WTN: '96 Egly-Ouriet Brut Grand Cru Champagne - drink up!

[David M. Bueker]

Drank the subject wine with Thor & Theresa last night. It came from the glacial cellar at Schloss Bueker, but was quite aged, with lots of nutty/toasty elements, a very soft mousse and essentially zero fruit left. I've heard other reports of this same wine being on the down slope, but did not believe them until I pulled this cork.

Clearly this wine needs to be drunk up.

I've read that Egly-Ouriet uses relatively low sugar levels on their dosages. I've not tried enough very dry champagnes to know whether this might contribute to their early fatigue but might this be the case here?

I thought that my Christmas Eve E-O Blanc de Noirs was also tasting tired. As it was disgorged in September 2001 after 51 months on "lattes", it must have contained mainly 1996 fruit.

[David M. Bueker]

I've read that Egly-Ouriet uses relatively low sugar levels on their dosages. I've not tried enough very dry champagnes to know whether this might contribute to their early fatigue but might this be the case here?

I have had some of the same thoughts. A while back I read an article by Tom Stevenson (the Champagne guide guy) in The World of Fine Wine where he not so gently insinuated that zero/low dosage Champagnes won't age all that well. Given the cost of most Champagne I am not all that inclined to do a lot of personal testing.

Anybody notice any other 1996 Champagnes that are going downhill?

[David M. Bueker]

Nope. Only this one.

Drank the subject wine with Thor & Theresa last night. It came from the glacial cellar at Schloss Bueker, but was quite aged, with lots of nutty/toasty elements, a very soft mousse and essentially zero fruit left. I've heard other reports of this same wine being on the down slope, but did not believe them until I pulled this cork.

Clearly this wine needs to be drunk up.

I just pulled one after seeing this note. I don't know that'd I say zero fruit, but it definitely appeared to be on the downslope, much further down that it ought to be and consistent with the last bottle I had. In addition to low dosage, I've heard they use less sulphur than most. I wonder if that has any role?

[David M. Bueker]

Very well could be Cliff.

Good to see you around by the way.