Over the course of a week, I taste a bunch of wine, usually with friends, and almost always with my wife. This (and last) week, we had our very good friends visiting from France. More than anyone, he is responsible for my education and appreciation of wine. She is one of the nicest people you will ever meet (even though she is from NJ, she does put up with me and him) and is a fellow Champagne snob (so I give her a pass on the NJ thing).  Their two girls are adorable, making my wife consider trying a third time for a girl (but that is a ‘no’).  They don’t make it back to Philly all that often, but when they do, I like to pull out a few ‘treasures’ that I have been saving in the basement for them. Here are some of the wines we tasted this last week that stood out:

N.V. Cattier Brut 1er Cru 96/95/93 Clos du Moulin: Retail ~$100. This is a blend of three great Champagne vintages (’93, ’95, ’96) and comes from one of the few ‘Clos’ in all of Champagne. I had a bottle of this a couple of years ago and I also rated it a 93, but these were completely different from a flavor profile. The color was still on the darker side, but this wine did not possess any of the sherry-like flavors of the last bottle (or of many older champagnes). Bright citrus and hints of vanilla wafer were dominant and the finish would simply not stop. This is one of the better champagnes I have had this year. Outstanding. 92-94 points.

N.V. Deutz Champagne Classic: Retail~$40. I have had a few of these for several years–I have not been saving them for any particular reason, I just had more or less forgotten about them.  Rookie move.  While not bad by any means, the age on these is starting to show, and not in a way that I usually like in my Champagne.  These have become a bit too chalky as if the dust that has accumulated on the outside of the bottle has somehow found its way in. Again, still enjoyable, but I am hoping that the chalky dustiness was just some bottle variation. Very Good. 86-88 points.

1970 Domaine Newman Mazis-Chambertin:  Retail ??? This was one of those wines that was very difficult to score since I have absolutely no frame of reference. The wine was very light in color with a nose of wet earth and mushrooms. On the palate, it was rather shy at first, then showing its sour cherry fruit and considerable finish. Enjoyable and remarkable for being 42 years old. Outstanding.

2005 Olivier Leflaive Saint-Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly: Retail ~$40. A great nose of lemon curd, vanilla, and a bit of chalk. On the palate , a rich, round wine with plenty of character and balance–the chalkiness came through here as well which I had never really experienced in a St. Aubin before. Outstanding. 90-92 points.

2009 Clos Pepe Estate Chardonnay Barrel Fermented: This followed a Leflaive 2005 St. Aubin En Remilly and it more than held its own. Green apple and peach on the nose and palate with a nice bright acidity keeping it together. Outstanding. 89-91 points.

2006 Skewis Pinot Noir Bush: Retail ~$50. I have been a big fan of Hank Skewis’ wines for some time now. He only makes Pinot Noir, and they seem to be built for aging more than most other California Pinots. Having said that, I was a bit surprised how fruity and big this wine remains, six years out. Big red fruit, but very well balanced with ample acidity and a hint of tannic structure on the finish.  Outstanding. 89-91 points.

2001 Domaines Ott Bandol Château Romassan: Retail ~$30. Domaines Ott makes what is regarded (at least by some) as the finest rosé in the world (I have had it a few times and it is certainly fantastic), thus when I saw this Bandol, I thought it would be a fun wine to try. The wine is a blend of a slew of different varieties with Mourvèdre at its core. Despite being 11 years old, the wine was quite dark and the nose showed no hints of age.  On the palate, still quite tannic and a bit unresolved. Still, Very Good and a great pairing with beef. 86-88 points.

2008 Hopper Creek Winery Chardonnay Sangiacomo Vineyards: Retail ~$30.  I would love to say this bottle was better than the previous several. Really, I would. Particularly since I actually bought these bottles! Alas, although not flawed, this wine remains a rather over-oaked, flabby mess. There is not nearly enough acidity to hold it together and the oaky butteriness is just short of nauseating. Good, but that is perhaps overly kind. 83 points.

WINE OF THE WEEK: Once again, the top honors go to a Champagne.  The Clos du Moulin was simply exquisite this week, much better than I remember the last bottle being.  On top of that it was shared with great friends that we simply do not get to see all that often.

What was your wine of the week (no one has ever answered that here, by the way….)?