View 2013 Champagne Catalog - Michael Skurnik Wines

Pierre Péters “Cuvée de Réserve” Brut, N.V. j KPP-1A
Pierre Péters “Cuvée de Réserve” Brut, N.V., 12/375ml j KPP-1H
Pierre Péters “Cuvée de Réserve” Brut, N.V., 6/1.5L j KPP-1M
Pierre Péters “Cuvée de Réserve” Brut, N.V., 1/3.0L j KPP-1J
First we tasted the 2008-based wine, which we had on the market two years ago. Bear in mind—Péters performs what they
call a “perpetual solera,” which means the NV contains whichever vintage is current, plus the previous blend, and so each
iteration contains a certain quantity of very old wine. Or you could say it is a mature solera that’s constantly refreshed.
This `08-based wine is hyper-aromatic; it was the best in many years, and it’s the one I have in my cellar right now.
Then we tasted the `09-based wine we shipped last year. It’s rounder and saltier, more brioche. Flowers in `08, butter in `09.
Finally the 2010, disgorged in December 2012. It was gnarly from disgorgement, but with time it will resemble the `08;
perhaps more overtly chalky, less hyacinth and wisteria but more jasmine. Surprisingly dense yet pixilated pulverized
oyster shell. Time on the cork will really reward this wine.
Pierre Péters Millésime Brut, 2008 j ( j ) KPP-208
Disgorged December `12; it has the sweetest fragrance of any vintage since `02, really high-toned white hyacinth; the
palate is sleek to the point of feeling stretched; it’s drier than the `06 was, more sinewy, with long oystery flavors; quite
“straight” and scrupulous and logical. `06 is more flattering: `08 more incisive.
We previewed the 2009 also. Back to overt charm. Rodolph says quince and pink grapefruit, plus “a touch of sunlight.”
Superbly elegant and intricate for the vintage. Likely ++ quality.
Pierre Péters
Côte des Blancs
Pierre Péters Cuvée Spéciale “Les Chétillons” Brut, 2006 j j KPP-306
Pierre Péters Cuvée Spéciale “Les Chétillons” Brut, 2006, 3/1.5L j j KPP-306M
Disgorged November 2012. An imposing fragrance leads to a foamy, fleshy palate; there’s nothing inscrutable here, this
is an obvious masterpiece, less earthy and recherché than `05; tertiary blasts of chalk and mint; it’s finer-grained than
the meaty `05, with less espresso-savor than `02 or `00. Ending notes of chartreuse.
Pierre Péters Rosé “For Albanne” Brut, N.V.
KPP-4
Based on 2010 with 20% of the previous blend. This disgorgement has 8g/l RS, which he’s contemplating reducing with
later disgorgements. I would decide otherwise, as the balance here seems perfect; it’s all ultra-ripe tomatoes and rhubarb
jelly, rich and vinous, a rosé in the solid vein, that defied categorization and is virtually unique in the Côte des Blancs. In
other words: Peters!
The Chardonnay (from a climat called Musette) is blended with macerated Pinot Meunier, the specific details of which
are guarded coquettishly. And though I’d like to know, I don’t need to know, because the wine is convincing.
Pierre Péters “Reserve Oubliée” Brut, N.V.
KPP-310
This is all a bit of a mystery, and I suppose it’ll be in terribly short supply, but—the intent was to offer an NV that was
“mature but not oxidative,” and what I tasted was the “perpetual reserve” based on 2007, kept in tank an additional year,
bottled in 2009 and aged on the cork. Most intriguingly, the dosage is a must-concentrate they made in-house, the first
time I have heard of this; furthermore, it was aged in a 60-liter barrel of old wood from Cognac, making it the only Péters
wine with any wood flavor. And the wine was explosive, wonderfully expressive and not “mature” but indeed tertiary; all
the things you desire from Champagne but have had to age yourself.
What will be shipped to us—assuming we get any—is 2008-based and ought to be even better.
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