John Durham is simply known as "Mr. Champagne" to many of us here in San Francisco. The guy has enough of the stuff to last through another prohibition, but thankfully he's super-generous with it! He got our tasting off to a fun start with two magnums of excellent non-vintage champagne: Jacquesson and Laurent Perrier Cuvee Rose.
This lovely Henriot brut was served at Richard and Lisel''s wedding in St. Tropez. The wine is crisp and lively and stands up nicely against bottles that are far more expensive. At about ~$50/bottle, it's not cheap, but it is an excellent value for money...
Scott Sanford bought this bottle for me over ten years ago, and we'd been waiting for the right time to open it ever since. Since it's the beginning of the new baseball season, and my Giants are defending World Series champs -- & Scott's Yankees are the prior season's winner (and last AL team to win) -- we opened it before a Giants/Cardinals game! In the background is Miles, who was very young when this was bottled...
The Louise is mature and slightly yeasty, with some bread dough flavors that remind me of Dom.
This was my first taste of Tarlant's Cuvee Louis. I prefer Billcart Salmon's multi-dimensional NV to this (in the $50/bottle price range).
The Russian River Valley is one of the finest growing regions in the world, and anywhere you find good pinot noir you'll find good sparkling wine too. J is well known in Northern California and lower-priced products like this will help spread the good word!
This is a very special bottle
I knew this bottle would be for a special occasion, and Eric Porres' 1989 v 1990 Bordeaux tasting seemed like the perfect night.
This is a great everyday bubbly.
This non-vintage rose bottling is up there with Billecart-Salmon's as one of the best large-distribution NV sparkling wines from Champagne. With Macha and Marissa at home, after celebrating weeks 4-6 of Ariella's life in San Francisco.
Demi-Sec is a great way to end a tasting (or a bubbly to serve with dessert), and Billecart-Salmon makes a nice one.
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