unimaginable stuff and pretty wallet-friendly at solely $65. Excellent. 95 Factors.
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