VISUAL OBSERVATIONS
Colour and aspect: clear, luminous, crystalline pale gold spangled with flashes of green sparkle and amber glitter. Bubbles: masses of creamy, frothy sparkle and a constant stream of supremely fine, whirling bubbles. Flow: thin, steady and persistent.
BOUQUET
First impressions : delicate, elegant and complex, harmonizing around a rich, fragrant quintet including a trio of fleshy, soft, deliciously scented fruit such as apricots, vine peaches and pears, and a duo of suave, elegant fresh flower scents: jasmine and white lilac, instantly creating a subtly seductive setting. Swirling: a smattering of clearly defined but evanescent citrusy, honeyed notes reminiscent of freshly squeezed pink grapefruit and zest of candied citron fruit bring a hint of refreshment swathed in sweetness full of eastern promise. The whole bouquet is laced with delicious baking smells: sponge cake and fresh butter. Final aromas when the wine has warmed up a little: more of a leisurely finale rather than a sudden finish. This cuvee shows the elegance of a young champagne that is already showing its pedigree through luxuriant, deeply sensual spicy notes. Cinnamon, Tahitian vanilla, aniseed and sweet liquorice mingle and complement one other. The début of a sophisticate.
TASTE
First impressions: full-bodied, this pleasant, finely honed champagne has liveliness and vinosity, its flavours reflect and confirm the bouquet. The judicious blend of grapes from different vineyards is an ode to perfection: pinot noir releases a rush of fruit flavour backed by a rounded, lush, velvety structure with attractive but discreet hints of sweet almond and wild sloes liqueurs. Body: the second impression on the palate is even more revealing. Chardonnay tempers the fruity fleshiness contributing just the right amount of freshness and light characterised by the grand entrance of a quartet of cakey, spicy flavours: lemon buns and fruit cake, cinnamon and soft liquorice together with a hint of violet giving total taste bud seduction. The delicate sparkle is in perpetual motion, contributing a gentle softness and revealing the underlying fresh acidity which contributes to the wine's precise balance. Finish: enjoyable, long and pleasantly persistent, the champagne delivers its final notes through a medina of spice and dried fruit and Tahitian vanilla. The sweet, mellifluous flavours of preserved fruit and acacia honey are just beginning to show.
The epitome of complexity, aromatic richness, finesse, freshness and harmony, this "Grand Millésime 1999 Brut", with its aristocratic allure and unquestionable breeding is perfect with food and can be enjoyed throughout an entire meal. Ready for drinking, it is a marvellous match for modern, traditional or regional French or Asian cuisine.