Champagne: Demi-Sec and Rosé Wines 7

049 Laurent Perrier, Grand Siècle "La Cuvée" NV 168.00

At the Palace of Versailles Louis XIV was the first French King to drink Champagne. Louis XIV's

era became known as the Grand Siècle - the "Great Century". Grand Siècle is the epitome of

Champagne cuvées, as it blends complementary wines from Laurent-Perrier's very best growths

and most successful vintage years. Twelve of the most prestigious villages supply these grapes; all

of them classified at 100% Grands Crûs. Medium straw colour with a vigorous mousse. Wonderfully

expressive aromas of white flowers, peach, fresh pear, sweet butter and exotic magnolia blossom.

Concentrated and deep, with fresh ripe apple, redcurrant and fruitcake flavours accented by a strong

chalky note. This manages to be dense and lively at the same time, with a remarkable range of flavours.

Powerful and almost painfully concentrated on the very long finish.

(60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay) Robert Parker – 94 points

Forthright and powerful nose, with orchard fruit and hints of honey evidenced, together with

sherbet and grilled almond, all amazingly pure and precise. Intimations cede to certainties on

the palate with nutty, creamy notes, an elegant fruit scherzo with fine balancing acidity, and an

authoritative finish, all perfectly integrated and wonderfully fresh.

(100% Chardonnay) Robert Parker – 92 points

Its’ pale golden robe with soft spring-time hue is sharpened by a touch of tender green accents

and delicate luminous glints. Its particularly fine bubbles create are pleasantly persistent. Initially

the Dom Ruinart 1998 vintage has a very distinctive mineral base note, which enhances both the

floral and fruity notes. These are then followed by white floral aromas and gourmet fruity notes

of reine-claude plums, peaches and pears. The flavours come in perfect harmony of freshness and

smoothness. On the palate, the fruity dominance of citrus, kumquat, mango and bergamot develops

more mature and exotic notes than those of the nose.
011 Pol Roger, Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, 2000 199.00

(70/80% Pinot Noir, 30/20% Chardonnay) Robert Parker – 94 points

met the charming and captivating Odette Pol-Roger and began a friendship, which lasted until Sir

Winston's death in 1965. On Churchill's death, Pol Roger put black-bordered labels on the bottles

destined for the UK and in 1975, they named their prestige cuvée after him, making it the robust,

mature style that he liked so much. The 1998 vintage shows all the hallmarks of an outstanding year

with high natural sugar content in the grapes and an excellent level of acidity indicating an exceptional

overall balance and long ageing potential. Overt and generous with hints of fresh butter and nuts, the

initial freshness tends to give way to a more powerful range of deeper aromas such as liquorice, wood

and leather and reveals great complexity.
019 Krug, Grande Cuvée, Brut 245.00

044 Krug, Grande Cuvée, Brut (half bottle) 125.00

(50% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier, 35% Chardonnay)

A breathtaking champagne that effortlessly balances richness and freshness, power and

finesse. A gleaming gold colour, an extravagantly expansive bouquet, an almost creamy

texture. Blended from as many as 50 wines from three grape varieties, 20 to 25 growths,

and six to ten different years. Krug Grande Cuvée is the ultimate expression of the Krug style.
017 Louis Roederer Cristal, Brut Vintage, 2004 290.00

(55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay) Robert Parker – 97 points

Pure hedonism, this legendary cuveé created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II merits its’ iconic

status. Only the finest grapes from the best vineyards of Verzenay, Le Mesnil, Avize, Chouilly,

Verzy, Aÿ and Mareuil are used in this exceptional Champagne. Opulent and complex, with its’

golden appearance with lightly burnished reflections and its’ intense bouquet of white flowers,

citrus and red fruits followed by toasted, woody aromas and its’ a veritable cornucopia of

sumptuous honey, hazelnut and apple flavours.