J
1995 Brut
Sonoma County -$25.

Pale green; very light aroma shows apple, lime, custard, roasted marshmallow, lees, toast; creamy and persistent mousse; very light flavors are dry and fresh with green apple, citrus, dried grass notes; very harmonious balance, slightly tart; medium-long finish is faintly bitter. (NOTE: This same wine finished mid-pack at our last tasting.)

Gloria Ferrer
1992 "Royal Cuvée" Brut
Carneros -$17.

Very pale; aroma suggests Chardonnay, mixes apples, peaches, toast, coffee, caramel, faint must; foamy, big, rapid mousse, gentle, round mid-palate; dry, light flavors suggest mineral and citrus; balanced; medium long, faintly bitter finish.

Piper-Sonoma
(nv) Blanc de Noir
Sonoma -$13.

Pale strawberry; sweet, attractive apple blossom, citrussy, yeasty, marshmallow, and slightly fruity aroma; fairly expansive mousse with a creamy mouthfeel; light, dry, pleasant, appley, citrussy flavors with a hint of anise; somewhat tart; faintly bitter, medium-long finish.

Veuve Clicquot
(nv) Brut Champagne
(yellow label) Epernay -$38.

Pale straw; very light, fruity, yeasty, biscuit dough, toasty aroma, with faint musty, cardboard-filter pad hints; persistent and tiny bubbles; vanilla and bread flavors are very dry; very balanced, slightly tart; long finish with a slight mustiness. (NOTE: A longtime favorite of many in the group, this seemed like an "off" bottle, but not specifically "corked.")

Indigo Hills
(nv) Blanc de Blanc
Mendocino -$11.

Pale yellow; complex, somewhat heavy aroma mixes baked apple pie, yeast, toast, chocolate, and nuts with a hint of fusel and mustiness; slightly expansive mousse, round; dry, nutty, slightly woody flavors; austere, slightly tart balance; long, slightly bitter finish.

Hacienda
(nv) Brut
California -$6.

Pale straw; pleasant, sweet apple blossom, mineral, citrus, and pear aromas with a hint of fusel; nice mouthfeel, not very expansive, somewhat fleeting; light flavor is slightly vegetal, unripe, medicinal, cardboard; faintly bitter, aspirin finish.

Seaview
1998 Brut
Southeastern Australia -$10.

Light yellow-gold; complex, mature, yeasty, toasty aromas with ripe, tropical fruit and notes of honey and caramel; very lively bubbles; rich, full, mature, faintly oxidized flavors; flabby balance is slightly sweet; medium-long finish.

Gloria Ferrer
1992 "Royal Cuvée" Brut
Carneros -$17.

Pale straw; sweet lemon-lime and apple aroma; foamy, big, rapid mousse, slightly rich; sweet, appley, simple flavors; tart balance; long finish is faintly bitter. Neither as complex, nor as flavorful as wine #2, although similar in mouthfeel.

Nicolas Feuillante
(nv) Brut Champagne
Epernay, France -$33.

Pale yellow; very light, sweet, appley, floral, Riesling-like, perfumey, minerally aromas; medium mousse, somewhat creamy; dry, simple, light, citric, and green apple flavors with a hint of oxidation; good balance, slightly soft, flat; clean, crisp, medium-long finish.

Gloria Ferrer
1990 "Carneros Cuvée" Brut
Sonoma -$24.

Pale straw; aromas are stale, stinky, dank, and bothersome with green bean, barnyard, oxidized, and cardboard-filter pad elements; expansive, medium mousse; dry, complex, toasty, musty, older flavors; quite tart, almost sour; stemmy, faintly bitter, long finish. (NOTE: "Late Disgorged" in 1998)

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This Panel included Regulars Mark, Deanna, Glenn, Roy,
Marlene, Jon, Ray, Jim, Greg, and James

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