WTN: NYE with Champagne and Vouvray

with plans for today, we decided to pass on neighbors' New Year's Eve party, and I told Betsy I'd take care of dinner. She pointed out we had lots of leftovers, and I decided a ceremonial cleanout of 2011 food was in order. I did a 5 course mostly leftover tasting menu:
"snail salad" (scungilli, a RI specialty that a friend dropped off for me)
lentil/coconut soup
artichokes with melted butter
pasta with mushrooms in cream/cognac sauce
capon salad with pimenton

We tried 2 wines with dinner:

NV Bernard Bremont "Cuvee Prestige" Champagne Brut
I just thought this was a brilliant showing, a couple of years cellaring has put this in a very nice spot. White fruits, baking bread, citrus zest, honeycomb. Fine mousse, nice acids, full and long. A-

2002 Huet "Le Haut Lieu" Demi-Sec Vouvray (375)
I seem to have more false alarms with Huet than any other wine. I often think it's corked, then whatever seems to blow off. This time I was worried that there were signs of oxidation, but nonlogically air seemed to help, and the wine freshened up with just a bit of time. Apple, orange zest, wool. Not the zippiest Huet, though in reality there is plenty of acid. Very tasty, drinking well from small format. B+

Nice quiet way to end the year.

Grade disclaimer: I'm a very easy grader, basically A is an excellent wine, B a good wine, C mediocre. Anything below C means I wouldn't drink at a party where it was only choice. Furthermore, I offer no promises of objectivity, accuracy, and certainly not of consistency.

I seem to have more false alarms with Huet than any other wine. I often think it's corked, then whatever seems to blow off..

I kind of know what you mean, and that happens to me as well. (Loire chenin in general). Although red Burgundy runs a close second.

[David M. Bueker]

Source on the Bremont?

you're probably right both about it being reduction and being CB in general- I've certainly had similar things happen with Savennieres.

David, a friend DIs from France - not for profit, he just buys a bunch after offering us a chance to be in on it. Importer used to be Champagnes et Villages. The Total chain has the regular Grand Cru Brut, but with that chain I'd worry as they've been on the floor for a couple years I think. I'm not sure if the Grand Cru is the base level, or if there is a non-GC brut. The Rose and Cuvee prestige are also all GC (Ambonnay).