Vintage

Cuvee Victor 2002 from Mandois - 100% Chardonay

Mandois is a terrific Champagne maker from just outside Epernay in the heart of the Cote des Blancs and the Cuvee Victor is astoundingly good.  Everybody bowed to this wine.  It is beautifully elegant and simply creates a lasting smile on the tasters face.  It has an extremely low dosage of sugar.  Considering a bottle of champagne may have in the region of 10 - 15 g of sugar this has hardly any at all.  It is, however, aged in the bottle to curb that tartiness and round of the edges.  The result is utterly charming with toasty pear and lemon.  I could drink this all day everyday!

Taittinger Vintage 2004

Not to be outdone the 2004 vintage Taittinger came storming in and held its own.  This is also a fabulous wine that can be sipped, tasted and glugged in one sitting but appreciating it with the brillet cheese and enjoying the subtle grapefruit and baked bread aromas made it a joy.  If this was share tipping site I'd write "Strong BUY!"

Heidsieck Heritage Brut NV

Not being a vintage champagne like it's two cousins in this round we automatically felt a little sorry for the Heidsieck.  But why did we bother - this champagne rose to the occasion and boxed happily above its' weight displaying fine form and all the characteristics of a decent bottle of bubbly - no wonder M&S et al are so happy to stock it.  Medium bodied with lots of brioche - not packing the punches of the other two though.

To summarise, these are all good wines but the Mandois really stole the show - maybe even the evening.  I think it was a unanimous top rated performer!  Mandois has recently won a reward for making the best chardonnay in the world - that's not to be sniffed at.  His wines are hard to get in the UK for some reason but if you can lay your hands on them then it is must!