AaronL wrote:I went to a champagne tasting in Perth where they had the 2002 Lanson on tasting. However, the bottle they were pouring was madeirised and flat. I asked the guy behind the counter if he had tasted it, and he said yes, and when I asked him if he had tried the wine before that day and if it was representative, he also said yes and that it was the style that Lanson produced. He also told me that many people didn't like that particular bottle. At that point I shrugged my shoulders and moved on. Pity as I was really keen to try it.
Sigh, yes, I went to a similar large Champagne tasting here.
This time it was the Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque. Flat, tired, slightly oxidised. Mentioned it to the pourer, got a similar reaction to yours above. Sigh.
Insisted he get the tasting organiser to check, he raised eyebrows at me, but did.
Lo and behold, new bottle produced, now looking much better!
BTW and FWIW I MUCH preferred the 2002 Lanson to the 'new' bottle of Belle Epoque, even though the new bottle was quite representative.
If you know a little about wine you hear interesting things at these types of tastings. One of them, quite arrogantly poured Billecart Rose ... then self importantly told me they add a little Pinot Noir to it, that's how they make Rose ... and they are the only ones in the world to do this ... really I said, I'm sure other makers do also!
Absolutely no, he said, it is unique! ... double sigh!
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