Wine By Nine

Vintage by Veuve Clicquot from Champagne, France - regions. This Vintage is made up from twenty villages all classified as Premiers or Grands Crus. They are located in the Cote des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims regions. The dominance and power comes from the Pinot Noir, which represents 68% of the blend. The finesse and elegance are achieved from a complement of 32% Chardonnay. Sensory notes The effervescence is both delicate and long lasting. The bouquet is fine and complex, strong in the aromas of dried fruits and flowers. There is an elegant harmony in the nose around toast and brioche notes. In the mouth, the wine is firm and well structured, with masses of substance and refinement. Such wine accompanies perfectly lobsters, scallops and sea fish. After a few more years of ageing, one would not hesitate to offer it with poultry or with meat dishes such as veal.

Vintage by Delamotte from Champagne, France - regions. The 1999 Delamotte Blanc de Blancs is a pale yellow color with green reflects. The nose is herbal with hints of jasmine, white peach, mint, pear. On the palate, the wine is very fresh, well-balanced, straight and pure. It is the perfect companion to shellfish, crayfish carpaccio, sushi and all white fish.

Vintage by Schramsberg from California. The 1999 J. Schram opens with aromas of glazed pineapple, orange marmalade and crisp green apples. Just-baked puff pastry and rich creamy notes are derived from barrel fermentation (38%) and yeast aging. This powerful wine showcases the bright citrus and tangy, tropical fruit of the Tognetti, Hyde and Schwarze Chardonnay Vineyards in southern Napa in the Carneros region. The addition of 24% Pinot Noir lends subtle red fruit aromas and gives breadth to both the nose and palate. A creamy yet refreshing wine, with a long, seamless finish. - Winemaker Hugh Davies

Vintage by Schramsberg from California. J. Schram epitomizes Schramsberg's philosophy to create a wine in which no effort has been spared and no care has been omitted. Representing only 3% of the winery's annual production, the Chardonnay-focused J. Schram blend is assembled from the top 10-15 lots of the approximately 200 produced each year. This special bottling is dedicated to Schramsberg's founder of 1862, Jacob Schram, and has been a great success since its premier 1987 vintage was released in 1992. Blend: 80% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir The 2000 J. Schram exhibits aromas of pineapple with melon and apple cider along with citrus notes of orange peel and lemon custard. Rich, creamy notes of creme brulee, fresh baked baguette and toasted nuts are derived from barrel fermentation and nearly 6 years of yeast aging. This voluptuous sparkling wine showcases the bright citrus and tangy, tropical fruit of the Tognetti and Schwartz Chardonnay vineyards along Bayview Avenure in southern Napa-Carneros. The addition of 20% Pinot Noir lends subtle red fruit aromas and gives breadth to both the nose and palate. A creamy yet refreshing wine, the 2000 J. Schram has a long, quenching, seamless finish. - Winemakers Hugh Davies and Craig Roemer J. Schram is quite appealing on its own as an aperitif or enjoyed with fresh shellfish, caviar, smoked salmon, tangy cheeses, seafood brochettes and risotto with prosciutto.

Vintage by Taittinger from Champagne, France - regions. Pale gold in color, with delicate strands of pinpoint bubbles, Taittinger Brut Millesime shows the elegance of the house style while expressing the individual character of its vintage year. The fragrant white fruit and berry nose is offset by nuances of toast and minerals which carry onto the crisp, full palate. Delicately structured yet generous fruit flavors, clearly marked by Chardonnay, are balanced by a clean, refined acidity culminating in a fresh, persistent finish.

Vintage by Henriot from Champagne, France - regions. Brightly coloured with green tints. Fine, persistent bubbles. Rich and fresh on the nose. White fruit and flowers evolving towards mineral, spicy notes. Remarkably balanced on the palate. The attack is fresh and remarkably well balanced with a silky texture. Very pure and fine. This wine will be excellent as an aperitif and could also accompany refined fish dishes. Attractive aromas of cinnamon and apple butter. Lush and quite creamy with butterscotch, caramel and taffy apple flavors. Excellent length with a mix of toasted oak and brown spices. Drinking nicely right now. -Wine News

Vintage by Louis Roederer from Champagne, France - regions. A light, airy Champagne, more elegant than vinous, that perfectly captures the essence of the 2002 vintage in Champagne: naturally harmonious, delicate and flawless. Color: Pink with fairly intense bluish-red highlights and a constant stream of exuberant bubbles that settle in a pretty ring round the inside of the glass. Nose: Remarkably intense, pure and precise. Opens with fresh scents of pink grapefruit and cherries that overlay sweet, deliciously honeyed hints of spring blossom (white flowers, acacia and honeysuckle). Palate: Intensely fruity with a silky, velvety mouthfeel. The overall effect is supremely fresh and elegant, a perfect synthesis of taste and texture in a blend that is largely dominated by the structure and build of the Pinot Noir. There is no mistaking its presence on the mid-palate and finish where it combines with notes of cherries and suggestions of toast, honey and spice to produce a rose of exquisite refinement. Thanks to its structure and vinosity, Louis Roederer Brut Rose is an excellent accompaniment to meals and the perfect accompaniment to fish (salmon in particular) or meats such as lamb, veal, guinea-fowl or even pheasant. To round off the meal, this Brut Rose is an ideal complement to creamy cheeses such as a ripe Chaource or a Brillat Savarin or the sharpness of a soft fruit pudding such as a sabayon.

Vintage by Veuve Clicquot from Champagne, France - regions. Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 7% Pinot Meunier, 33% Chardonnay The 2002 vintage has a pale gold color with silver accents. It has a brilliant aspect and an effervescence that is lively and long-lasting. The nose is very open, pure and complex. The Chardonnay gives this wine a refined mineral flavor accompanied with pleasant flowery notes of acacia. Aerating the wine reveals hints of yellow-fleshed fruit and pastries (brioche, marzipan). These give way to delicately spicy aromas, followed by elegant notes of licorice and high-bred teas. In the mouth, the wine is silky and generous. The expectations promised by the nose are met and even exceeded as the complexity of this wine is superlative: simultaneously evoking fruity and floral, mineral and spicy notes, menthol and toast. This wine is quite simply dazzling with its wealth of aromas, and a deliciously long and powerful finish. This elegant vintage is already remarkably well-balanced, and it will continue to enchant the palate for at least 15 years. Meanwhile, this wine can accompany the most refined dishes. It is eminently suitable for the most original matches. Try it with bass tartare, poached turbot served on a bed of fresh pasta, or cappuccino of Bresse chicken with candied citrus fruits.

Vintage by Pol Roger from Champagne, France. Pol Roger, one of a few luxury Champagne firms still family-owned, was established in Epernay in 1849. Pol Roger owns 200 acres of vineyards, which provide about 45% of their needs. Pol Roger's cellars extend over four miles of winding chalk passageways on two levels. The second or deeper cellar maintains a constant 9.5? C (50? F), one degree lower than the first level and most others in the region. This lower temperature slows the second fermentation, encouraging a finer mousse or bubbles. Pol Roger Champagne also spends two to three times the allowable minimum in the cellar before disgorgement, or about three years for the non-vintage and up to seven for the luxury cuvees. The long, slow maturation contributes greatly to the complex aromas, which distinguish these superb Champagnes. The Vintage Brut follows the traditional formula for Pol Roger Vintage, being composed of about 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay drawn from 18 Grands and Premiers Crus. As always, the Pinot Noir contributes the intensity, backbone, tannins and body while the Chardonnay provides the fragrance, elegance, finesse essential to a perfect balance. Vintage Brut is only produced in declared vintage years.

Vintage by Piper Heidsieck from Champagne, France - regions. A luminous, golden celadon color. Fine bubbles for a gentle effervescence. Light mineral impressions are followed by subtle floral notes of fern and wild rose which leads to delicately fruity aromas of dry apricot and sultana raisins. This attractive mature wine reveals its elegant charm with a bouquet of sweet nougat, milk caramel and mint. The attack is fresh and youthful and is rapidly followed by a sensation of fullness. Notes of Mediterranean dried fruit, such as fig, are intertwined with elegant touches of Virginia tobacco and leather. The wine has a refreshing finish with a smooth hint of milky tea flavored with bergamot.

Vintage by Deutz from Champagne, France - regions. Made exclusively from Pinot Noir, 80% of these grapes come from the Montagne de Reims area, and the remaining 20% come from the Marne Valley. The specific style and color is obtained by the addition of 9% of red wine, whose Pinot Noir grapes come from two plots on the A? hillside called La Cote and Meurtet, both that have perfect exposure. After 4 years aging in the Deutz cellars, its aromas have perfectly blended, and the Brut Rose has a very subtle nose and a palate that shows remarkable power.

Vintage by Louis Roederer from Champagne, France - regions. Sweet nose of caramel, light yeast and apple. Very creamy entry with a meld of malty beer flavors and a nice integration of lemon-lime acidity. Focused with a ribbon of caramel and butter that linger throughout the spicy close. -Wine News