TN: Champagne Break from Shopping

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A BREAK FROM SHOPPING - Ebisu Garden Place -- R-Gath (12/31/2005)

One of the things I love about Tokyo is that there are indulgent surprises everywhere...like the wine bar in the middle of the department store and shopping arcade near my house.

While taking my mother-in-law, wife, and sister-in-law shopping on New Years Eve day, my brother-in-law, Lee, and I stopped for a Champagne break.

• 1989 Guy Michel Tradition Brut - France, Champagne, Pierry
  Evolved deep golden yellow with unusually (even worryingly) large bead of good persistence. Not sure how there could be enough dissolved CO2 to keep up a mousse with bubbles that large for that long. Nose is classic mature Champagne in a slightly oxydised style. Bruléed apple fruit is joined by ripe brie cheese and mushroom. Palate is very soft and very round, in fact a bit fat. Acid is nowhere to be found, but there is a nice dose of grilled bread and roasted hazelnut that hits the back of the nose during the finish. A nice array of flavors and an interesting contrast to the still wine from Christmas day, this was enjoyable for a glass, but would begin to cloy after that. There was only the slightest hint of the chalk that was so prominent in the still wine. I’m not a big fan of ‘89 Champagnes in general, but I suspect this was about more than just vintage.
  
• N.V. Eric Rodez Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru Brut - France, Champagne, Ambonnay
  Deepish gold, not quite bright, with small steady mousse. Nose has a persistent strain of strawberry that is clearly detectable sitting back in the chair with the glass sitting on the table at arm’s length. In many wines, this kind of strawberry nose bothers me, but this was surprisingly clean and fresh. Underneath the persistent berry nose was ripe apple and rich white flower, along with a nice bit of rising bread yeast. The palate had a surprising combination of density and integration that – combined with just enough acid – gave the wine great balance and lightness. Plum joined the strawberry for a classic blanc de noirs palate that finished with more yeast and bit of caramel. Very much lives up to its grand cru billing. My first experience with the producer; I’d like to have more.
  

Certainly makes shopping easier. And makes me into a much more compliant husband.

Posted from CellarTracker